Global change pressures on soils from land use and management

Soils are subject to varying degrees of direct or indirect human disturbance, constituting a major global change driver. Factoring out natural from direct and indirect human influence is not always straightforward, but some human activities have clear impacts. These include land use change, land management, and land degradation (erosion, compaction, sealing and salinization). The intensity of land use also exerts a great impact on soils, and soils are also subject to indirect impacts arising from human activity, such as acid deposition (sulphur and nitrogen) and heavy metal pollution. In this critical review, we report the state-of-the-art understanding of these global change pressures on soils, identify knowledge gaps and research challenges, and highlight actions and policies to minimise adverse environmental impacts arising from these global change drivers. Soils are central to considerations of what constitutes sustainable intensification. Therefore, ensuring that vulnerable and high environmental value soils are considered when protecting important habitats and ecosystems, will help to reduce the pressure on land from global change drivers. To ensure that soils are protected as part of wider environmental efforts, a global soil resilience programme should be considered, to monitor, recover or sustain soil fertility and function, and to enhance the ecosystem services provided by soils. Soils cannot, and should not, be considered in isolation of the ecosystems that they underpin and vice versa. The role of soils in supporting ecosystems and natural capital needs greater recognition. The lasting legacy of the International Year of Soils in 2015 should be to put soils at the centre of policy supporting environmental protection and sustainable development.

A sustainable agricultural landscape for Australia: A review of interlacing carbon sequestration, biodiversity and salinity management in agroforestry systems

Transformation of the south-western Australian landscape from deep-rooted woody vegetation systems to shallow-rooted annual cropping systems has resulted in the severe loss of biodiversity and this loss has been exacerbated by rising ground waters that have mobilised stored salts causing extensive dry land salinity. Since the original plant communities were mostly perennial and deep rooted, the model for sustainable agriculture and landscape water management invariably includes deep rooted trees. Commercial forestry is however only economical in higher rainfall (>700 mm yr���1) areas whereas much of the area where biodiversity is threatened has lower rainfall (300���700 mm yr���1). Agroforestry may provide the opportunity to develop new agricultural landscapes that interlace ecosystem services such as carbon mitigation via carbon sequestration and biofuels, biodiversity restoration, watershed management while maintaining food production. Active markets are developing for some of these ecosystem services, however a lack of predictive metrics and the regulatory environment are impeding the adoption of several ecosystem services. Nonetheless, a clear opportunity exists for four major issues ��� the maintenance of food and fibre production, salinisation, biodiversity decline and climate change mitigation ��� to be managed at a meaningful scale and a new, sustainable agricultural landscape to be developed.

A multi level analysis on pollination-related policies

The paper explores pollination from a multi level policy perspective and analyses the institutional fit and inter play of multi-faceted pollination-related policies. First, it asks what the major policies are that frame pollination at the EU level. Second, it explores the relationship between the EU policies and localised ways of understanding pollination. Addressed third is how the concept of ecosystem services can aid in under- standing the various ways of framing and governing the situation. The results show that the policy systems affecting pollination are abundant and that these systems create different kinds of pressure on stakeholders, at several levels of society. The local-level concerns are more about the loss of pollination services than about loss of pollinators. This points to the problem of fit between local activity driven by economic reasoning and biodiversity-driven EU policies. Here we see the concept of ecosystem services having some potential, since its operationalisation can combine economic and environmental considerations. Further- more, the analysis shows how, instead of formal institutions, it seems that social norms, habits, and motivation are the key to understanding and developing effective and attractive governance measures.

Resource-dependent livelihoods and the natural resource base

The natural resource base, terrestrial and marine, provides rural households in lower-income countries with income, food, shelter, and medicines, which are variously gathered and hunted in common lands and waters. These resources may be actively managed, whether by the government or local community; or may be de facto open access, with little effort by governments to prevent what may be de jure illegal extraction. This paper provides an appraisal of the literature that encompasses the direct value of wild resources to rural households; the extent to which these resources mitigate poverty and inequality; and the importance of the institutional context. The literature is increasingly addressing competing demands on the resource base both to support nearby livelihoods, and to enhance ecosystem services such as biodiversity; and how initiatives such as community-based payments for ecosystem services are changing how people interact with the resource base.

The modularity of seed dispersal: differences in structure and robustness between bat- and bird-fruit networks

In networks of plant-animal mutualisms, different animal groups interact preferentially with different plants, thus forming distinct modules responsible for different parts of the service. However, what we currently know about seed dispersal networks is based only on birds. Therefore, we wished to fill this gap by studying bat-fruit networks and testing how they differ from bird-fruit networks. As dietary overlap of Neotropical bats and birds is low, they should form distinct mutualistic modules within local networks. Furthermore, since frugivory evolved only once among Neotropical bats, but several times independently among Neotropical birds, greater dietary overlap is expected among bats, and thus connectance and nestedness should be higher in bat-fruit networks. If bat-fruit networks have higher nestedness and connectance, they should be more robust to extinctions. We analyzed 1 mixed network of both bats and birds and 20 networks that consisted exclusively of either bats (11) or birds (9). As expected, the structure of the mixed network was both modular (M = 0.45) and nested (NODF = 0.31); one module contained only birds and two only bats. In 20 datasets with only one disperser group, bat-fruit networks (NODF = 0.53 +/- A 0.09, C = 0.30 +/- A 0.11) were more nested and had a higher connectance than bird-fruit networks (NODF = 0.42 +/- A 0.07, C = 0.22 +/- A 0.09). Unexpectedly, robustness to extinction of animal species was higher in bird-fruit networks (R = 0.60 +/- A 0.13) than in bat-fruit networks (R = 0.54 +/- A 0.09), and differences were explained mainly by species richness. These findings suggest that a modular structure also occurs in seed dispersal networks, similar to pollination networks. The higher nestedness and connectance observed in bat-fruit networks compared with bird-fruit networks may be explained by the monophyletic evolution of frugivory in Neotropical bats, among which the diets of specialists seem to have evolved from the pool of fruits consumed by generalists.

Estimating Stormwater Runoff for Community Gardens in New York City

While much of the literature cites community gardens as providing urban ecosystem services, there is very little research quantifying these benefits. This thesis compares the stormwater runoff rates of urban vacant lots, community gardens, and residential developments in New York City and evaluates community gardens as green infrastructure.

O hist��rico de uma pesca tropical utilizando indicadores ecossist��micos

When scientists study methods, theory and standards in an inseparable form, he is facing a paradigm. Throughout the development of a determined science, paradigms can change by changing the methods, objective and standards of research. Fisheries science is changing the paradigm moving from the paradigm of maximization in the use of resources, quantified by the index of the catch, which was influenced by evolutionary concepts such as Optimal Foraging Theory, to the sustainability paradigm that seeks its foundation in the fishery ecosystem perspective. The goal of this study was to review methods, theory and the history of ecosystem indexes of fishery science that attempts to determine sustainability of fishery resources from the data capture. Ecosystems indexes by themselves may not be useful to measure the sustainability of fishing because they focus only on the environmental or ecological side of the sustainability tripod. Probably to measure the sustainability of fishing these indexes should include in the future the Payments for Ecosystem Services and Social Resilience. Thus the methods and theories are in constantly changing within science to meet the most current paradigm

Invasive Africanized honeybees change the structure of native pollination networks in Brazil

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cient��fico e Tecnol��gico (CNPq)

Mudan��as no C��digo Florestal e seu impacto na ecologia e diversidade dos mam��feros no Brasil

Funda����o de Amparo �� Pesquisa do Estado de S��o Paulo (FAPESP)

From forests to cattail: how does the riparian zone influence stream fish?

Funda����o de Amparo �� Pesquisa do Estado de S��o Paulo (FAPESP)

Principais conclus��es do workshop conjunto dos programas FAPESP BIOTA-BIOEN-mudan��as clim��ticas: ci��ncia e pol��ticas p��blicas para uma economia mais verde, no contexto da RIO+20

Este Ponto de Vista resume as conclus��es de um Workshop conjunto, organizado pelos tr��s Programas da FAPESP na ��rea Ambiental - BIOTA (O Instituto Virtual da Biodiversidade) - BIOEN (Pesquisa em Bioenergia) - Mudan��as Clim��ticas, para discutir a contribui����o da comunidade cient��fica para a RIO+20, a Confer��ncia das Na����es Unidas para o Desenvolvimento Sustent��vel. O grupo de pesquisadores brasileiros reunidos pela FAPESP no in��cio de mar��o de 2012 levantou as seguintes preocupa����es: a) o n��mero reduzido de oportunidades para a comunidade cient��fica interagir com Confer��ncias como a RIO+20; b) as graves defici��ncias do ZeroDraft, documento produzido pela Divis��o das Na����es Unidas para o Desenvolvimento Sustent��vel para a RIO +20; c) o fato do foco de pesquisa dos tr��s Programas de Pesquisa Ambiental da FAPESP - biodiversidade, bioenergia e mudan��as clim��ticas - n��o estarem na pauta das discuss��es da RIO+20; d) que pouca ��nfase �� dada aos oceanos na Agenda da Confer��ncia; e) em rela����o aos mecanismos de mercado associados com a transi����o para uma economia mais verde, a necessidade de enfatizar a redu����o de subs��dios perversos e a promo����o de incentivos econ��micos para atividades ou processos de mitiga����o e/ou seq��estro de carbono; f) a necessidade de estimular o desenvolvimento e a consolida����o da pesquisa na ��rea de avalia����o e valora����o de servi��os ambientais, no Brasil. Os participantes do Workshop reconheceram a necessidade de aprofundar o conhecimento sobre as conven����es, tratados e acordos internacionais assinados e ratificados pelo Brasil, bem como as institui����es internacionais, programas e iniciativas que promovem a participa����o da comunidade cient��fica no debate de pol��ticas ambientais globais. Finalmente, do ponto de vista dos tr��s programas da FAPESP dois pontos foram destacados: a) que �� imperativo aprofundar o conhecimento cient��fico em cada uma das tr��s ��reas focais - biodiversidade, bioenergia e mudan��as clim��ticas - porque �� necess��rio aumentar a massa cr��tica de pesquisadores e do conhecimento para participar das discuss��es internacionais nessas ��reas estrat��gicas; b) tamb��m �� imperativo apoiar e promover projetos de pesquisa que integrem as ��reas focais dos tr��s programas, estimulando a constitui����o de equipes inter e transdisciplinares. Esta �� uma tend��ncia mundial na ��rea das mudan��as ambientais globais, e os participantes dos tr��s programas sentem que podem dar uma contribui����o significativa para o avan��o do conhecimento, para o debate internacional e para a efetiva solu����o dos problemas.

Contributions of ethnobiology to the conservation of tropical rivers and streams

1. This study aimed to link basic ethnobiological research on local ecological knowledge (LEK) to the conservation of Brazilian streams, based on two case studies: original data on LEK of fishermen about freshwater fish in the Negro River, Amazon, and previously published data about LEK of farmers on the ecological relationship between forest and streams in the Macabuzinho catchment, Atlantic Forest.2. Information was obtained from fishermen through interviews using standard questionnaires containing open-ended questions. Informants for interview were selected either following some defined criteria or applying the 'snowball' method.3. Fishermen's LEK about the diets and habitats of 14 fish species in the Negro River provided new biological information on plant species that are eaten by fish, in addition to confirming some ecological patterns from the biological literature, such as dependence of fish on forests as food sources.4. In the Atlantic Forest, a comparison between farmers' LEK and a rapid stream assessment in the farmers' properties indicated that farmers tended to overestimate the ecological integrity of their streams. Farmers recognized at least 11 forest attributes that correspond to the scientific concept of ecosystem services. Such information may be useful to promote or enhance dialogue among farmers, scientists and managers.5. These results may contribute to the devising of ecosystem management measures in the Negro River, aimed to conserve both rivers and their associated floodplain forests, involving local fishermen. In the Atlantic Forest, we proposed some initiatives, such as to allow direct economic use of their forests to conciliate conflicting perceptions of farmers about ecological benefits versus economic losses from reforestation. Despite their cultural, environmental and geographical differences, the two study cases are complementary and cost-effective and promising approaches to including LEK in the design of ecological research. Copyright (C) 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Sustainable development 20 years on from the earth summit: progress, gaps and strategic guidelines for Latin America and the Caribbean

Includes bibliography

Selective defaunation affects dung beetle communities in continuous Atlantic rainforest

Overhunting has caused severe decline or local extinction in many large-bodied mammals with direct consequences on plant regeneration, yet little is known about indirect impacts of selective defaunation on commensal species. Cascading effects of species extinction across dependent species groups are likely to occur in coprophagous beetles, because these invertebrates rely on mammal dung for food and nesting material. Both mammals and dung beetles provide important ecosystem services and cascading effects are likely to lead to rapid functional losses. In this study, we described changes in dung beetle communities across a gradient of selective defaunation in continuous Brazilian Atlantic rain forest. We compared the dung beetle assemblages in seven sites with different mammalian biomass and composition. The reduction in the mammalian biomass had a major effect on dung beetle communities by (1) increasing dung beetle abundance with decreasing overall mammal, primate and large mammal biomasses, (2) decreasing dung beetle species richness with decreasing overall mammal biomass and (3) decreasing dung beetle size with decreasing large mammal biomass. Moreover, our study demonstrated the importance of the composition of mammal communities in structuring dung beetle communities. This study documented how selective changes in mammalian biomass and composition affect dung beetle species communities, which in turn may have cascading consequences for the ecosystem. Since most of tropical ecosystems are facing dramatic changes in mammalian composition, it is urgent to evaluate the functional losses associated with such co-extinctions. �� 2013 Elsevier Ltd.

Current status, uncertainty and future needs in soil organic carbon monitoring

Increasing human demands on soil-derived ecosystem services requires reliable data on global soil resources for sustainable development. The soil organic carbon (SOC) pool is a key indicator of soil quality as it affects essential biological, chemical and physical soil functions such as nutrient cycling, pesticide and water retention, and soil structure maintenance. However, information on the SOC pool, and its temporal and spatial dynamics is unbalanced. Even in well-studied regions with a pronounced interest in environmental issues information on soil carbon (C) is inconsistent. Several activities for the compilation of global soil C data are under way. However, different approaches for soil sampling and chemical analyses make even regional comparisons highly uncertain. Often, the procedures used so far have not allowed the reliable estimation of the total SOC pool, partly because the available knowledge is focused on not clearly defined upper soil horizons and the contribution of subsoil to SOC stocks has been less considered. Even more difficult is quantifying SOC pool changes over time. SOC consists of variable amounts of labile and recalcitrant molecules of plant, and microbial and animal origin that are often operationally defined. A comprehensively active soil expert community needs to agree on protocols of soil surveying and lab procedures towards reliable SOC pool estimates. Already established long-term ecological research sites, where SOC changes are quantified and the underlying mechanisms are investigated, are potentially the backbones for regional, national, and international SOC monitoring programs. �� 2013 Elsevier B.V.