Modelling sea level rise impacts and the management options for rice production: the Ebro Delta as an example

Les àrees costaneres han de fer front als riscos creixents relacionats amb la PNM. El Delta de l'Ebre és un ecosistema representatiu de la vulnerabilitat de les zones costaneres a la PNM. La producció d’arròs és la principal activitat econòmica, ocupant un 65 % de la superfície total, és sensible a la PNM, i l'augment de la salinitat del sòl, el factor més limitat de la producció. Per tant, cal analitzar els impactes de la PNM, és a dir, la inundació i la salinització del sòl, i desenvolupar les mesures d'adaptació adequades. Vam construir models espacials (1 × 1 m) sobre les zones més vulnerables a la inundació, pèrdua de sediments, salinitat del sòl i pèrdua de producció d'arròs. Mitjançant l’acoblament de dades SIG amb GLMz, i posteriorment, els models es van executar en diferents escenaris previstos per l'IPCC (AR5) fins a l’any 2100. També vam avaluar la viabilitat d'una mesura d'adaptació innovadora basada en la natura, que consisteix a recuperar els sediments atrapats en els embassaments de la conca a la plana deltaica. L'elevació (inversament) va ser la variable més important a l'hora d'explicar la variació en la salinitat del sòl, els models van predir una disminució de l'índex de producció d'arròs normalitzat (RPI) seguint el gradient d'elevació del delta. Depenent de l'escenari considerat, els models prediuen una reducció del RPI al 2010 del 62.1% al 54,6% per l’any 2100, en l'escenari més conservador (PNM = 0.53 m); i fins al 33.8% per al pitjor dels escenari considerat (PNM = 1.8 m), amb una disminució dels beneficis de fins a 300 € per hectàrea. Per als mateixos escenaris, la superfície d’arrossars inundada va ser del 36-90 %, i la pèrdua de sediment va ser de entre 122 i 418 milions de tones. La mesura d'adaptació proposada, basada en la natura, va tenir un efecte positiu en la producció d'arròs i es pot considerar una opció de gestió innovadora per mantenir els serveis ecosistèmics del Delta de l'Ebre, tot i la PNM. Els nostres models es poden aplicar a altres àrees deltaiques de tot el món, ajudant els agricultors i els ‘stakeholders’ a identificar àrees vulnerables als efectes de la PNM així com a desenvolupar plans de gestió.Las zonas costeras tienen que hacer frente a los crecientes riesgos relacionados con la subida del nivel del mar (SLR). El Delta del Ebro es un valioso ecosistema representativo de la vulnerabilidad de las zonas costeras al SLR. La producción de arroz, la principal actividad económica de la zona, ocupa ca. el 65% de la superficie total, y es sensible a la SLR, y al aumento de la salinidad del suelo el factor más limitante en el cultivo del arroz. Por tanto, es necesario analizar los impactos de la SLR, es decir, la inundaciones y la salinización del suelo, y desarrollar medidas de adaptación apropiadas. Hemos construido modelos espaciales (1 × 1 m) en áreas propensas a inundación, pérdida de sedimentos, salinización del suelo y pérdida de producción de arroz. Se acoplaron datos de GIS con GLMz y los modelos se realizaron bajo diferentes escenarios predichos por el IPCC (AR5) hasta 2100. También evaluamos la viabilidad de una medida innovadora de adaptación basada en la naturaleza que consiste en reintroducir sedimentos atrapados en embalses de bajo Ebro a la llanura deltaica. La elevación (inversamente relacionada a la salinidad del suelo) fue la variable más importante para explicar la salinidad del suelo, por lo que los modelos predijeron una disminución en el Índice de Producción de Arroz normalizado (RPI) siguiendo el gradiente de elevación del delta. Según el escenario considerado, los modelos predicen una reducción de RPI del 62.1 % en 2010 a 54.6 % en 2100 para el escenario más conservador (SLR = 0.53 m); Y al 33,8 % en el peor escenario considerado (SLR = 1,8 m), con una disminución de los beneficios de hasta 300 €/ha. Para los mismos escenarios, la superficie de los campos de arroz inundados osciló entre 36 y 90 %, y la pérdida de sedimentos de 122 a 418 millones de toneladas. La medida de adaptación propuesta tuvo un efecto positivo en la producción de arroz y puede considerarse como una opción de gestión innovadora para mantener los servicios ecosistémicos del Delta del Ebro a pesar del SLR. Nuestros modelos pueden aplicarse a otras áreas deltaicas en todo el mundo, ayudando a los agricultores y a las partes interesadas a identificar áreas vulnerables a los impactos del SLR y a desarrollar planes de manejo.Coastal areas have to cope with increasing risks related to SLR. The Ebro Delta is a valuable ecosystem representative of the vulnerability of coastal areas to SLR. Rice production is the main economic activity, occupying ca. 65 % of the total surface is sensitive to SLR, and the increase in soil salinity, the most limiting factor. Thus, it is necessary to analyse the impacts of SLR, i.e. flooding and soil salinization, and to develop appropriate adaptation measures. We built spatial models (1 × 1 m) in areas prone to be flooded, sediment loss, soil salinity, and rice production loss. We coupled data from GIS with GLMz and models were run under different scenarios predicted by IPCC (AR5) up to 2100. We also evaluated the feasibility of an innovative nature-based adaptation measure consisting in reintroducing sediments trapped in basin reservoirs into the delta plain. Elevation (inversely related) was the most important variable in explaining soil salinity, thus, models predicted a decrease in normalized Rice Production Index following the delta elevation gradient. Subjected to the scenario considered, the models predict a RPI reduction from 62.1 % in 2010 to 54.6 % by 2100 in the most conservative scenario (SLR = 0.53 m); and to 33.8 % in the worst considered scenario (SLR = 1.8 m), with a decrease of profit up to 300 € per hectare. For the same scenarios, the flooded rice fields’ area ranged 36-90 %, and the sediment loss 122-418 million tonnes. The nature-based adaptation measure proposed had a positive effect on rice production, and it can be considered as an innovative management option for maintaining the Ebro Delta ecosystem services although SLR. Our models can be applied to other deltaic areas worldwide, helping farmers and stakeholders to identify vulnerable areas to SLR impacts and to develop management plans

A spatial explicit vulnerability assessment for a coastal socio-ecological Natura 2000 site

In line with the global trend, the Ria de Aveiro coastal lagoon is subjected to multiple co-occurring pressures threatening vital benefits flowing from nature to people. The main objective of this research was to assess the status of habitats important for ecosystem services in the Ria de Aveiro by identifying vulnerable areas to anthropogenic threats. The pressures from seven relevant human activities (recreation, services, aquaculture, agriculture, commercial development, unintended impacts from management, and invasive alien species) were analysed based on their spatiotemporal distribution (exposure) and impact over the EUNIS habitats (EUNIS codes A2.2, A2.22 – sand flats and beaches; A2.3 – mud flats; A2.61 – seagrasses; A2.5, A2.53C, A2.535, A2.545, A2.554 – salt marshes; and, X10 – ‘Bocage,’ a landscape of small-hedged fields) in seven distinct landscape units. A prospective scenario, co-developed for the year 2030, was evaluated using a map-based risk assessment tool and brought forward the near-term vulnerability of the seagrass biotope. The highest risks posed to intertidal habitats (mud flats and salt marshes) were driven mainly by environmental management activities that support critical socio-economic sectors. Our methodology evaluated plausible threats to habitats in the near term, established baseline knowledge for the adaptive management process in Ria de Aveiro Natura 2000 site, and showcased how future assessments can inform the operationalization of ecosystem-based management as new information becomes available

Taller sobre Gestión de Información de la Red LTER Europa

info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Women in limnology: From a historical perspective to a present-day evaluation

Research in limnology is nurtured by the work of many fascinating and passionate women, who have contributed enormously to our understanding of inland waters. Female limnologists have promoted and established the bases of our knowledge about inland waters and fostered the need of protecting the values of those ecosystems. However, on numerous occasions, their contribution to the advancement of limnology has not been duly recognized. Here, we review the presence of women in limnology through the history of the discipline: from the pioneers who contributed to the origins to present day' developments. We aim at visibilizing those scientists and establish them as role models. We also analyze in a simple and illustrative way the current situation of women in limnology, the scientific barriers they must deal with, and their future prospects. Multiple aspects fostering the visibility of a scientist, such as their presence in conferences, awards, or representation in societal or editorial boards show a significant gap, with none of those aspects showing a similar visibility of women and men in limnology. This article raises awareness of the obstacles that women in limnology faced and still face, and encourages to embrace models of leadership, scientific management, and assessment of research performance far from those commonly established.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Modelling sea level rise impacts and the management options for rice production: the Ebro Delta as an example

Les àrees costaneres han de fer front als riscos creixents relacionats amb la PNM. El Delta de l'Ebre és un ecosistema representatiu de la vulnerabilitat de les zones costaneres a la PNM. La producció d’arròs és la principal activitat econòmica, ocupant un 65 % de la superfície total, és sensible a la PNM, i l'augment de la salinitat del sòl, el factor més limitat de la producció. Per tant, cal analitzar els impactes de la PNM, és a dir, la inundació i la salinització del sòl, i desenvolupar les mesures d'adaptació adequades. Vam construir models espacials (1 × 1 m) sobre les zones més vulnerables a la inundació, pèrdua de sediments, salinitat del sòl i pèrdua de producció d'arròs. Mitjançant l’acoblament de dades SIG amb GLMz, i posteriorment, els models es van executar en diferents escenaris previstos per l'IPCC (AR5) fins a l’any 2100. També vam avaluar la viabilitat d'una mesura d'adaptació innovadora basada en la natura, que consisteix a recuperar els sediments atrapats en els embassaments de la conca a la plana deltaica. L'elevació (inversament) va ser la variable més important a l'hora d'explicar la variació en la salinitat del sòl, els models van predir una disminució de l'índex de producció d'arròs normalitzat (RPI) seguint el gradient d'elevació del delta. Depenent de l'escenari considerat, els models prediuen una reducció del RPI al 2010 del 62.1% al 54,6% per l’any 2100, en l'escenari més conservador (PNM = 0.53 m); i fins al 33.8% per al pitjor dels escenari considerat (PNM = 1.8 m), amb una disminució dels beneficis de fins a 300 € per hectàrea. Per als mateixos escenaris, la superfície d’arrossars inundada va ser del 36-90 %, i la pèrdua de sediment va ser de entre 122 i 418 milions de tones. La mesura d'adaptació proposada, basada en la natura, va tenir un efecte positiu en la producció d'arròs i es pot considerar una opció de gestió innovadora per mantenir els serveis ecosistèmics del Delta de l'Ebre, tot i la PNM. Els nostres models es poden aplicar a altres àrees deltaiques de tot el món, ajudant els agricultors i els ‘stakeholders’ a identificar àrees vulnerables als efectes de la PNM així com a desenvolupar plans de gestió.Las zonas costeras tienen que hacer frente a los crecientes riesgos relacionados con la subida del nivel del mar (SLR). El Delta del Ebro es un valioso ecosistema representativo de la vulnerabilidad de las zonas costeras al SLR. La producción de arroz, la principal actividad económica de la zona, ocupa ca. el 65% de la superficie total, y es sensible a la SLR, y al aumento de la salinidad del suelo el factor más limitante en el cultivo del arroz. Por tanto, es necesario analizar los impactos de la SLR, es decir, la inundaciones y la salinización del suelo, y desarrollar medidas de adaptación apropiadas. Hemos construido modelos espaciales (1 × 1 m) en áreas propensas a inundación, pérdida de sedimentos, salinización del suelo y pérdida de producción de arroz. Se acoplaron datos de GIS con GLMz y los modelos se realizaron bajo diferentes escenarios predichos por el IPCC (AR5) hasta 2100. También evaluamos la viabilidad de una medida innovadora de adaptación basada en la naturaleza que consiste en reintroducir sedimentos atrapados en embalses de bajo Ebro a la llanura deltaica. La elevación (inversamente relacionada a la salinidad del suelo) fue la variable más importante para explicar la salinidad del suelo, por lo que los modelos predijeron una disminución en el Índice de Producción de Arroz normalizado (RPI) siguiendo el gradiente de elevación del delta. Según el escenario considerado, los modelos predicen una reducción de RPI del 62.1 % en 2010 a 54.6 % en 2100 para el escenario más conservador (SLR = 0.53 m); Y al 33,8 % en el peor escenario considerado (SLR = 1,8 m), con una disminución de los beneficios de hasta 300 €/ha. Para los mismos escenarios, la superficie de los campos de arroz inundados osciló entre 36 y 90 %, y la pérdida de sedimentos de 122 a 418 millones de toneladas. La medida de adaptación propuesta tuvo un efecto positivo en la producción de arroz y puede considerarse como una opción de gestión innovadora para mantener los servicios ecosistémicos del Delta del Ebro a pesar del SLR. Nuestros modelos pueden aplicarse a otras áreas deltaicas en todo el mundo, ayudando a los agricultores y a las partes interesadas a identificar áreas vulnerables a los impactos del SLR y a desarrollar planes de manejo.Coastal areas have to cope with increasing risks related to SLR. The Ebro Delta is a valuable ecosystem representative of the vulnerability of coastal areas to SLR. Rice production is the main economic activity, occupying ca. 65 % of the total surface is sensitive to SLR, and the increase in soil salinity, the most limiting factor. Thus, it is necessary to analyse the impacts of SLR, i.e. flooding and soil salinization, and to develop appropriate adaptation measures. We built spatial models (1 × 1 m) in areas prone to be flooded, sediment loss, soil salinity, and rice production loss. We coupled data from GIS with GLMz and models were run under different scenarios predicted by IPCC (AR5) up to 2100. We also evaluated the feasibility of an innovative nature-based adaptation measure consisting in reintroducing sediments trapped in basin reservoirs into the delta plain. Elevation (inversely related) was the most important variable in explaining soil salinity, thus, models predicted a decrease in normalized Rice Production Index following the delta elevation gradient. Subjected to the scenario considered, the models predict a RPI reduction from 62.1 % in 2010 to 54.6 % by 2100 in the most conservative scenario (SLR = 0.53 m); and to 33.8 % in the worst considered scenario (SLR = 1.8 m), with a decrease of profit up to 300 € per hectare. For the same scenarios, the flooded rice fields’ area ranged 36-90 %, and the sediment loss 122-418 million tonnes. The nature-based adaptation measure proposed had a positive effect on rice production, and it can be considered as an innovative management option for maintaining the Ebro Delta ecosystem services although SLR. Our models can be applied to other deltaic areas worldwide, helping farmers and stakeholders to identify vulnerable areas to SLR impacts and to develop management plans

Making the Most of Ecological Data from the LTER Site: Manager’s Point of View

Climate change is affecting the ecosystems and the services they provide for human well-being. For a better understanding of the causes and effects of this change in the functioning of ecosystems, detailed information of environmental parameters needs to be considered. Researchers generate multiple databases in their academic disciplines but often this data collection is not openly available nor does it fulfill the FAIR principles of Findability, Accessibility, Interoperability, and Reusability (Wilkinson et al. 2016). In this regard, Long-Term Ecosystem Research (LTER) plays an important role as an open research infrastructure that helps to integrate in-situ data, remote sensing products and modelling efforts, related to biodiversity and geodiversity. Within LTER networks, the Dynamic Ecological Information Management System – Site and Dataset Registry (DEIMS-SDR), is used as the central site catalogue to provide information about facilities, ecosystems and environmental parameters in an openly available and standardized way (Wohner et al. 2019), organized by each location’s site. These LTER sites from all around the globe, receive a special protection status due to their ecological value, which through research and observation, enhances the protection and conservation of these areas. The LTER Ria de Aveiro site in Portugal (DEIMS.ID; LTER website), classified under the Natura 2000 network, is of paramount importance for the regional and national economy, agriculture, commercial fisheries, aquaculture, manufacturing, tourism, sports and recreational activities (e.g. Lillebø et al. 2019). Since the establishment of the LTER Ria de Aveiro site in 2011, its research has focused on the contribution to the effective implementation of the Water Framework Directive and European Union Biodiversity Strategy targets. Studies have been developed to target key policies within Natura 2000 areas, Action 5 including habitat mapping and assessment of ecosystems and their services, data collection of important fauna groups, and engagement of stakeholders and common frameworks for the conservation of biodiversity. Currently, the site is part of the Portuguese e-Infrastructure for Information and Research on Biodiversity (PORBIOTA), being aligned with the European Research Infrastructure Consortium (LifeWatch-ERIC). The LTER site team infrastructure includes laboratory facilities for field observation and environmental monitoring of water quality and environmental parameters that are used to feed models. A recently obtained Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), commonly known as drone, will contribute to ecological observations, generating data to provide biodiversity monitoring in space and time. As LTER site managers and data providers, we have to deal with how to make the transition from our metadata to FAIR ecological data. Our aim is to deal with the implementation of standardized data profiles in our own data. For instance, to upload data files to the central repositories (e.g. DEIMS-SDR), to store and publish our raw data (e.g. B2Share), to create online distribution links and digital object identifiers (DOIs), and to use a convenient vocabulary (e.g. Environmental Thesaurus) to be understandable by everyone (Pérez-Luque et al. 2019). This substantially will increase the potential of databases in the scientific community, and will contribute to a successful building of LTER

Evaluating adaptation options to sea level rise and benefits to agriculture: The Ebro Delta showcase

Sea level rise (SLR) is threatening low-lying coastal areas such as river deltas. The Ebro river Delta (Spain) is representative of coastal systems particularly vulnerable to SLR due to significant sediment retention behind upstream dams (up to 99%), thereby dramatically reducing the capacity for deltaic sediment accretion. Rice production is the main economic activity, covering 66% of the delta area, and is negatively affected by SLR because of flooding and soil salinization. Therefore, appropriate adaptation measures are needed to preserve rice production. We combined Geographic Information Systems and Generalized Linear Models to identify zones prone to flooding and increasing soil salinity, and to calculate the so-called sediment deficit, that is the amount of sediment needed to raise the land to compensate flooding and soil salinization. We modelled SLR scenarios predicted by the IPCC Fifth Assessment Report, and analysed the economic feasibility (not the technical feasibility) of reintroducing fluvial sediments retained in the upstream river dam reservoirs into the delta plain, which can contribute to maintaining land elevation and rice production with SLR. To do this, the costs of the sediment reintroduction measures and their benefits in terms of avoided loss of rice production income were evaluated with an approximate economic cost-benefit analysis. Results predicted that between 35 and 90% of the rice field area will be flooded in the best and worst SLR scenarios considered (SLR = 0.5 m and 1.8 m by 2100, respectively), with a sediment deficit of 130 and 442 million tonnes, with an associated cost of sediment reintroduction of 13 and 226 million €. The net benefit of rice production maintenance was 24.6 and 328 €/ha. The proposed adaptation measure has a positive effect on rice production and can be considered as an innovative management option for maintaining deltaic areas under SLR.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

My Teaching Is Not Gender Biased, Is It?

Gender bias and underrepresentation in society are likewise pervasive in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math fields and are difficult to balance out. In Aquatic Sciences, large efforts have been made to increase awareness on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice and yet, gender- and diversity-gaps remain. Reducing these gaps requires work in different dimensions: individual, community, education, and society. As scientists, we can act at all those levels in various ways and one effective approach is through education. When teaching and supervising students we can be role models, actively, consciously, and explicitly including diverse and historically underrepresented scientists in our teaching material or creating an inclusive class environment. But, where to start?CML participation at the conference was funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG, FlowReSet project ME 5498/2-1) and the work has been developed within the funding framework of NutFlows (ME 5498/3-1). AP was supported by the Beatriu de Pinós postdoctoral program under the Ministry of Research and Universities of the Government of Catalonia (Grant Reference No. 2020 BP-00237). PR-L and AF were supported by MCIN/AEI through the Juan de la Cierva - Incorporación program (IJC2019-041601-I and IJC2019-039181-I).Peer reviewe

Towards women-inclusive ecology : Representation, behavior, and perception of women at an international conference

Conferences are ideal platforms for studying gender gaps in science because they are important cultural events that reflect barriers to women in academia. Here, we explored women's participation in ecology conferences by analyzing female representation, behavior, and personal experience at the 1st Meeting of the Iberian Society of Ecology (SIBECOL). The conference had 722 attendees, 576 contributions, and 27 scientific sessions. The gender of attendees and presenters was balanced (48/52% women/men), yet only 29% of the contributions had a woman as last author. Moreover, men presented most of the keynote talks (67%) and convened most of the sessions. Our results also showed that only 32% of the questions were asked by women, yet the number of questions raised by women increased when the speaker or the convener was a woman. Finally, the post-conference survey revealed that attendees had a good experience and did not perceive the event as a threatening context for women. Yet, differences in the responses between genders suggest that women tended to have a worse experience than their male counterparts. Although our results showed clear gender biases, most of the participants of the conference failed to detect it. Overall, we highlight the challenge of increasing women's scientific leadership, visibility and interaction in scientific conferences and we suggest several recommendations for creating inclusive meetings, thereby promoting equal opportunities for all participants