Eawag Annual Report 2022

30
Bärbel Zierl, Eawag
New theory helps to protect ecosystems
In the picture As part of
the Blue-Green Biodiversity
research initiative, blue and
green biodiversity are being
researched together.
Ecosystems sometimes react very differently to human influences. However, the
causes for this are still poorly understood. A new integrative approach now shows
how ecosystems on land and in the water can be better protected if fundamental
ecological processes are taken into account.
Some ecosystems are very sensitive to climate warming,
others are less affected. Where does this difference
come from? This question was investigated by a
group of scientists from the WSL and Eawag research
institutes as part of the Blue-Green Biodiversity (BGB)
research initiative. They have developed an integrative
approach with which the different reactions can be explained.
This theory links human impacts to four fundamental
processes that shape species diversity at a site
– species dispersal, species formation, species level
selection and ecological drift – and analyses whether
the relative importance of the processes differs in terrestrial
and freshwater ecosystems
Because if it is known which processes are most influential
at a specific time, measures can be applied
in a more targeted manner. This means: for example,
if ecosystems are strongly affected by ecological drift,
i.e. populations are declining rapidly, the primary objective
could be to protect population sizes and conserve
large-scale habitats. If human activities primarily limit
species dispersal, measures should be taken to better
connect the remaining habitats. And if warming is the
main problem, the objective could be to create shady,
cool habitats that provide refuge for animals and plants.
BGB
More about
the project
A path into the future
The research team hopes that the proposed approach
will provide nature conservation practitioners and authorities
with new instruments to protect biodiversity.