Ecological indicators of environmental change: Diagnose, Evaluate and Anticipate Dept. Seminar Series, Dept. of Environmental Science, School of Science, University of Namibia

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Human activities have profoundly altered the planet, prompting some to label this era the Anthropocene. A scientific, data-driven understanding of how ecosystems respond to external pressures is essential for developing effective adaptation strategies. Ecological indicators help track atmospheric changes due to human influence. Taxonomic metrics, used for over a century, show that species respond differently to environmental stress: sensitive species vanish, others endure. While sulphur dioxide once drove biodiversity loss, nitrogen pollution has been the dominant factor since the 1980s. If emission reductions succeed, climate change will likely become the primary force shaping species diversity. A synthesis of ecological indicator results will illustrate how the Anthropocene continues to reshape ecosystems.