Premium
Biogeomorphology: diverse, integrative and useful
Author(s) -
Coombes Martin A.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
earth surface processes and landforms
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.294
H-Index - 127
eISSN - 1096-9837
pISSN - 0197-9337
DOI - 10.1002/esp.4055
Subject(s) - landform , relevance (law) , field (mathematics) , diversity (politics) , scope (computer science) , psychological resilience , earth science , ecology , environmental resource management , computer science , geography , sociology , environmental science , geology , political science , psychology , biology , cartography , mathematics , anthropology , pure mathematics , law , psychotherapist , programming language
Biogeomorphology is an umbrella term given to a highly‐active research area within geomorphology that focusses on the many and varied interactions and feedbacks between organisms and the physical Earth. In the last 25 years this interest has developed and diversified to include the direct and indirect influences of microorganisms, plants, animals and humans on earth surface processes and landform dynamics, and the roles of geomorphology in ecological functioning, resilience and evolution. This Commentary introduces a virtual special issue of 16 research papers and three ‘State of Science’ pieces, illustrating the diversity of the field, its continued theoretical and conceptual progression, and the applied relevance of biogeomorphological science in tackling environmental problems. Collectively, these papers demonstrate the merits of – and opportunities for – biogeomorphology as an inherently integrative science in understanding and managing the complexity of living landscapes. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.