Impact of climate change
the possible effects of climate change in
on microbial biodiversity
Date: December 21, 2016
Source: University of Helsinki
The scientists discovered that climate change
affects biodiversity most strongly in the most
natural environments, as well as the most
nutrient enriched environments. This means
that these extremes are most susceptible to
future changes in temperatures.
The results are just published in the
journal Nature Communications.
We still know fairly little about the specific
impacts of climate change and human
activity, such as nutrient enrichment of
waterways, on broad geographical scales.
Researchers from the Department of
Geosciences and Geography at the
University of Helsinki, the Finnish
Environment Institute, and the Nanjing
Institute of Geography and Limnology,
Chinese Academy of Sciences have studied
hundreds of microcosms in mountainous
regions with the aid of natural temperature
gradients in the studied areas, while
modifying the enrichment level in field tests.
The results indicate that the bacteria in
elevated tropical areas are similar to e.g.
those in arctic areas. As a result of changes
in temperature and aquatic enrichment,
significant alterations occur in the
microcosms, and as the enrichment
increases, biodiversity reduces, says
Associate Professor Janne Soininen.
Species adapted to austere conditions in
danger
Experiments in mountainous regions
indicated that differentiating between the
effects of temperature variations and aquatic
nutrient enrichment can help us understand
different environments. The typically
austere, i.e. nutrient-poor, waters in the
north, for example, are extremely
susceptible to temperature variations, and
as the climate warms up, species that have
adapted to the cold will decline. The only
good news is that biodiversity may improve
at first, as the climate warms up, as species
that thrive in warmer areas increase, until
biodiversity again starts to decline when the
temperature continues to rise.
Another significant finding in this research
was that, like plants and animals, different
species of bacteria clearly live at different
levels of elevation, and the bacteria in high
mountain areas in the tropics are similar to
the bacteria in arctic areas, due to the
similar cold climate.
Remote sensing is
becoming increasingly
important in biodiversity
research
Date: December 12, 2016
Source: Helmholtz Centre For
Environmental Research - UFZ
To measure biodiversity, researchers have been
using various methods of remote sensing for about
30 years in addition to traditional field studies.
Under the auspices of UFZ scientists, an
international team of researchers present current
opportunities, developments and prospects of
remote sensing in the journal Ecological
Indicators and highlight its enormous potential in
assisting future biodiversity research.
The consequences of climate change are
evidenced, inter alia, by changes in biodiversity. A
key task of biodiversity research is to record the
current situation, study processes within
ecosystems and identify possible changes as well
as disturbances. "To do this we need reliable data
across large areas and close periods of time," says
UFZ Landscape Ecologist PD Dr. Angela Lausch.
"Various remote sensing methods already meet
these requirements in a remarkable way." By using
satellite images, the distribution of a plant species to
be studied can, for example, be determined based
on its growth habit, leaf shape, leaf geometry,
phenology or flower colour -- over large areas and
over time. In addition, satellites are equipped with
spectral sensors which help to distinguish and
record plant species or plant communities based on
their specific biochemical properties (chlorophyll,
cellulose, leaf water content or protein content, etc.).
Depending on the question being studied, the
methods of remote sensing generally vary in their
capability to measure biological diversity. When
choosing the method, it must always be considered
whether the remote sensing sensor can actually
measure the selected key parameters -- that is,
whether the spectral, spatial or temporal resolution
is adequate in answering the question and what
conclusions can be derived from this for biodiversity
research. "Looking ahead, it is therefore essential
that biologists, ecologists, geographers and remote
sensing specialists cooperate more closely than has
previously been the case and become better
acquainted with the discourse of others," says UFZ
biodiversity researcher Prof. Josef Settele, co-
author of the study. The traits of plants, animals,
water and soil are what links remote sensing to
other disciplines," adds Lausch.
The hyperspectral satellite EnMAP (Environmental
Mapping and Analysis Program) is due to be
launched in 2018 and will provide image data with
very high spectral resolution. Hyperspectral remote
sensing could then be used to measure many more
biochemical parameters, such as nitrogen,
phosphate or the water content in leaf tissue.
"EnMAP will significantly improve the identification
of species and plant communities via remote
sensing. However, the greatest potential offered by
hyperspectral remote sensing lies in measuring
processes and disturbances within ecosystems over
large areas," says Lausch. "The data produced by
the EnMAP satellite will be freely available to all
users. We, in biodiversity research, should therefore
be prepared to recognise and leverage the potential
of the new generation of satellites."
However, we will still need field studies, where
samples are collected, species and plant
communities recorded and ecosystem processes --
such as photosynthesis activity or the ability to bind
carbon -- are identified. Unlike remote sensing, they
only represent a local and temporary sample and
are also time-consuming, costly and usually tedious
to evaluate. However, they provide crucial
information that cannot be recorded via remote
sensing -- such as information on ecological
potency, stress behaviour and the adaptability of
species and plant communities. In addition, they are
indispensable for evaluating and interpreting remote
sensing data. "One is not possible without the
other," says Lausch. "Biodiversity can only be
measured more accurately than before and
processes, including their changes and
disturbances, mapped on various spatial and
temporal scales by combining in-situ studies and
remote sensing."
However, in terms of practical implementation, there
are still a few stumbling blocks, says Lausch. A
typical stumbling block is the fact that worldwide
there are still very few uniform standards dedicated
to measuring biodiversity data. In addition, the link
between field and remote sensing data must be
optimised so that it is easier to aggregate large,
complex and heterogeneous data volumes and data
can be more easily evaluated and transferred to
models.
A key step in this direction is the so-called
"Essential Biodiversity Variables" (EBV), the
development of which has been possible due to the
efforts of scientists such as Angela Lausch and
many of her co-authors worldwide.
Defining conservation
priorities in tropical and
biodiversity rich countries
Date: November 24, 2016
Source: University of Nottingham
While recent initiatives have attempted to address
conservation priorities at global and national scales,
most of these focus on developed countries in
temperate regions. There is a need, say experts at
The University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus
(UNMC), to develop similar strategies in developing
countries, especially in biodiversity hotspot areas.
K. Nagulendran (Nagu), a third year PhD student
with the School of Geographical and Environmental
Sciences, led a multi-stakeholder exercise involving
several hundred participants to identify conservation
priorities in Peninsular Malaysia. They have
produced a list of 35 ranked conservation issues
within seven general themes. The aim is to
influence policy-makers, practitioners and
researchers and ensure conservation becomes an
integral part of the development process. The
results -- 'A multi-stakeholder strategy to identify
conservation priorities in Peninsular Malaysia' --
have been published in the open access academic
journal Cogent Environmental Science.
The project makes the case for the prioritisation of
conservation actions in Peninsular Malaysia guided
by science, in consultation with a wide range of key
stakeholders. It is also important to focus collective
action given the limited resources available for
conservation activities.
Protecting Malaysia's wealth of biodiversity
Malaysia is part of the Sundaland Biodiversity
Hotspot and is ranked 12 globally in terms of its
National Biodiversity Index. Malaysia boasts a
wealth of biodiversity which includes 306 species of
mammals, 742 species of birds, 567 species of
reptiles and over 15,000 plant species. Although the
country has a target to increase terrestrial protected
areas from 13.8% of total land area in 2015 to 20%
by 2025, economic development has already had an
impact on wildlife. The Sumatran rhino has
disappeared altogether and the country has seen a
steady decline in the number of Malayan tigers.
Through a series of workshops and online surveys,
the objective of the research was to engage relevant
stakeholders in the identification of conservation
priority issues in Peninsular Malaysia; produce a list
of ranked conversation issues; and test differences
in priority perception among the stakeholders
involved in the exercise.
The results suggest that there should be:
improvements to policy and management to
champion biodiversity issues; a strengthening of
environmental laws and enforcement; recognition of
socio-economic issues especially among
indigenous and local communities; increases in
funding and resource allocation; knowledge,
research and development to inform decision
making; a greater understanding and protection of
the rights of nature and cultural heritage; a more
holistic public awareness and participation to bring
about change to promote conservation.
Balancing the need for economic development
Nagu works for the Malaysian Government's
Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. He
graduated with a Masters in Environmental
Management from The University of Nottingham in
2003 and has been recognised by the University for
his work in the evolution of Malaysia's policies on
the environment and natural resource management.
He said: "The country faces important trade-offs in
its aim to conserve biodiversity while balancing the
need for economic development. The project
allowed us to effectively engage a broad spectrum
of stakeholders -- including those in powerful and
influential positions. We hope this exercise can be
used as a blue print for conservation priorities and
policies in Malaysia and other tropical countries. By
making this paper open access, it can be available
to all. All of us need to understand that we can
make a change and choose a lifestyle that is more
harmonious with nature."
Malaysia is generally considered an example of
success in its smooth transition into modern
economy with an ambition to be a high income
economy by 2020. Malaysians below the poverty
line has been drastically reduced from 52% in 1957
(at independence) to less than 0.6% in 2014. This
rapid economic development, however, has come
with a cost to the environment. In 1940 almost 80%
of Peninsular Malaysia was under forest cover -- this
figure had dropped to 44% by 2014.
While the world is losing biodiversity at
unprecedented rate, the first objective of the
Convention on Biological Diversity adopted in 1992
is to conserve the earth's biodiversity. The Aichi
Biodiversity Targets renewed this mandate to
address and halt biodiversity loss by 2020.
Prioritisation of conservation approaches by
identification of issues will assist developing
countries with limited resources for conservation in
supporting the achievements of Aichi Targets as
illustrated in this paper.
The senior authors of the study are Dr Campos-
Arceiz, associate professor in Tropical Conservation
Ecology at UNMC, and Dr Rory Padfield, lecturer in
Geography at Oxford Brookes University. Dr
Campos-Arceiz said: "To generate ownership of the
issues and potential solutions there is a need for
inclusiveness and multi-stakeholder participation in
the identification of conservation priorities. Although
we will have contrasting perceptions of conservation
priorities, it is important to have multi-stakeholder
support and involvement to pursue our conservation
agenda."
Large-scale changes in
insect species inhabiting
streams and rivers
Date: December 1, 2016
Source: Utah State University
The lead author (Hawkins) commented:
"Scientists have known for decades that
many freshwater species are sensitive to
human-caused pollution and habitat
destruction. However, most previous studies
of the regional status of different species
have focused on relatively large
vertebrates." Hawkins said we know much
less about the status of insects and other
aquatic invertebrates that inhabit
freshwaters. These species tend to be small
and inconspicuous and therefore out of the
public eye, but they can be as important as
their larger counterparts. For example,
aquatic insects provide food to fish, and they
also help maintain high water quality by
consuming both algae and decaying organic
matter as well as filtering particulate matter
out of the water."
Hawkins said the biggest technical
challenge in conducting their study was to
determine what specific species likely
occurred in each of the many different types
of streams and rivers prior to the effects of
pollution and habitat alteration. "Ideally we
would compare current collection records
with data collected prior to pollution at each
stream, but such historical information does
not exist for the vast majority of streams and
rivers." He said, "Imagine having to
reconstruct a complex painting when over
90% of the painting has been altered or
destroyed and then use that reconstruction
to estimate what elements of the original
painting have been altered the most." The
authors solved this problem by using data
collected at different types of unpolluted,
'reference' rivers and streams in each region
to predict what specific species should have
occurred in all other streams. "We then
compared the species observed in each of
several hundred study streams with the ones
predicted to occur in each of those streams
under pre-polluted conditions."
Hawkins said "It's important to conduct
these types of studies, because these and
other species are the 'natural capital' that
creates the ecosystem products and
services that human societies depend on.
We need to manage that capital better than
we have in the past. Hawkins stated that the
approach the authors used in this study can
be applied to other regions to provide
critically important information on the status
of the thousands of freshwater species that
occur around the world.
Global change threatens
high-mountain plants able
to adapt to new
environmental conditions
Date: November 21, 2016
Source: University of Barcelona
High-mountain plant communities are one of the
most vulnerable groups to global climate change.
This phenomenon could threaten species living in
the highest areas, such as Saxifraga longifolia, a
plant in the Pyrenees with sophisticated
mechanisms to adapt to environmental changes.
This is one of the conclusions of a study published
in the scientific journal Plant Physiology by the
experts Sergi Munn-Bosch, Alba Cotado, Melanie
Morales and Eva Fleta-Soriano, from the
Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and
Environmental Sciences of the University of
Barcelona, and Maria B. Garcia and Jess Villellas
from the Pyrenean Institute of Ecology (IPE-CSIC).
How can this plant act towards global change?
Saxifraga longifolia is an herbaceous and perennial
plant, with populations with lots of reefs and scarps
of the Pyrenees, and sporadic in the Cantabrian
mountains, the Iberian System and mountain chains
in the south and east of the Peninsula. This
scientific work analysed for the first time the
physiological response and cell protection
mechanisms that Saxifraga longifolia uses to adapt
to the changes in the mountain ecosystems.
According to professor Sergi Munn-Bosc, first
author of the work and head of the Research Group
ANTIOX of the UB, current global change can affect
these species' physiology and death rate: "If global
change continues and increases with time, it will
probably endanger some plant species -with
possible biodiversity losses- and will make other
species to move and live in higher altitudes."
According to the published study and to Melanie
Morales, postdoctoral researcher of the group,
"levels of -tocoferol, a compound from vitamin E,
increase in populations of S. longifolia that are at a
higher altitude (2.100 meters)." -tocoferol protects
leaves from high solar radiation -usual in high-
mountain climate- and "helps the plant to protect
from oxidative damage by lowering lipid oxidation
levels in high-mountain populations."
In the highest areas of these ecosystems,
populations show a clonal growth, "a characteristic
only seen in high altitude populations" says
Morales. "In addition, alpine populations have a
lower rate of recruitment and higher death rate of
young plants, therefore bigger plants predominate.
In this plant, mortality is not linked to the size of
plants, like it has been said for other species."
An uncertain future for high-mountain plants
With the rise of global temperature, drought
episodes are more and more frequent; there is more
risk of forest fires and therefore, extinction of
species (especially the endemic ones). The biome
moves to higher altitudes, competition between
plants is clearer and microhabitats that allow the
presence of lots of adapted species to high-
mountains start to disappear.
"A priori, S. longifolia will not be successful to adapt
to future changes in natural ecosystems regarding
global change," says Alba Cotado. "In its current
natural habitat, S. longifolia doesn't have
competition problems with other species. But
transformation of plan communities in these
ecosystems involves an increase in competition,
and this affects slow-growth plants, that need high
light radiation and are used to cold weather, such
as S. longifolia." Moreover, the lack of genetic
diversity, caused by the space isolation of different
populations, adds another obstacle for that species
to face new environmental situations.
Preserving, protecting and restoring
Studying plant species like S. longifolia can improve
the understanding of key mechanisms in high-
mountain lives, not only at an individual level
(activation of different biochemical mechanisms),
but also in population (new reproductive strategies,
for example). "Knowing about these mechanisms
will enable facing future challenges in the field of
plant improvement, ecosystem preservation and the
mitigation of global change effects" says Alba
Cotado.
Melanie Morales says that "the melting of ice caps
is another big problem, since it could have a great
impact on hydric underground resources." The
European Union Strategy for the Alpine Region
(EUSALP) is the framework that recognizes the
alpine regions as environmental heritage with great
importance for preservation and protection of
unique ecosystems in mountain regions (Natura
2000, national parks, etc.). According to the expert,
"preservation, protection and restoration are the
three key points to ease the impacts: avoiding
situations of risk of fire, reforest, improve
management of hydric balances, among other
actions."