Human Domination of Earth's Ecosystems

• Published in: Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) Vol. 277; no. 5325; pp. 494 - 499
• Main Authors: Vitousek, Peter M., Mooney, Harold A., Lubchenco, Jane, Melillo, Jerry M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington American Society for the Advancement of Science 25-07-1997; American Association for the Advancement of Science; The American Association for the Advancement of Science
• Subjects: Agroecosystems; Biological invasions; Carbon dioxide; Ecosystems; Extinct species; Freshwater ecosystems; Habitat (Ecology); Habitat modification; Human beings; Human-Dominated Ecosystems; Human-environment interactions; Humanity; Humans; Influence on nature; Interdisciplinary Approach; Land Use; Marine ecosystems; Modification; Organic Chemistry; Semantics; Species; Terrestrial ecosystems
• ISSN: 0036-8075; 1095-9203
• DOI: 10.1126/science.277.5325.494

Human alteration of Earth is substantial and growing. Between one-third and one-half of the land surface has been transformed by human action; the carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere has increased by nearly 30 percent since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution; more atmospheric nitrogen is fixed by humanity than by all natural terrestrial sources combined; more than half of all accessible surface fresh water is put to use by humanity; and about one-quarter of the bird species on Earth have been driven to extinction. By these and other standards, it is clear that we live on a human-dominated planet.