"If we spoke a different language, we would perceive a somewhat different world"
— Ludwig Wittgenstein
There is a fundamental need to define and shape the emerging field of Biogeoscience. The physical, chemical, and biological sciences continue to expand, and bridging these disciplines is necessary to promote growth. Developing a common definition helps to bring together the biogeoscience community and establishes an identity, which will have broad repercussions in funding, employment, and research.
Here we present a collection of definitions and list articles that have helped to shape Biogeoscience.
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Learn about the history and orgins of Biogeosciences.org and the Biogeoscience Working Group. Look here for background information on the members of the Working Group and contacts.
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Learn about specific scientists and the types of research being conducted.
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Definitions:
Living organisms affect the chemical and physical composition of the atmosphere, oceans, and solid earth. Similarly, the physical systems of the earth have major impacts on individual organisms as well as entire ecosystems. Changes in either system are reflected physically, chemically and biologically. These changes occur across an extensive range of spatial and temporal scales. The study of how these systems interact and develop together through time is known as biogeoscience.
Biogeosciences - the study of the fundamental interactions between life and the Earth's atmosphere, hydrosphere, and geosphere, and potentially includes such life on other planets. (Biogeosciences Working Group)
Geobiology - the study of the interactions that occur between the biosphere (living organisms and their products) and the geosphere. Therefore, it must include elements of the atmosphere, the hydrosphere (marine and freshwater), and the lithosphere. (Summons, 2003)
Geobiology - the study of how organisms have influenced and been influenced by the Earth's environmental history... the goal of geobiology is to provide a biological perspective on Earth history (Knoll and Hayes, 2000)
Geobiology - a field of scientific inquiry that is arising from the recognition that biological, physical, and chemical processes at the surface and shallow subsurface of Earth are inextricably linked at all scales of space and time. (Kump, 2002)
Geobiology - The direct link between life and Earth's environmental history. the role of organisms as geologic agents. (Amend et al., 2001)
References:
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Amend, J.P., Fedo, C., Cady, S.L., and Konhauser, K.O., 2001, Dialogue: Geobiology and Geomicrobiology in the 21st Century: GSA Today, v.11, n.10, p.10. |
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Hedin, L., Chadwick, O., Schimel, J., and Torn, M., 2002, Linking Ecological Biology & Geoscience: Challenges for Terrestrial Environmental Science: White Paper report to the National Science Foundation, 18 p. |
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Knoll, A.H. and Hayes, J.M., 1997, Geobiology: articulating a concept, in Lane, R.H. et al., eds., Paleontology in the 21st Century: Frankfurt, International Senckenberg Conference: Kleine Senckenberg, v.25, p. 105-108. |
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Knoll, A.H. and Hayes, J.M., 2000, Geobiology: Problems and Prospects, in Lane, R.H., Steininger, F.F., Kaesler, R.L., Ziegler, W., and Lipps, J., eds., Fossils and the Future: Paleontology in the 21st Century: Senckenberg-Buch n.74, p. 149. |
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Kump, L., 2002, The Virtual Journal of Geobiology, from Elsevier Virtual Journal of Geobiology Web site: http://earth.elsevier.com/geobiology |
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Maples, C.G., 2000, Geobiology: Funding Strategies, in Lane, R.H., Steininger, F.F., Kaesler, R.L., Ziegler, W., and Lipps, J., eds., Fossils and the Future: Paleontology in the 21st Century: Senckenberg-Buch n.74, p. 69. |
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Nealson, K., Ghiorse, W.A.,.2001, Geobiology: Exploring the Interface between the Biosphere and the Geosphere: American Society for Microbiology Report, 23 p. |
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Neff, J. and Hedin, L., 2002, Building a home for the biogeosciences: Challenges for understanding terrestrial ecosystems: EOS, v.83, p. 15. |
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Noffke, N., 2002, The Concept of Geobiological Studies: the Example of Bacterially Generated Structures in Physical Sedimentary Systems: Palaios, v.17, p. 531-532. |
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Pennisi, Elizabeth, 2002. Geobiologists: As diverse as the bugs they study. Science, vol. 296, pp. 1058-1060. |
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Pfirman, S. and AC-ERE, 2003, Complex Environmental Systems: Synthesis for Earth, Life, and Society in the 21st Century: A report summarizing a 10-year outlook in environmental research and education for the National Science Foundation, 68 p. |
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Pfirman, S. and AC-ERE, 2003, Complex Environmental Systems: Synthesis for Earth, Life, and Society in the 21st Century: A report summarizing a 10-year outlook in environmental research and education for the National Science Foundation, 68 p. |
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Summons, R., 2003, What is Geobiology?, from Roger Summons Research Group Web site:http://eaps.mit.edu/geobiology/geobiology.html |
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