A call for studying the impact of multiple stressors on biological systems

Abstract

Biological systems are frequently subjected to multiple environmental stressors, simultaneously or sequentially. Recent studies indicate that the function of biological systems declines when the complexity of stress conditions increases. A shift from studying single to multiple stressors is needed to understand how biological systems respond to stress under natural conditions. Biological systems are exposed to complex combinations of environmental stressors, yet research often studies single stress conditions in isolation. In this Comment, the authors argue that studying multifactorial stress combinations is essential for understanding biological responses and improving resilience in crops, ecosystems and human health.