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Globalization: Ecological Consequences of Global-Scale Connectivity in People, Resources, and Information

Globalization is a phenomenon affecting all facets of the Earth System. Within the context of ecological systems, it is becoming increasingly apparent that global connectivity among terrestrial systems, the atmosphere, and oceans is driving many ecological dynamics at finer scales and pushing thresholds of change (Fagre et al., 2009; MEA, 2005; Rial et al., 2004). For example, increasing atmospheric CO2 and other greenhouse gases are increasing temperature and modifying precipitation regimes with shortand long-term impacts on ecological systems (IPCC, 2007). Changes in climate also have secondary effects by influencing disturbance regimes, such as changing the intensity of North American hurricanes that link to rainfall patterns in Africa (Emanual, 2005; Trenberth, 2005). Climate also interacts with terrestrial systems to alter wildfire regimes and to connect large areas within a continent as well as connecting locations globally through particulates in the atmosphere (Allen 2007; Dale et al., 2001; Kitzberger et al., 2007). Massive dust storms driven by hot and dry weather interacting with human activities can connect continents, such as dust storms in Asia that deposit dust particles in North America (Jaffe et al., 2003). Glacier melt in polar regions is increasing sea level globally with consequences for nearshore and inland ecosystems (Hopkinson et al., 2008). Movement of humans through improved transportation is leading to spread of pests and pathogens with ecological consequences for agricultural crops (Perrings et al., 2010). Long-distance movement of invasive plants and animals is often facilitated by human activities (Crowl et al., 2008). In addition, fine-scale ecological dynamics can propagate spatially to influence broad spatial extents with feedbacks to global drivers (Peters et al., 2004a). Dust storms in Asia are initiated as cultivated marginal lands in dry years that become connected by wind and water. Erosion and deposition of soil, nutrients, and dust particles occur locally, but also propagate to regions and continents (Field et al., 2010). As the dry conditions continue, large dust storms can develop with transport of materials eventually to North America. Similar intraand inter-continental dynamics have been observed historically with the Dust Bowl in the central U.S. (Peters et al., 2006a), in the southwestern US (Neff et al., 2008), and in Antarctica (McConnell et al., 2007), and are occurring in the deserts of Africa and Asia to contribute to most of the global mineral aerosol load (Tanaka & Chiba, 2006).