journal article Jul 25, 1997

Human Domination of Earth's Ecosystems

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Abstract
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.
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6,632
Citations
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References
Details
Published
Jul 25, 1997
Vol/Issue
277(5325)
Pages
494-499
Authors
Cite This Article
Peter M. Vitousek, Harold A. Mooney, Jane Lubchenco, et al. (1997). Human Domination of Earth's Ecosystems. Science, 277(5325), 494-499. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.277.5325.494
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