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. 2001 Dec 21;294(5551):2549-52.
doi: 10.1126/science.1064375.

Human appropriation of photosynthesis products

S Rojstaczer  1 , S M Sterling, N J Moore
Affiliations

Human appropriation of photosynthesis products

S Rojstaczer et al. Science. .

Abstract

Previous global estimates of the human impact on terrestrial photosynthesis products depended heavily on extrapolation from plot-scale measurements. Here, we estimated this impact with the use of recent data, many of which were collected at global and continental scales. Monte Carlo techniques that incorporate known and estimated error in our parameters provided estimates of uncertainty. We estimate that humans appropriate 10 to 55% of terrestrial photosynthesis products. This broad range reflects uncertainty in key parameters and makes it difficult to ascertain whether we are approaching crisis levels in our use of the planet's resources. Improved estimates will require high-resolution global measures within agricultural lands and tropical forests.

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Comment in

  • Global change. Sharing the garden.
    Field CB. Field CB. Science. 2001 Dec 21;294(5551):2490-1. doi: 10.1126/science.1066317. Science. 2001. PMID: 11752562 No abstract available.
  • Human appropriation of net primary production.
    Haberl H, Krausmann F, Erb KH, Schulz NB. Haberl H, et al. Science. 2002 Jun 14;296(5575):1968-9; author reply 1968-9. doi: 10.1126/science.296.5575.1968. Science. 2002. PMID: 12066820 No abstract available.

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