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4604 
Journal Article 
Human domination of Earth's ecosystems 
Vitousek, PM; Mooney, HA; Lubchenco, J; Melillo, JM 
1997 
1 
Science
ISSN: 0036-8075
EISSN: 1095-9203 
277 
5325 
494-499 
WOS:A1997XM86700030 
Human alteration of Earth is substantial and growing. Between one-third and one-half of the land surface has been transformed by human action; the carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere has increased by nearly 30 percent since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution; more atmospheric nitrogen is fixed by humanity than by all natural terrestrial sources combined; more than half of all accessible surface fresh water is put to use by humanity; and about one-quarter of the bird species on Earth have been driven to extinction. By these and other standards, it is clear that we live on a human-dominated planet.