Consequences of nuclear accidents for biodiversity and ecosystem services
Publikation: Beiträge in Zeitschriften › Übersichtsarbeiten › Forschung
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in: Conservation Letters, Jahrgang 5, Nr. 2, 01.04.2012, S. 81-89.
Publikation: Beiträge in Zeitschriften › Übersichtsarbeiten › Forschung
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Consequences of nuclear accidents for biodiversity and ecosystem services
AU - von Wehrden, Henrik
AU - Fischer, J.
AU - Brandt, P.
AU - Wagner, Viktoria
AU - Kümmerer, K.
AU - Kuemmerle, Tobias
AU - Nagel, Anne
AU - Olsson, O.
AU - Hostert, Patrick
N1 - FP7: 265104
PY - 2012/4/1
Y1 - 2012/4/1
N2 - Nuclear energy is a potential solution to electricity demand but also entails risks.Policy debates on nuclear accidents have focused primarily on negative impacts on humans. Although such impacts are important, we argue that policy debates must also consider the consequences for biodiversity and ecosystem services. Wereviewed 521 studies conducted after the Chernobyl accident, the most severenuclear accident in history. Elevated radiation levels have been recorded among adiversity of species, even up to thousands of kilometers away from the meltdown site, and after more than two decades following the accident. Close to the reactor, physiological and morphological changes have occurred. Negative effects on ecosystem services have been observed, including the contamination of water, soils, and wild food supplies. Informed policy decisions on nuclear energy require a greater understanding of the consequences of accidents, including effects on biodiversity and ecosystem services. Based on our review, we recommend to (1) fully incorporate risks for biodiversity and ecosystem services into policy debates; (2) develop a coherent information chain regarding such risks; (3) use proactive planning strategies to be prepared for potential accidents, and (4) develop a coherent research agenda on the consequences of nuclear accidents for biodiversity and ecosystem services.
AB - Nuclear energy is a potential solution to electricity demand but also entails risks.Policy debates on nuclear accidents have focused primarily on negative impacts on humans. Although such impacts are important, we argue that policy debates must also consider the consequences for biodiversity and ecosystem services. Wereviewed 521 studies conducted after the Chernobyl accident, the most severenuclear accident in history. Elevated radiation levels have been recorded among adiversity of species, even up to thousands of kilometers away from the meltdown site, and after more than two decades following the accident. Close to the reactor, physiological and morphological changes have occurred. Negative effects on ecosystem services have been observed, including the contamination of water, soils, and wild food supplies. Informed policy decisions on nuclear energy require a greater understanding of the consequences of accidents, including effects on biodiversity and ecosystem services. Based on our review, we recommend to (1) fully incorporate risks for biodiversity and ecosystem services into policy debates; (2) develop a coherent information chain regarding such risks; (3) use proactive planning strategies to be prepared for potential accidents, and (4) develop a coherent research agenda on the consequences of nuclear accidents for biodiversity and ecosystem services.
KW - Ecosystems Research
KW - Caesium
KW - Chernobyl
KW - Nuclear
KW - energy
KW - Radiation
KW - Reactor meltdown
KW - Caesium
KW - Chernobyl
KW - Nuclear energy
KW - Radiation
KW - Reactor meltdown
KW - Biology
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84859576111&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - https://www.mendeley.com/catalogue/61c6dd9a-10b9-36f2-8e90-ae06dc6d68b3/
U2 - 10.1111/j.1755-263X.2011.00217.x
DO - 10.1111/j.1755-263X.2011.00217.x
M3 - Scientific review articles
AN - SCOPUS:84859576111
VL - 5
SP - 81
EP - 89
JO - Conservation Letters
JF - Conservation Letters
SN - 1755-263X
IS - 2
ER -