Hemeroby

Hemeroby, or hemerochora is a term used in botanical and ecological sciences. It is often associated to naturalness as the complementary term, ^[1] with a high degree of hemeroby equating to a high human influence on a natural environment. ^[2] However, the two terms are not inversely related. ^[3]

Etymology

The term is derived from the Greek hémeros and bíos. The word hemero-, hemer- means tame, cultivated. Bios is life. Hemeroby literally means "tamed life".

Quantification

Various scales for quantifying hemeroby have been devised. ^[2]

Since the emergence of humans around 2.5 million years ago, biodiversity has faced a steady decline, escalating sharply with the advent of agriculture approximately 10,000 years ago. This transformation has led to a significant reduction in both plant and animal biodiversity, as domesticated species evolved under specific conditions like fertilizer use, tillage, and land use changes. These practices, essential for agricultural productivity, contribute to a state known as hemeroby, where natural habitats are increasingly altered by human influence, resulting in declines of wild organisms and overall ecological integrity.

The human population has mirrored these changes, growing from an estimated 1 to 10 million individuals over the first 2.5 million years, to between 5 to 20 million within just 5,000 years following the inception of agriculture. This dramatic shift necessitates a continuous increase in food production—today, over 38% of the Earth's surface is dedicated to agricultural activities. While agricultural intensification aims to enhance production per unit area, it further exacerbates biodiversity loss, reflecting a higher degree of hemeroby. Together, agricultural expansion and intensification are identified as primary drivers of biodiversity decline in the 21st century, underscoring the urgent need to address their ecological impact. ^[4]

See also

• Human impact on the environment
• Rewilding
• Ruderal species

References

1. G Grabherr. "Hemeroby of austrian forest ecosystems". Department of Conservation Biology, Vegetation Ecology and Landscape Ecology of the University of Vienna. Archived from the original on 2011-07-03.
2. M. O. Hill; D. B. Roy; K. Thompson (2002). "Hemeroby, urbanity and ruderality: bioindicators of disturbance and human impact". Journal of Applied Ecology. 39 (5): 708–720. Bibcode:2002JApEc..39..708H. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2664.2002.00746.x . ISSN   0021-8901.
3. Winter, S. (29 February 2012). "Forest naturalness assessment as a component of biodiversity monitoring and conservation management". Forestry. 85 (2): 293–304. doi: 10.1093/forestry/cps004 .
4. Barros-Rodríguez, Adoración; Rangseekaew, Pharada; Lasudee, Krisana; Pathom-aree, Wasu; Manzanera, Maximino (2021-10-28). "Impacts of Agriculture on the Environment and Soil Microbial Biodiversity". Plants. 10 (11) 2325. doi: 10.3390/plants10112325 . ISSN   2223-7747. PMC   8619008 . PMID   34834690.