2 research outputs found
Building a transnational biodiversity geo-database of the protected areas in the Adriatic-Ionian Macro-Region: approaches and results from the IMPRECO Project
Background The main objective of the project Common strategies and best practices to IMprove the transnational PRotection of ECOsystem integrity and services - IMPRECO is to enhance the safeguarding of ecosystems and ecosystem services. Additionally, the aim of this project is to tackle their environmental vulnerability by strengthening the potential of the Protected Areas in biodiversity, ecosystems and ecosystem services conservation. This is expected to be addressed by maintaining it through their transnational networking located in the European Adriatic-Ionian Macro-Region. New information The aim of this research is: 1) to characterise the habitats and ecosystems involved in the coastal-marine protected areas considered; 2) to set a biodiversity baseline; 3) to understand what current ecosystems' conditions are; 4) to build up a transnational biomonitoring programme of target species and habitats and 5) to assess their response to pilot actions. To do so, a transnational inventory of species, habitats, ecosystems and ecosystem services was established, starting with the seven coastal-marine protected areas involved in the project. Data collection was carried out using different sources of information: scientific literature, officially available data from NATURA 2000 Standard Data Forms, checklists from local biomonitoring programmes, personal observations and citizen science, historical maps and data from new in-field analyses. Data were filled in the transnational biodiversity geo-databases according to the NATURA 2000 standards about habitat features, species protection level and species features. The presence of alien species (non-indigenous species, NIS) was also acknowledged and references about data collection were provided in the databases according to the Darwin Core standards
Current and future suitability of wintering grounds for a long-distance migratory raptor
Conservation of migratory species faces the challenge of understanding the ecological requirements
of individuals living in two geographically separated regions. In some cases, the entire population
of widely distributed species congregates at relatively small wintering areas and hence, these areas
become a priority for the species’ conservation. Satellite telemetry allows fine tracking of animal
movements and distribution in those less known, often remote areas. Through integrating satellite
and GPS data from five separated populations comprising most of the breeding range, we created a
wide habitat suitability model for the Eleonora’s falcon on its wintering grounds in Madagascar. On this
basis, we further investigated, for the first time, the impact of climate change on the future suitability
of the species’ wintering areas. Eleonora’s falcons are mainly distributed in the north and along the east
of Madagascar, exhibiting strong site fidelity over years. The current species’ distribution pattern is
associated with climatic factors, which are likely related to food availability. The extent of suitable areas
for Eleonora’s falcon is expected to increase in the future. The integration of habitat use information
and climatic projections may provide insights on the consequences of global environmental changes for
the long-term persistence of migratory species populations.Peer reviewe