Scientists’ warning to humanity: microorganisms and climate change

Ricardo Cavicchioli; William J. Ripple; Kenneth N. Timmis; Farooq Azam; Lars R. Bakken; Matthew Baylis; Michael J. Behrenfeld; Antje Boetius; Philip W. Boyd; Aimée T. Classen; Thomas W. Crowther; Roberto Danovaro; Christine M. Foreman; Jef Huisman; David A. Hutchins; Janet K. Jansson; David M. Karl; Britt Koskella; David B. Mark Welch; Jennifer B.H. Martiny; Mary Ann Moran; Victoria J. Orphan; David S. Reay; Justin V. Remais; Virginia I. Rich; Brajesh K. Singh; Lisa Y. Stein; Frank J. Stewart; Matthew B. Sullivan; Madeleine J.H. van Oppen; Scott C. Weaver; Eric A. Webb; Nicole S. Webster

doi:10.1038/s41579-019-0222-5

Scientists’ warning to humanity: microorganisms and climate change

Ricardo Cavicchioli, William J. Ripple, Kenneth N. Timmis, Farooq Azam, Lars R. Bakken, Matthew Baylis, Michael J. Behrenfeld, Antje Boetius, Philip W. Boyd, Aimée T. Classen, Thomas W. Crowther, Roberto Danovaro, Christine M. Foreman, Jef Huisman, David A. Hutchins, Janet K. Jansson, David M. Karl, Britt Koskella, David B. Mark Welch, Jennifer B.H. MartinyMary Ann Moran, Victoria J. Orphan, David S. Reay, Justin V. Remais, Virginia I. Rich, Brajesh K. Singh, Lisa Y. Stein, Frank J. Stewart, Matthew B. Sullivan, Madeleine J.H. van Oppen, Scott C. Weaver, Eric A. Webb, Nicole S. Webster

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

1120 Scopus citations

Abstract

In the Anthropocene, in which we now live, climate change is impacting most life on Earth. Microorganisms support the existence of all higher trophic life forms. To understand how humans and other life forms on Earth (including those we are yet to discover) can withstand anthropogenic climate change, it is vital to incorporate knowledge of the microbial ‘unseen majority’. We must learn not just how microorganisms affect climate change (including production and consumption of greenhouse gases) but also how they will be affected by climate change and other human activities. This Consensus Statement documents the central role and global importance of microorganisms in climate change biology. It also puts humanity on notice that the impact of climate change will depend heavily on responses of microorganisms, which are essential for achieving an environmentally sustainable future.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	569-586
Number of pages	18
Journal	Nature Reviews Microbiology
Volume	17
Issue number	9
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/s41579-019-0222-5
State	Published - Sep 1 2019
Externally published	Yes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Microbiology
General Immunology and Microbiology
Infectious Diseases

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Cavicchioli, R., Ripple, W. J., Timmis, K. N., Azam, F., Bakken, L. R., Baylis, M., Behrenfeld, M. J., Boetius, A., Boyd, P. W., Classen, A. T., Crowther, T. W., Danovaro, R., Foreman, C. M., Huisman, J., Hutchins, D. A., Jansson, J. K., Karl, D. M., Koskella, B., Mark Welch, D. B., ... Webster, N. S. (2019). Scientists’ warning to humanity: microorganisms and climate change. Nature Reviews Microbiology, 17(9), 569-586. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41579-019-0222-5

Cavicchioli, R, Ripple, WJ, Timmis, KN, Azam, F, Bakken, LR, Baylis, M, Behrenfeld, MJ, Boetius, A, Boyd, PW, Classen, AT, Crowther, TW, Danovaro, R, Foreman, CM, Huisman, J, Hutchins, DA, Jansson, JK, Karl, DM, Koskella, B, Mark Welch, DB, Martiny, JBH, Moran, MA, Orphan, VJ, Reay, DS, Remais, JV, Rich, VI, Singh, BK, Stein, LY, Stewart, FJ, Sullivan, MB, van Oppen, MJH, Weaver, SC, Webb, EA & Webster, NS 2019, 'Scientists’ warning to humanity: microorganisms and climate change', Nature Reviews Microbiology, vol. 17, no. 9, pp. 569-586. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41579-019-0222-5

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abstract = "In the Anthropocene, in which we now live, climate change is impacting most life on Earth. Microorganisms support the existence of all higher trophic life forms. To understand how humans and other life forms on Earth (including those we are yet to discover) can withstand anthropogenic climate change, it is vital to incorporate knowledge of the microbial {\textquoteleft}unseen majority{\textquoteright}. We must learn not just how microorganisms affect climate change (including production and consumption of greenhouse gases) but also how they will be affected by climate change and other human activities. This Consensus Statement documents the central role and global importance of microorganisms in climate change biology. It also puts humanity on notice that the impact of climate change will depend heavily on responses of microorganisms, which are essential for achieving an environmentally sustainable future.",

author = "Ricardo Cavicchioli and Ripple, {William J.} and Timmis, {Kenneth N.} and Farooq Azam and Bakken, {Lars R.} and Matthew Baylis and Behrenfeld, {Michael J.} and Antje Boetius and Boyd, {Philip W.} and Classen, {Aim{\'e}e T.} and Crowther, {Thomas W.} and Roberto Danovaro and Foreman, {Christine M.} and Jef Huisman and Hutchins, {David A.} and Jansson, {Janet K.} and Karl, {David M.} and Britt Koskella and {Mark Welch}, {David B.} and Martiny, {Jennifer B.H.} and Moran, {Mary Ann} and Orphan, {Victoria J.} and Reay, {David S.} and Remais, {Justin V.} and Rich, {Virginia I.} and Singh, {Brajesh K.} and Stein, {Lisa Y.} and Stewart, {Frank J.} and Sullivan, {Matthew B.} and {van Oppen}, {Madeleine J.H.} and Weaver, {Scott C.} and Webb, {Eric A.} and Webster, {Nicole S.}",

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AU - Mark Welch, David B.

AU - Martiny, Jennifer B.H.

AU - Moran, Mary Ann

AU - Orphan, Victoria J.

AU - Reay, David S.

AU - Remais, Justin V.

AU - Rich, Virginia I.

AU - Singh, Brajesh K.

AU - Stein, Lisa Y.

AU - Stewart, Frank J.

AU - Sullivan, Matthew B.

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Scientists’ warning to humanity: microorganisms and climate change

Abstract

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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