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Northward expansion trends and future potential distribution of a dragonfly Ischnura senegalensis Rambur under climate change using citizen science data in South Korea

Citizen science is becoming a mainstream approach of baseline data collection to monitor biodiversity and climate change. Dragonflies (Odonata) have been ranked as the highest priority group in biodiversity mo...

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Morphological variables restrict flower choice of Lycaenid butterfly species: implication for pollination and conservation

Butterflies make an important part for plant-pollinator guild. These are nectar feeder or occasionally pollen feeder and thus proboscis of the butterfly species are considered as one of the most important vari...

Honey bees and their brood: a potentially valuable resource of food, worthy of greater appreciation and scientific attention

Despite the consumption of bee brood in several parts of the world, particularly in the tropical areas, the practice has received comparatively little attention. We have reviewed all the available information ...

Attributes and references to honey bees (Insecta; Hymenoptera; Apidae) and their products in some Asian and Australian societies’ folkloristic domains

References to insects in myths, stories, and idioms can be found in almost any culture, but with regard to references involving honey bee species in the Asia-Australian region, little information is available....

RETRACTED ARTICLE: Major environmental factors and traits of invasive alien plants determining their spatial distribution

As trade increases, the influx of various alien species and their spread to new regions are prevalent and no longer a special problem. Anthropogenic activities and climate changes have made the distribution of...

Spatial distribution of halophytes and environment factors in salt marshes along the eastern Yellow Sea

Salt marshes provide a variety of ecosystem services; however, they are vulnerable to human activity, water level fluctuations, and climate change. Analyses of the relationships between plant communities and e...

PollMap: a software for crop pollination mapping in agricultural landscapes

Ecosystem service mapping is an important tool for decision-making in landscape planning and natural resource management. Today, pollination service mapping is based on the Lonsdorf model (InVEST software) tha...

Current status of alert alien species management for the establishment of proactive management systems in Korea

Some of the introduced alien species introduced settle, multiply, and spread to become invasive alien species (IAS) that threaten biodiversity. To prevent this, Korea and other countries legally designate and ...

Dust and sandstorm: ecosystem perspectives on dryland hazards in Northeast Asia: a review

A review of the literature was carried out to study dust and sandstorm (DSS) in terms of its ecosystem processes and relationship to other dryland disasters in Northeast Asia. Drylands are ecosystems that incl...

Changes in nocturnal insect communities in forest-dominated landscape relevant to artificial light intensity

Artificial light at night has recently been identified as a major factor adversely affecting global insect diversity. Here, we compared the insect diversity in Gwangneung Forest Biosphere Reserve, specifically...

Occurrence and diet analysis of sea turtles in Korean shore

Sea turtles, which are globally endangered species, have been stranded and found as bycatch on the Korean shore recently. More studies on sea turtles in Korea are necessary to aid their conservation. To invest...

Quantifying how urban landscape heterogeneity affects land surface temperature at multiple scales

Landscape metrics have been widely applied to quantifying the relationship between land surface temperature and urban spatial patterns and have received acceptable verification from landscape ecologists but so...

The relationship of mean temperature and 9 collected butterfly species’ wingspan as the response of global warming

Organism body size is a basic characteristic in ecology; it is related to temperature according to temperature-size rule. Butterflies are affected in various aspects by climate change because they are sensitiv...

Non-deep physiological dormancy in seeds of Euphorbia jolkinii Boiss. native to Korea

Euphorbia jolkinii Boiss. is a perennial species native to Jeju Island and the southern coastal area of Korea. Particularly on Jeju Island, the yellow flowers of E. jolkinii Boiss. have a high ornamental value be...

Predation of the Japanese keelback ( Hebius vibakari Boie, 1826) by the Slender racer ( Orientocoluber spinalis Peters, 1866)

The Slender racer ( Orientocoluber spinalis Peters, 1866) has recently been reclassified to the new genus Orientocoluber from Hierophis . Ecological knowledge of this species is limited due to its highly mobile beh...

Major environmental factors and traits of invasive alien plants determine their spatial distribution: a case study in Korea

As trade increases, the influx of various alien species and their spread to new regions are prevalent, making them a general problem globally. Anthropogenic activities and climate change have led to alien spec...

Distribution and habitat use of the endangered Siberian flying squirrel Pteromys volans (Rodentia: Sciuridae)

Understanding the habitat characteristics of the endangered Siberian flying squirrel Pteromys volans is the first step in conserving and managing the forests it requires for nesting, gliding, and feeding. Therefo...

How effective are artificial nests in attracting bees? A review

Recent declines in bee populations, along with increasing demand for pollination services in urban, agricultural, and natural environments, have led to strategies to attract wild bees to these areas. One of th...

Tissue-specific systemic responses of the wild tobacco Nicotiana attenuata against stem-boring herbivore attack

Plants are able to optimize defense responses induced by various herbivores, which have different feeding strategies. Local and systemic responses within a plant after herbivory are essential to modulate herbi...

Estimating potential range shift of some wild bees in response to climate change scenarios in northwestern regions of Iran

Climate change is occurring rapidly around the world, and is predicted to have a large impact on biodiversity. Various studies have shown that climate change can alter the geographical distribution of wild bee...

Trends in the effects of climate change on terrestrial ecosystems in the Republic of Korea

In this review, we aimed to synthesize the current knowledge on the observed and projected effects of climate change on the ecosystems of Korea (i.e., the Republic of Korea (ROK) or South Korea), as well as th...

Principle of restoration ecology reflected in the process creating the National Institute of Ecology

The creation of the National Institute of Ecology began as a national alternative project to preserve mudflats instead of constructing the industrial complexes by reclamation, and achieve regional development....

Small-scale spatial genetic structure of Asarum sieboldii metapopulation in a valley

Asarum sieboldii Miq., a species of forest understory vegetation, is an herbaceous perennial belonging to the family Aristolochiaceae. The metapopulation of A. sieboldii is distributed sparsely and has a short se...

Diel and seasonal activity pattern of alien sika deer with sympatric mammalian species from Muljangori-oreum wetland of Hallasan National Park, South Korea

Sika deer, Cervus nippon , were originally introduced to South Korea from Japan and Taiwan for commercial farming purposes. Unfortunately, they were released into the wild during religious events and have since be...

Effects of different day length and wind conditions to the seedling growth performance of Phragmites australis

To understand shade and wind effects on seedling traits of common reed ( Phragmites australis ), we conducted a mesocosm experiment manipulating day length (10 h daytime a day as open canopy conditions or 6 h dayti...

Categorized wetland preference and life forms of the vascular plants in the Korean Peninsula

In 2020, a categorized list of wetland preferences, major habitats, and life forms of 4145 vascular plant taxa occurring in the Korean Peninsula was published by the National Institute of Biological Resources....

Elevational distribution ranges of vascular plant species in the Baekdudaegan mountain range, South Korea

The climate is changing rapidly, and this may pose a major threat to global biodiversity. One of the most distinctive consequences of climate change is the poleward and/or upward shift of species distribution ...

Study on the photosynthetic characteristics of Eutrema japonica (Siebold) Koidz. under the pulsed LEDs for simulated sunflecks

The sunfleck is an important light environmental factor for plants that live under the shade of trees. Currently, the smartfarm has a system that can artificially create these sunfleks. Therefore, it was inten...

Influence of trees and associated variables on soil organic carbon: a review

The level of soil organic carbon (SOC) fluctuates in different types of forest stands: this variation can be attributed to differences in tree species, and the variables associated with soil, climate, and topo...

Comparison of ecophysiological and leaf anatomical traits of native and invasive plant species

To address the lack of evidence supporting invasion by three invasive plant species ( Imperata cylindrica, Lantana camara, and Chromolaena odorata ) in tropical ecosystems, we compared the ecophysiological and leaf...

Effects of soil water content and light intensity on the growth of Molinia japonica in montane wetlands in South Korea

Montane wetlands are unique wetland ecosystems with distinct physicochemical characteristics, and Molinia japonica often makes dominant communities in montane wetlands in South Korea. In order to figure out the e...

First detection of ranavirus in a wild population of Dybowski’s brown frog ( Rana dybowskii ) in South Korea

Ranavirus is an emerging infectious disease which has been linked to mass mortality events in various amphibian species. In this study, we document the first mass mortality event of an adult population of Dybo...

Cushion plant Silene acaulis is a pioneer species at abandoned coal piles in the High Arctic, Svalbard

Abandoned coal piles after the closure of mines have a potential negative influence on the environment, such as soil acidification and heavy metal contamination. Therefore, revegetation by efficient species is...

Vegetation structure and distribution characteristics of Symplocos prunifolia , a rare evergreen broad-leaved tree in Korea

In Korea, Symplocos prunifolia Siebold. & Zucc. is only found on Jeju Island. Conservation of the species is difficult because little is known about its distribution and natural habitat. The lack of research and ...

Growth performance of planted population of Pinus roxburghii in central Nepal

Climate change has altered the various ecosystem processes including forest ecosystem in Himalayan region. Although the high mountain natural forests including treelines in the Himalayan region are mainly repo...

Correction to: Application of smart mosquito monitoring traps for the mosquito forecast systems by Seoul Metropolitan city

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via the original article.

The original article was published in Journal of Ecology and Environment 2020 44 :13

Correction to: Effect of precipitation on soil respiration in a temperate broad-leaved forest

The original article was published in Journal of Ecology and Environment 2018 42 :10

Effects of cutting and sowing seeds of native species on giant ragweed invasion and plant diversity in a field experiment

Ambrosia trifida is a highly invasive annual plant, but effective control methods have not been proposed. Among various eradication methods, cutting is a simple measure to control invasive plants, and sowing seed...

Mid-term (2009-2019) demographic dynamics of young beech forest in Albongbunji Basin, Ulleungdo, South Korea

The stem exclusion stage is a stage of forest development that is important for understanding the subsequent understory reinitiation stage and maturation stage during which horizontal heterogeneity is formed. ...

Annual and spatial variabilities in the acorn production of Quercus mongolica

Genus Quercus is a successful group that has occupied the largest area of forest around the world including South Korea. The acorns are an important food source for both wild animals and humans. Although the repr...

Prevalence of Puccinia abrupta var. partheniicola and its impact on Parthenium hysterophorus in Kathmandu Valley, Nepal

Parthenium hysterophorus is a noxious invasive weed in tropical and subtropical regions of the world, including Nepal. Among 11 species of biological control agents released to control P. hysterophorus in Ausrtal...

Ecological impact of fast industrialization inferred from a sediment core in Seocheon, West Coast of Korean Peninsula

Rapid industrialization has caused various impacts on nature, including heavy metal pollution. However, the impacts of industrialization vary depending on the types of industrializing activity and surrounding ...

Influence of roadkill during breeding migration on the sex ratio of land crab ( Sesarma haematoche )

Adult land crabs generally live on land while their larvae live in the sea. In the case of Sesarma haematoche , female crabs migrate from land to sea to release the larvae at the high tide of syzygy night. Artific...

Population structure and regeneration of Himalayan endemic Larix species in three high-altitude valleys in Nepal Himalaya

The Himalayan forests are of great importance to sustain the nature and community resource demands. These forests are facing pressures both from anthropogenic activities and ongoing global climatic changes. Po...

Otolith microchemistry reveals the migration patterns of the flathead grey mullet Mugil cephalus (Pisces: Mugilidae) in Korean waters

The flathead grey mullet Mugil cephalus has the widest distribution among mugilid species. Recent studies based on mitochondrial DNA sequences showed that the species comprises at least 14 different groups, three...

Population size, group and age structure of geladas ( Theropithecus gelada ) in escarpments of Eastern Tigray, Ethiopia: implication for conservation

Geladas ( Theropithecus gelada ), endemic to Ethiopia, are distributed closely related to the escarpments and gorge systems of the country, and large populations are found in the Simien Mountain National Park. This...

Coexistence of plant species under harsh environmental conditions: an evaluation of niche differentiation and stochasticity along salt marsh creeks

Ecologists have achieved much progress in the study of mechanisms that maintain species coexistence and diversity. In this paper, we reviewed a wide range of past research related to these topics, focusing on ...

Re-emergence of the Glossy Ibis ( Plegadis falcinellus ) in inland South Korea

Glossy Ibis ( Plegadis falcinellus ), which has never been recorded in South Korea, appeared on Jeju Island in 2018 and re-emerged in the inland area of Seocheon-gun (South Chungcheong Province) and in Goyang-si (G...

Diet composition of the Korean wild boar Sus scrofa coreanus (Suidae) at Mt. Jeombongsan, Korea

Korean wild boars ( Sus scrofa coreanus Heude), because of their adaptability, are a widespread large mammal; however, they sometimes cause problems by invading farms and eating the crops, creating insufficiencies...

Review on the succession process of Pinus densiflora forests in South Korea: progressive and disturbance-driven succession

Most of the Pinus densiflora forests, occupying the largest area, have been restored in South Korea since the 1970s. As young pioneer forests, the succession process is under way. Since the forests are distribute...

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Plant Ecology publishes original scientific papers that report and interpret the findings of pure and applied research into the ecology of vascular plants in terrestrial and wetland ecosystems. Empirical, experimental, theoretical and review papers reporting on ecophysiology, population, community, ecosystem, landscape, molecular and historical ecology are within the scope of the journal.

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Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi affect early phenological stages of three secondary vegetation species in a temperate forest.

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Multigenerational invasive plant competition causes greater root than shoot trait shifts in a perennial grass

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Warming effects on plant regrowth after clipping are modified by repeated clipping in Mongolian pasture species

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Pollinator visitation patterns are influenced by floral volatile profiles

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Nature’s Secrets: Top 200 Ecology Research Topics

Welcome to the world of Ecology, where the study of nature evolves like an interesting story. Ecology helps us solve the complex relationships between living organisms and their environments. In this fascinating journey, we will see ecology research topics that reveal the secrets of ecosystems, biodiversity, and the delicate balance of nature. 

From understanding how different species react to the impact of human activities on our planet, Ecology offers insights that go beyond the ordinary. 

So, whether you’re fascinated by the web of life in a forest, the dynamics of a coral reef, or the challenges of conservation, these research topics will guide you into the heart of ecological wonders. Let’s start this adventure of knowledge, discovering the hidden secrets that shape the world around us.

What Is Ecology?

Table of Contents

Ecology is the study of how living things interact with each other and their environment. It explores relationships between plants, animals, and their surroundings, helping us understand how nature works and how different elements in ecosystems connect.

What Are The 6 Topics Studied In Ecology?

Ecology studies the relationships between living things and their environment. Here are six topics studied in ecology:

• Ecosystems: Examining how living organisms, like plants and animals, interact with each other and their non living surroundings, such as soil, water, and air.
• Biodiversity: Analyzing the variety of life in different ecosystems, including the number and types of species present.
• Population Dynamics: Understanding how the numbers of individuals in a species change over time, including factors like birth rates, death rates, and migration.
• Community Interactions: Exploring how different species in a specific area interact with each other, such as through competition or cooperation.
• Ecological Succession: Studying the increasing changes in ecosystems over time, including how new communities of plants and animals replace older ones.
• Conservation Biology: Focusing on protecting and preserving ecosystems and species, especially those facing threats or endangerment.

Top 200 Ecology Research Topics

Now the wait is over and here we will be listing top 200 ecology research topics. And they are as:

Top 10 Ecology Research Topics On Biodiversity Conservation

• Conservation Genetics and its Role in Biodiversity Preservation
• Ecological Consequences of Habitat Fragmentation on Biodiversity
• Monitoring and Assessing Biodiversity in Changing Landscapes
• Conservation Strategies for Endangered Species
• The Significance of Protected Areas in Biodiversity Conservation
• Ecosystem Services and Biodiversity Conservation
• Citizen Science Initiatives in Biodiversity Monitoring
• Integrating Indigenous Knowledge in Biodiversity Conservation
• Climate Change Impacts on Biodiversity and Conservation Measures
• Human-Wildlife Conflict and its Implications for Biodiversity Conservation

Top 10 Research Topics On Climate Change Impacts

• Climate Change Effects on Biodiversity and Ecosystems
• Influence of Climate Change on Global Water Resources
• Rising Sea Levels and Coastal Ecosystem Vulnerability
• Climate Change Affects on Agriculture and Food Security
• Extreme Weather Events and their Ecological Consequences
• Ocean Acidification: Ecological and Marine Life Impacts
• Changes in Species Distribution by Climate Change
• Climate Change and Migration Patterns of Wildlife
• Effects of Climate Change on Polar and Alpine Ecosystems
• Climate Change and Human Health: Ecological Perspectives

Top 10 Ecology Research Topics On Habitat Restoration

• Ecosystem Recovery after Habitat Disturbance
• Effects of Restoration Techniques on Soil Health
• Ecological Succession in Restored Habitats
• Invasive Species Management in Restoration Projects
• Role of Native Plant Species in Habitat Restoration
• Impact of Restoration on Wildlife Communities
• Community Engagement in Urban Habitat Restoration
• Restoration of Wetland Ecosystems and Biodiversity
• Historical Ecology and its Role in Habitat Restoration
• Evaluating Long-Term Success of Habitat Restoration Projects

Top 10 Research Topics On Ecosystem Services

• Valuation of Ecosystem Services for purpose of Sustainable Resource Management
• Biodiversity’s Role in Providing Ecosystem Services
• Climate Change Impacts on Ecosystem Services
• Urban Ecosystem Services and Green Infrastructure
• Cultural Ecosystem Services: Linking Nature and Well-being
• Watershed Services: Sustainable Water Resource Management
• Forest Ecosystem Services and Sustainable Forestry Practices
• Marine Ecosystem Services: Conservation and Management
• Agricultural Practices and Ecosystem Service Delivery
• Restoration Ecology for Enhancing Ecosystem Services

Top 10 Ecology Research Topics On Wildlife Ecology

• Behavior and Social Structure of Wild Animal Populations
• Conservation Genetics in Wildlife Management
• Human-Wildlife Conflict and Mitigation Strategies
• Wildlife Habitat Use and Selection
• Effects of Climate Change on Wildlife Ecology
• Wildlife Disease Ecology and Emerging Infectious Diseases
• Predator-Prey Dynamics in Natural Ecosystems
• Movement Ecology and Migration Patterns
• Wildlife Monitoring Techniques and Technology
• Restoration Ecology for Wildlife Habitat Enhancement

Top 10 Ecology Research Topics On Marine Ecology

• Coral Reef Resilience and Conservation
• Marine Biodiversity in Deep-Sea Ecosystems
• Ocean Acidification & its Impact on Marine Life
• Fisheries Management for Sustainable Marine Ecology
• Marine Protected Areas and Conservation Strategies
• Plastic Pollution & its impact on Marine Ecosystems
• Seabird Ecology and Conservation
• Mangrove Ecosystems: Function and Conservation
• Climate Change Impacts on Marine Ecosystems
• Seagrass Ecology and Restoration efforts in Coastal Areas

Top 10 Research Topics On Urban Ecology

• Urban Biodiversity and Conservation Strategies
• Green Spaces & Ecosystem Services in Urban Environments
• Urban Heat Island Effect and Mitigation Measures
• Urban Wildlife Ecology and Human-Wildlife Interactions
• Sustainable Urban Planning and Design for Ecosystem Health
• Urban Agriculture: Impacts on Biodiversity and Food Security
• Air Quality and Urban Tree Canopy: A Nexus in Urban Ecology
• Stormwater Management and Ecological Solutions in Urban Areas
• Urbanization Effects on Microbial Communities in Soil
• Citizen Science Contributions to Urban Ecology Research

Top 10 Ecology Research Topics On Forest Ecology

• Old-Growth Forest Ecology and Conservation
• Forest Fragmentation and its Impact on Biodiversity
• Fire Ecology: Natural Processes and Human Intervention
• Forest Carbon Sequestration and Climate Change Mitigation
• Dynamics of Tree-Soil Interactions in Forest Ecosystems
• Invasive Species Management in Forested Landscapes
• Forest Restoration Ecology and Reforestation Strategies
• Effects of Logging and Timber Harvesting on Forest Ecology
• Microbial Communities in Forest Soils: Diversity and Function
• Ecological Consequences of Climate Change in Forested Regions

Top 10 Research Topics On Invasive Species Management

• Ecological Impacts of Invasive Species
• Mechanisms of Invasion Success
• Early Detection and Rapid Response Strategies
• Effects of Climate Change on Invasive Species Dynamics
• Management Strategies for Aquatic Invasive Species
• Biological Control of Invasive Species
• Evolutionary Responses in Invasive Species
• Community-Level Impacts of Invasive Species
• Economic Costs and Benefits of Invasive Species Management
• Restoration Ecology After Invasive Species Removal

Top 10 Ecology Research Topics On Conservation Genetics

• Genetic Diversity and Conservation of Endangered Species
• Population Genetics of Rare and Threatened Plants
• Conservation Genomics in Wildlife Management
• Genetic Adaptation to Changing Environments
• Genomic Approaches in Assessing Inbreeding Depression
• Landscape Genetics and Habitat Connectivity
• Genetic Monitoring for Effective Conservation
• Genomic Tools in Studying Hybridization and Introgression
• Conservation Genetics of Migratory Species
• Genetic Markers for Non-Invasive Monitoring of Wildlife

Top 10 Research Topics On Landscape Ecology

• Spatial Patterns and Dynamics in Landscape Ecology
• Connectivity and Fragmentation of Landscape
• Urbanization and its Impact on Landscape Structure
• Landscape Heterogeneity and Biodiversity Conservation
• Ecosystem Services in the Context of Landscape Ecology
• Remote Sensing and GIS Applications in Landscape Ecology
• Modeling Landscape Change and Future Scenarios
• Landscape Ecology and Climate Change Impacts
• Land-Use Change Effects on Landscape Patterns
• Resilience and Sustainability in Landscape Ecology

Top 10 Ecology Research Topics On Agroecology

• Sustainable Farming Practices for Agroecosystem Health
• Agroecology and Biodiversity Conservation in Agricultural Landscapes
• Soil Health and Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems
• Organic Farming Systems: Ecological Impacts and Benefits
• Agroecological Approaches to Pest Management
• Agroforestry Systems and Ecosystem Services
• Climate-Resilient Agriculture in Agroecological Frameworks
• Indigenous and Traditional Agro Ecological Knowledge
• Integrating Livestock into Agroecosystems for Sustainability
• Socioeconomic Dimensions of Agroecological Transition

Top 10 Research Topics On Ecological Modeling

• Spatial and Temporal Dynamics in Ecological Models
• Integrating Climate Change in Ecological Modeling
• Agent-Based Modeling in Ecological Studies
• Ecological Network Models: Structure and Dynamics
• Predictive Modeling for Conservation Planning
• Individual-Based Models in Animal Behavior Ecology
• Dynamic Energy Budget Models in Population Ecology
• Bayesian Approaches in Ecological Modeling
• Ecological Niche Modeling for Species Distribution
• Coupling Ecological and Economic Models for Sustainability

Top 10 Ecology Research Topics On Environmental Pollution

• Affects of Air Pollution on Ecosystems and Human Health
• Microplastics in Aquatic Ecosystems: Sources and Effects
• Soil Pollution and its Consequences for Terrestrial Ecology
• Noise Pollution and its Effects on Wildlife Behavior
• Heavy Metal Contamination in Urban Ecosystems
• Emerging Contaminants: Pharmaceuticals in the Environment
• Pesticide Pollution and Agricultural Ecosystems
• Oil Spills and Marine Ecosystems: Recovery and Resilience
• Plastic Waste in Marine Environments: Ecological Impacts
• Urbanization and its Role in Environmental Pollution

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We’ve also touched upon the six fundamental topics in Ecology, providing a foundation for your ecological journey. So, let curiosity be your guide, and explore the mysteries that our planet holds.

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• Published: 15 July 2024

Aquatic deoxygenation as a planetary boundary and key regulator of Earth system stability

• Kevin C. Rose   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-1292-9381 1 , 2 ,
• Erica M. Ferrer   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-6709-449X 3 , 4 ,
• Stephen R. Carpenter   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0001-8097-8700 5 ,
• Sean A. Crowe   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0001-8071-2144 6 ,
• Sarah C. Donelan   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-4066-7884 7 ,
• Véronique C. Garçon   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-4041-1379 8 , 9 ,
• Marilaure Grégoire   ORCID: orcid.org/0009-0008-3112-4256 10 ,
• Stephen F. Jane   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0003-2968-359X 11 , 12   nAff16 ,
• Peter R. Leavitt   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0001-9805-9307 13 ,
• Lisa A. Levin   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-2858-8622 4 ,
• Andreas Oschlies   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-8295-4013 14 &
• Denise Breitburg   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-5453-6973 15  

Nature Ecology & Evolution ( 2024 ) Cite this article

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• Biogeochemistry
• Freshwater ecology
• Marine chemistry

Planetary boundaries represent thresholds in major Earth system processes that are sensitive to human activity and control global-scale habitability and stability. These processes are interconnected such that movement of one planetary boundary process can alter the likelihood of crossing other boundaries. Here we argue that the observed deoxygenation of the Earth’s freshwater and marine ecosystems represents an additional planetary boundary process that is critical to the integrity of Earth’s ecological and social systems, and both regulates and responds to ongoing changes in other planetary boundary processes. Research on the rapid and ongoing deoxygenation of Earth’s aquatic habitats indicates that relevant, critical oxygen thresholds are being approached at rates comparable to other planetary boundary processes. Concerted global monitoring, research and policy efforts are needed to address the challenges brought on by rapid deoxygenation, and the expansion of the planetary boundaries framework to include deoxygenation as a boundary helps to focus those efforts.

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Acknowledgements

K.C.R. acknowledges support from US National Science Foundation (NSF) grant nos 2048031 and 1754265. E.M.F. acknowledges graduate support from the NSF GRFP (UCSD DGE-2038238), UC San Diego (PPPF) and the Aburto Lab at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, and postdoctoral support from UC Santa Cruz. S.R.C. acknowledges support from the North Temperate Lakes Long-Term Ecological Research programme from the NSF Cooperative Agreement no. DEB-2025982. S.C.D. acknowledges support from NSF grant no. IOS-2345023. V.C.G. and M.G. acknowledge support from the CE2COAST project funded by ANR (FR), BELSPO (BE), FCT (PT), IZM (LV), MI (IE), MIUR (IT), Rannis (IS), IRP MAST (Multiscale Adaptive Strategies) and RCN (NO) through the 2019 ‘Joint Transnational Call on Next Generation Climate Science in Europe for Oceans’ initiated by JPI Climate and JPI Oceans. V.C.G. also acknowledges support from the EU H2020 FutureMares project (Theme LC-CLA-06-2019, grant agreement no. 869300) and the Scientific Committee on Oceanic Research (SCOR) Working Group 155, funded by national SCOR committees and a grant to SCOR from the NSF (grant no. OCE-1840868). P.R.L. acknowledges support from the Canada Research Chairs programme and grants from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada. M.G. acknowledges support from the EU H2020 BRIDGE-BS project under grant agreement no. 101000240 and the EU HE NECCTON project under grant agreement no. 101081273. S.F.J. was supported by the Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability. S.F.J. was also partially supported by a Society of Science Postdoctoral Fellowship from the University of Notre Dame. L.A.L. acknowledges support from an NSF AccelNet Program award no. 2114717 via University of Texas subaward no. 308056-0001A and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science Competitive Research Program under award no. NA18NOS4780172. V.C.G., L.A.L., D.B., A.O., S.C. and M.G. acknowledge fruitful discussions around the topic of deoxygenation as a potential planetary boundary, which took place within the Global Ocean Oxygen Network Working Group being supported by IOC UNESCO.

Author information

Stephen F. Jane

Present address: Department of Biology, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA

Authors and Affiliations

Department of Biological Sciences, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, USA

Kevin C. Rose

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, USA

Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, USA

Erica M. Ferrer

Center for Marine Biodiversity and Conservation, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA

Erica M. Ferrer & Lisa A. Levin

Center for Limnology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA

Stephen R. Carpenter

Departments of Microbiology and Immunology and Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Sean A. Crowe

Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, North Dartmouth, MA, USA

Sarah C. Donelan

CNRS—Laboratoire d’Etudes en Géophysique et Océanographie Spatiales, Toulouse, France

Véronique C. Garçon

CNRS - Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris, Paris, France

MAST-FOCUS, Department of Astrophysics, Geophysics and Oceanography, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium

Marilaure Grégoire

Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA

Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA

Institute of Environmental Change and Society, University of Regina, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada

Peter R. Leavitt

GEOMAR Helmholtz-Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Kiel, Germany

Andreas Oschlies

Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, Edgewater, MD, USA

Denise Breitburg

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All authors (K.C.R., E.M.F., S.R.C., S.C., S.C.D., V.C.G., M.G., S.F.J., P.R.L., L.A.L., A.O. and D.B.) contributed to the writing and editing of this manuscript.

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Rose, K.C., Ferrer, E.M., Carpenter, S.R. et al. Aquatic deoxygenation as a planetary boundary and key regulator of Earth system stability. Nat Ecol Evol (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-024-02448-y

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DOI : https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-024-02448-y

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