Although most ecologists know that times are tough for tropical species, Corey Bradshaw, an Associate Professor at the University of Adelaide in South Australia, warns that the threats to biodiversity in the tropics may be even worse than previously imagined. In “Tropical turmoil: a biodiversity tragedy in progress”, a paper published in the March issue of Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, Dr. Bradshaw and his coauthors suggest that loss of habitat, intensive exploitation of resources, and the spread of invasive species – among a myriad of other factors – are magnifying extinctions throughout tropical ecosystems, including not just rainforests, but mangrove forests, savannas, coastal and nearshore marine environments, and limestone karst regions as well. Nor are the impacts of tropical degradation being felt solely by plants and animals; the ecosystem services provided by these biomes that are vital to the well-being of human populations at local, regional, and even global scales are also being disrupted at a rapidly increasing pace. In this installment of Beyond the Frontier, we talk with Dr. Bradshaw about the growing threats to tropical ecosystems and their inherent biodiversity.

A Rumble in the Jungle [ 16:42 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

What do storm protection, pollination, and clean water have in common? They are but some of the many benefits provided by the environment (collectively referred to as “ecosystem services”) that – either directly or indirectly – improve human well-being. The February issue of Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment is a Special Issue dedicated entirely to discussing the role of ecosystem services in conservation and resource management. In the latest installment of Beyond the Frontier, listen to Peter Kareiva explain the importance of these services, describe how “value” may be assigned to them, and reveal what he would like President Obama to know about them.

Ecosystems at Your Service [ 17:30 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download