Enhancing ecosystem services maps combining field and environmental data

Ecosystem service maps are increasingly being used to prioritize management and conservation decisions. Most of these maps rely on estimates of ecosystem services estimated for individual land cover classes rather than incorporating field data. We developed combined field models (CFM) using regression analysis to estimate ecosystem services based on the observed relationship between environmental and land cover data and field measurements of ecosystem services. Local ecosystem service supply was estimated from vegetation data measured at fifty sites covering the widest range of environmental conditions across a watershed in Mexico. We compared the accuracy of the CFM approach for forage, timber, firewood and carbon storage over a more commonly “look up table” method relying on a uniform estimate of ecosystem service supply by land cover type. The CFM revealed higher accuracy when compared to the “look up table” approach. The resulting CFM models explained a large fraction of the variance (42–89%) using a combination of land cover, remote sensing data, hydrology and distance from developed areas. In addition, mapping residuals from Geographically Weighted Regressions provided an estimate of uncertainty across the CFM model results. This approach provides better estimates of ecosystem service delivery and uncertainty for land managers and decision-makers

Floristic and structural diversity of riparian vegetation along an urban-natural gradient of Pitillal River Jalisco, México

La zona riparia presenta cambios de vegetación nativa por uso del suelo, asociados a actividades antrópicas, como urbanización, ganadería y agricultura, lo que genera pérdida de diversidad, composición y estructura de la vegetación riparia. En este estudio, se analizó la diversidad florística y estructural de la vegetación riparia a lo largo de un gradiente urbano-natural del río Pitillal - Jalisco, México. Sobre el río Pitillal, se seleccionaron cuatro sitios, siguiendo el gradiente urbano (SU), periurbano (SP), rural (SR) y natural (SN). En cada tramo, se realizaron cuatro parcelas de muestreo, identificando árboles, arbustos, lianas y hierbas. La diversidad florística, se analizó comparando composición, abundancia y riqueza por tipo de planta y origen. La diversidad estructural, se analizó comparando diámetro de tronco, altura total, área de copa, profundidad de copa y perfiles verticales de vegetación. En total, se registraron 508 individuos de 412 familias, 72 géneros y 160 especies y morfoespecies; 75 especies fueron nativas y 10 introducidas. La riqueza específica y abundancia de los árboles fue distinta entre sitios, incrementándose notablemente en el SN. Las especies introducidas disminuyen del SU al SN. El diámetro de tronco, área y profundidad de copa muestran diferencias significativas entre sitios. Los perfiles verticales de la vegetación riparia muestran patrones más heterogéneos en el SN. Los resultados sugieren que la alteración por uso de suelo adyacente al río Pitillal afecta, claramente, la diversidad florística, la composición y la estructural de la vegetación riparia.Riparian zone presents changes of native vegetation due to land use associated with anthropic activities, such as urbanization, cattle, and agriculture, which generated the loss of diversity, composition, and structure of the riparian vegetation. In this study, floristic diversity and structural diversity of riparian vegetation was analyzed along an urban-natural gradient of Pitillal River, Jalisco, Mexico. On the Pitillal River, four sites were selected following the urban (SU), peri-urban (SP), rural (SR) and natural (SN) gradient. In each section, four sample plots were sampled, identifying trees, shrubs, lianas, and herbs. Floristic diversity was analyzed by comparing composition, abundance, and specific richness by type of plant and origin. Structural diversity was analyzed by comparing trunk diameter, total height, crown area, crown depth and vertical profiles of vegetation. A total of 508 individuals in 412 families, 72 genera and 160 species and morpho species were registered; 75 species were native and 10 introduced. Richness and abundance of the trees was different between sites, increasing notably in the SN. Introduced species decrease from SU to SN. The diameter of the trunk, area and depth of the crown show significant differences between sites. The vertical profiles of the riparian vegetation showed more heterogeneous patterns in the SN. The results suggest that changes due to land use adjacent to Pitillal River have clearly affected the composition, floristic and structural diversity of riparian vegetationIncluye referencias bibliográfica

Diversidad taxonómica de lagartijas (Squamata: Lacertilia) asociada a cuatro tipos de vegetación de la sierra El Cuale, Jalisco, México

The lizard composition and diversity of lizards fauna are influenced by vegetation types, because these determine the physical and environmental structure of their habitats. The aim of this study was to determine and analyze the taxonomic diversity of lizards from Sierra El Cuale conservation priority area in Jalisco, Mexico, associated with four vegetation types: tropical semideciduous forest (BT), oak forest (BE), pine-oak forest (BPE), and pine forest (BP). Monthly sampling was carried out from July 2015 to June 2016. A total richness of 12 species was recorded in the study area: nine species in BE, eight in BT, six in BPE, and six in BP. The species accumulation curves showed that more sampling effort is required to characterize the lizard community as a whole. The species Anolis nebulosus, Sceloporus melanorhinus, and S. utiformis were observed in the four types of vegetation, but Basiliscus vittatus, Gerrhonotus liocephalus, and Scincella assatus only in one each. A nonmetric multidimensional scaling analysis (NMDS) identified two groups according to the presence of lizard species and seasons (rainy and dry): BPE-BP, and BT-BE. The average taxonomic distinctness (Δ+) and the species richness were high in the rainy season. The results of this study show that the lizard species richness in Sierra El Cuale is linked to vegetation type variety. On the other hand, the comparative analysis of Δ+ between Sierra El Cuale and Biosphere Reserves of Chamela-Cuixmala and Manantlán, showed that Sierra El Cuale has an important role in the contribution of regional lizard diversity.La composición y diversidad de las lagartijas son influenciadas por el tipo de vegetación, debido a que éste determina la estructura física y ambiental de sus hábitats. El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar y analizar la diversidad taxonómica de las lagartijas del área prioritaria de conservación Sierra El Cuale, Jalisco, México, asociada a cuatro tipos de vegetación: bosque tropical subcaducifolio (BT), bosque de encino (BE), bosque de pino-encino (BPE) y bosque de pino (BP). Se realizaron muestreos mensuales entre julio de 2015 y junio de 2016. Se registró una riqueza total de 12 especies en el área de estudio: ocho en BT, nueve en BE, seis en BPE y seis en BP. Las curvas de acumulación de especies mostraron que se requiere más esfuerzo de muestreo para caracterizar en su totalidad a la comunidad de lagartijas. Anolis nebulosus, Sceloporus melanorhinus y S. utiformis se observaron en los cuatro tipos de vegetación, pero Basiliscus vittatus, Gerrhonotus liocephalus y Scincella assatus solo en uno. Un análisis de escalamiento multidimensional no métrico (NMDS) identificó dos grupos según la presencia de especies de lagartijas y estaciones del año (lluvias y seca): BPE-BP y BT-BE. La distintividad taxonómica promedio (Δ+) y la riqueza de especies fueron altas en la estación lluviosa. Los resultados de este estudio muestran que la riqueza de especies de lagartijas en la Sierra El Cuale está vinculada a la variedad de tipos vegetación. Por otro lado, el análisis comparativo de la Δ+ entre la Sierra El Cuale y las Reservas de la Biosfera de Chamela-Cuixmala y Manantlán, mostró que la Sierra El Cuale tiene un papel importante en la contribución regional de la diversidad de lagartijas

Modelling carbon stock and carbon sequestration ecosystem services for policy design: a comprehensive approach using a dynamic vegetation model

Ecosystem service (ES) models can only inform policy design adequately if they incorporate ecological processes. We used the Lund-Potsdam-Jena managed Land (LPJmL) model, to address following questions for Mexico, Bolivia and Brazilian Amazon: (i) How different are C stocks and C sequestration quantifications under standard (when soil and litter C and heterotrophic respiration are not considered) and comprehensive (including all C stock and heterotrophic respiration) approach? and (ii) How does the valuation of C stock and C sequestration differ in national payments for ES and global C funds or markets when comparing both approach? We found that up to 65% of C stocks have not been taken into account by neglecting to include C stored in soil and litter, resulting in gross underpayments (up to 500 times lower). Since emissions from heterotrophic respiration of organic material offset a large proportion of C gained through growth of living matter, we found that markets and decision-makers are inadvertently overestimating up to 100 times C sequestrated. New approaches for modelling C services relevant ecological process-based can help accounting for C in soil, litter and heterotrophic respiration and become important for the operationalization of agreements on climate change mitigation following the COP21 in 2015

Ecosystem services in urban ecological infrastructure of Latin America and the Caribbean: How do they contribute to urban planning?

We developed a conceptual framework that describes the key role of ecosystem services in urban ecological infrastructure. From this framework we analyze how research on ecosystem services has been addressed in cities of Latin America and the Caribbean, in order to discuss their incorporation into policies of urban planning, in thecontext of nature-based solutions and sustainable development goals. Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Colombia andArgentina represent 90% of research in urban ecosystem services, all of them except Colombia had carried outstudies considering green, blue and gray-hybrid infrastructures. However, green-hybrid infrastructure clusteredmost of the studies. Ecosystem service supply component and intermediate beneficiaries are the most studied.Our results show that most studies have not been developed from the perspective of the biophysical, sociocul-tural or economic assessment of ecosystem services, on the contrary we recognized or deduced them fromproxy variables found within the studies. Ourfindings suggest that the study of urban ecosystem services inLatin America and the Caribbean is in development and has begun to increase in the last decade. However, wefound that the incorporation of urban ecosystem services in urban planning is low, but at the same time, it isin a promising development related to the application of innovative actions such as nature-based solutionsand in support of the new global urban agenda

Educacion para la vida y desarrollo sustentable del estado de Jalisco

Educación para la vida y desarrollo sustentable no sólo es un texto informativo, sino que favorevce la formación en valores con una visión ecológica y humana

Energy Efficiency Indicators for Hotel Buildings

Hotels are energy-intensive buildings; therefore, in this study, we investigate the indicators used for measuring the energy efficiency of one- to five-star hotels, in temperate and tropical regions of Asia, Europe, and Africa. There are several indicators for measuring energy intensity, but we found that the “total average annual energy use intensity index”, measured in kilowatt-hours per square meter per year (kWh/m2 year), was most often used. Surveys and energy audits are the methods used most often to collect the indicator data. Hotels in the tropics tend to consume more energy than those located in temperate zones, with four- and five-star hotels consuming the most energy

Energy Efficiency Indicators for Hotel Buildings

Hotels are energy-intensive buildings; therefore, in this study, we investigate the indicators used for measuring the energy efficiency of one- to five-star hotels, in temperate and tropical regions of Asia, Europe, and Africa. There are several indicators for measuring energy intensity, but we found that the “total average annual energy use intensity index”, measured in kilowatt-hours per square meter per year (kWh/m2 year), was most often used. Surveys and energy audits are the methods used most often to collect the indicator data. Hotels in the tropics tend to consume more energy than those located in temperate zones, with four- and five-star hotels consuming the most energy

Linking biodiversity, ecosystem services, and beneficiaries of tropical dry forests of Latin America: Review and new perspectives

We conducted a systematic literature review to identify and analyze research linking biodiversity, ecosystem services and their beneficiaries in tropical dry forests of Latin America. By assessing 71 studies published in the last 20 years, we addressed two questions: i) when research on links between biodiversity, ecosystem services and beneficiaries began and which of these links have been addressed the most? ii) how these links were addressed? Research on links began in 1997. Studies have been carried out mostly on a local scale and lasted for one year or more. Links between biodiversity and ecosystem services were the most frequently addressed (24% of total studies) considering biodiversity as a regulator of ecosystem processes. Plants and mammals? abundance and richness were mainly linked with regulating and provisioning services. While these links have started to be addressed, only five studies actually linked the three components. It is necessary to redirect efforts towards studies effectively linking ecosystem services and beneficiaries, a link that still remains scarcely addressed. The current challenge for research is to incorporate the beneficiaries into the study of ecosystem services in tropical dry forests of Latin America and fill the information gaps by promoting long-term studies at larger spatial scales.Fil: Quijas, Sandra. Universidad de Guadalajara; MéxicoFil: Romero-Duque, Luz Piedad. Universidad de Ciencias Aplicadas y Ambientales; ColombiaFil: Trilleras, Jenny M.. Universidad de Ciencias Aplicadas y Ambientales; ColombiaFil: Conti, Georgina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal; ArgentinaFil: Kolb, Melanie. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México; MéxicoFil: Brignone, Elisa. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto; ArgentinaFil: Dellafiore, Claudia Marisel. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto; Argentin