AVALIAÇÃO DA REGENERAÇÃO NATURAL EM ÁREA DE RESTAURAÇÃO ECOLÓGICA E MATA CILIAR DE REFERÊNCIA

Riparian areas are a recurrent focus of ecological restoration due to their importance for the maintenance of ecosystem services. However, few studies have evaluated the success of active interventions in restoring ecosystem functions and processes. The natural regeneration is a successional process and its evaluation might reveal the state and the potential of the ecosystem resilience in forest areas undergoing restoration. The present study aimed to compare natural regeneration of a riparian area that is undergoing restoration (planting of native trees, 10 years ago) with a reference forest area, in Cachoeirinha, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil. We conducted a survey of trees and shrubs in the upper stratum (DBH ≥ 5 cm) and the lower stratum (> 30 cm in height and DBH > 5 cm) in a total of 40 plots (100 m2 each), within the planting (restoration) and the remnant forest (reference). For each stratum and treatment (reference vs. restoration) we analyzed phytosociological parameters, patterns of structure and composition, and similarity among plots. The results showed significant differences in relation to structure and species composition, especially for the upper stratum. For the lower stratum (natural regeneration), abundance, height, and species richness were similar between the restoration and the reference areas. Species composition in regeneration remained distinct. However, its similarity value was higher than any other comparison among strata, indicating that species that were not planted were able to establish in the planted areas.Áreas ribeirinhas são foco recorrente de restauração ecológica, devido a sua importância para a manutenção de serviços ecossistêmicos. Entretanto, poucos estudos têm de fato avaliado o sucesso de intervenções ativas em restaurar funções ou processos ecossistêmicos. A regeneração natural é um processo sucessional, cuja avaliação pode indicar o estado e o potencial de resiliência do ecossistema em áreas sob restauração. O presente estudo comparou padrões de regeneração natural de uma área de restauração ecológica (com plantio de mudas nativas há 10 anos) com a mata ciliar de referência, em Cachoeirinha, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil. Para tanto, foi realizado o levantamento das espécies arbóreas e arbustivas presentes no estrato superior (DAP ≥ 5 cm) e inferior (altura > 30 cm e DAP < 5 cm), em 40 parcelas de 100 m² cada, considerando o plantio (restauração) e a mata ciliar remanescente (referência). Cada estrato e tratamento (referência vs. restauração) foi avaliado quanto aos descritores fitossociológicos, padrões de estrutura e composição, riqueza e similaridade entre as comunidades. Os resultados demonstraram que a área de restauração apresenta composição de espécies e estrutura diferenciada com relação à referência, especialmente para o estrato superior. No estrato inferior (regeneração natural), o número de indivíduos, a altura média e a riqueza de espécies já não diferiram da referência. A composição de espécies em regeneração ainda foi distinta, porém, esta foi mais similar entre si do que as demais comparações entre estratos, indicando que espécies não plantadas foram capazes de se estabelecer nas áreas de restauração

EVALUATION OF THE NATURAL REGENERATION IN A RESTORATION PLANTING AREA AND IN A REFERENCE RIPARIAN FOREST

\uc1reas ribeirinhas s\ue3o foco recorrente de restaura\ue7\ue3o ecol\uf3gica, devido a sua import\ue2ncia para a manuten\ue7\ue3o de servi\ue7os ecossist\ueamicos. Entretanto, poucos estudos t\ueam de fato avaliado o sucesso de interven\ue7\uf5es ativas em restaurar fun\ue7\uf5es ou processos ecossist\ueamicos. A regenera\ue7\ue3o natural \ue9 um processo sucessional, cuja avalia\ue7\ue3o pode indicar o estado e o potencial de resili\ueancia do ecossistema em \ue1reas sob restaura\ue7\ue3o. O presente estudo comparou padr\uf5es de regenera\ue7\ue3o natural de uma \ue1rea de restaura\ue7\ue3o ecol\uf3gica (com plantio de mudas nativas h\ue1 10 anos) com a mata ciliar de refer\ueancia, em Cachoeirinha, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil. Para tanto, foi realizado o levantamento das esp\ue9cies arb\uf3reas e arbustivas presentes no estrato superior (DAP 65 5 cm) e inferior (altura &gt; 30 cm e DAP &lt; 5 cm), em 40 parcelas de 100 m\ub2 cada, considerando o plantio (restaura\ue7\ue3o) e a mata ciliar remanescente (refer\ueancia). Cada estrato e tratamento (refer\ueancia vs. restaura\ue7\ue3o) foi avaliado quanto aos descritores fitossociol\uf3gicos, padr\uf5es de estrutura e composi\ue7\ue3o, riqueza e similaridade entre as comunidades. Os resultados demonstraram que a \ue1rea de restaura\ue7\ue3o apresenta composi\ue7\ue3o de esp\ue9cies e estrutura diferenciada com rela\ue7\ue3o \ue0 refer\ueancia, especialmente para o estrato superior. No estrato inferior (regenera\ue7\ue3o natural), o n\ufamero de indiv\uedduos, a altura m\ue9dia e a riqueza de esp\ue9cies j\ue1 n\ue3o diferiram da refer\ueancia. A composi\ue7\ue3o de esp\ue9cies em regenera\ue7\ue3o ainda foi distinta, por\ue9m, esta foi mais similar entre si do que as demais compara\ue7\uf5es entre estratos, indicando que esp\ue9cies n\ue3o plantadas foram capazes de se estabelecer nas \ue1reas de restaura\ue7\ue3o.Riparian areas are a recurrent focus of ecological restoration due to their importance for the maintenance of ecosystem services. However, few studies have evaluated the success of active interventions in restoring ecosystem functions and processes. The natural regeneration is a successional process and its evaluation might reveal the state and the potential of the ecosystem resilience in forest areas undergoing restoration. The present study aimed to compare natural regeneration of a riparian area that is undergoing restoration (planting of native trees, 10 years ago) with a reference forest area, in Cachoeirinha, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil. We conducted a survey of trees and shrubs in the upper stratum (DBH 65 5 cm) and the lower stratum (&gt; 30 cm in height and DBH &gt; 5 cm) in a total of 40 plots (100 m2 each), within the planting (restoration) and the remnant forest (reference). For each stratum and treatment (reference vs. restoration) we analyzed phytosociological parameters, patterns of structure and composition, and similarity among plots. The results showed significant differences in relation to structure and species composition, especially for the upper stratum. For the lower stratum (natural regeneration), abundance, height, and species richness were similar between the restoration and the reference areas. Species composition in regeneration remained distinct. However, its similarity value was higher than any other comparison among strata, indicating that species that were not planted were able to establish in the planted areas

Experimental evidence that novel land management interventions inspired by history enhance biodiversity

1. To address biodiversity declines within semi-natural habitats, land-management must cater for diverse taxonomic groups. Integrating our understanding of the ecological requirements of priority (rare, scarce or threatened) species through ‘biodiversity auditing’, with that of the intensity and complexity of historical land-use, encourages novel forms of management. Experimental confirmation is needed to establish whether this enhances biodiversity conservation relative to routine management. 2. Biodiversity auditing and historical land-use of dry-open terrestrial habitats in Breckland (Eastern England) both encourage management incorporating ground-disturbance and spatio-temporal variability. To test biodiversity conservation outcomes, we developed 40 4-ha management complexes over three successive winters, of which 20 were shallow-cultivated (rotovation) and 20 deep-cultivated (ploughing), stratified across 3,850-ha of closed-sward dry grassland and lowland heathland (collectively ‘dry grassland’). Complexes comprised four 1-ha sub-treatments: repeat-cultivation, first-time-cultivation, one-year-old fallow and two-year-old fallow. We examined responses of vascular plants; spiders; true bugs; ground, rove and ‘other’ beetles; bees and wasps; ants; and true flies on treatment complexes and 21 4-ha untreated controls. Sampling gave 132,251 invertebrates from 877 species and 28,846 plant observations from 167 species. 3. Resampling and rarefaction analyses showed shallow- and deep-cultivation both doubled priority species richness (pooling sub-treatments within complexes) compared to controls. Priority spider, ground beetle, other beetle, and true bug richness were greater on both treatments than controls. Responses were strongest for those priority dry-open-habitat associated invertebrates initially predicted (by biodiversity auditing) to benefit from heavy physical-disturbance. 4. Assemblage composition (pooling non-priority and priority species) varied between sub-treatments for plants, ants, true bugs, spiders, ground, rove and other beetles; but only one-year-old fallowed deep-cultivation increased priority richness across multiple taxa. 5. Treatments produced similar biodiversity responses across various dry grassland ‘habitats’ that differed in plant composition, allowing simplified management guidance. 6. Synthesis and applications. Our landscape-scale experiment confirmed the considerable biodiversity value of interventions inspired by history and informed by systematic multi-taxa analysis of ecological requirements across priority biota. Since assemblage composition varied between sub-treatments, providing heterogeneity in management will support the widest suite of species. Crucially, the intended recipients responded most strongly, suggesting biodiversity audits could successfully inform interventions within other systems

Think globally, measure locally: The MIREN standardized protocol for monitoring plant species distributions along elevation gradients

Climate change and other global change drivers threaten plant diversity in mountains worldwide. A widely documented response to such environmental modifications is for plant species to change their elevational ranges. Range shifts are often idiosyncratic and difficult to generalize, partly due to variation in sampling methods. There is thus a need for a standardized monitoring strategy that can be applied across mountain regions to assess distribution changes and community turnover of native and non-native plant species over space and time. Here, we present a conceptually intuitive and standardized protocol developed by the Mountain Invasion Research Network (MIREN) to systematically quantify global patterns of native and non-native species distributions along elevation gradients and shifts arising from interactive effects of climate change and human disturbance. Usually repeated every five years, surveys consist of 20 sample sites located at equal elevation increments along three replicate roads per sampling region. At each site, three plots extend from the side of a mountain road into surrounding natural vegetation. The protocol has been successfully used in 18 regions worldwide from 2007 to present. Analyses of one point in time already generated some salient results, and revealed region-specific elevational patterns of native plant species richness, but a globally consistent elevational decline in non-native species richness. Non-native plants were also more abundant directly adjacent to road edges, suggesting that disturbed roadsides serve as a vector for invasions into mountains. From the upcoming analyses of time series, even more exciting results can be expected, especially about range shifts. Implementing the protocol in more mountain regions globally would help to generate a more complete picture of how global change alters species distributions. This would inform conservation policy in mountain ecosystems, where some conservation policies remain poorly implemented

Global maps of soil temperature

Research in global change ecology relies heavily on global climatic grids derived from estimates of air temperature in open areas at around 2 m above the ground. These climatic grids do not reflect conditions below vegetation canopies and near the ground surface, where critical ecosystem functions occur and most terrestrial species reside. Here, we provide global maps of soil temperature and bioclimatic variables at a 1-km2 resolution for 0–5 and 5–15 cm soil depth. These maps were created by calculating the difference (i.e. offset) between in situ soil temperature measurements, based on time series from over 1200 1-km2 pixels (summarized from 8519 unique temperature sensors) across all the world\u27s major terrestrial biomes, and coarse-grained air temperature estimates from ERA5-Land (an atmospheric reanalysis by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts). We show that mean annual soil temperature differs markedly from the corresponding gridded air temperature, by up to 10°C (mean = 3.0 ± 2.1°C), with substantial variation across biomes and seasons. Over the year, soils in cold and/or dry biomes are substantially warmer (+3.6 ± 2.3°C) than gridded air temperature, whereas soils in warm and humid environments are on average slightly cooler (−0.7 ± 2.3°C). The observed substantial and biome-specific offsets emphasize that the projected impacts of climate and climate change on near-surface biodiversity and ecosystem functioning are inaccurately assessed when air rather than soil temperature is used, especially in cold environments. The global soil-related bioclimatic variables provided here are an important step forward for any application in ecology and related disciplines. Nevertheless, we highlight the need to fill remaining geographic gaps by collecting more in situ measurements of microclimate conditions to further enhance the spatiotemporal resolution of global soil temperature products for ecological applications

Global maps of soil temperature

Research in global change ecology relies heavily on global climatic grids derived from estimates of air temperature in open areas at around 2 m above the ground. These climatic grids do not reflect conditions below vegetation canopies and near the ground surface, where critical ecosystem functions occur and most terrestrial species reside. Here, we provide global maps of soil temperature and bioclimatic variables at a 1-km² resolution for 0–5 and 5–15 cm soil depth. These maps were created by calculating the difference (i.e., offset) between in-situ soil temperature measurements, based on time series from over 1200 1-km² pixels (summarized from 8500 unique temperature sensors) across all the world’s major terrestrial biomes, and coarse-grained air temperature estimates from ERA5-Land (an atmospheric reanalysis by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts). We show that mean annual soil temperature differs markedly from the corresponding gridded air temperature, by up to 10°C (mean = 3.0 ± 2.1°C), with substantial variation across biomes and seasons. Over the year, soils in cold and/or dry biomes are substantially warmer (+3.6 ± 2.3°C) than gridded air temperature, whereas soils in warm and humid environments are on average slightly cooler (-0.7 ± 2.3°C). The observed substantial and biome-specific offsets emphasize that the projected impacts of climate and climate change on near-surface biodiversity and ecosystem functioning are inaccurately assessed when air rather than soil temperature is used, especially in cold environments. The global soil-related bioclimatic variables provided here are an important step forward for any application in ecology and related disciplines. Nevertheless, we highlight the need to fill remaining geographic gaps by collecting more in-situ measurements of microclimate conditions to further enhance the spatiotemporal resolution of global soil temperature products for ecological applications

Global maps of soil temperature.

Research in global change ecology relies heavily on global climatic grids derived from estimates of air temperature in open areas at around 2 m above the ground. These climatic grids do not reflect conditions below vegetation canopies and near the ground surface, where critical ecosystem functions occur and most terrestrial species reside. Here, we provide global maps of soil temperature and bioclimatic variables at a 1-km2 resolution for 0-5 and 5-15 cm soil depth. These maps were created by calculating the difference (i.e. offset) between in situ soil temperature measurements, based on time series from over 1200 1-km2 pixels (summarized from 8519 unique temperature sensors) across all the world's major terrestrial biomes, and coarse-grained air temperature estimates from ERA5-Land (an atmospheric reanalysis by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts). We show that mean annual soil temperature differs markedly from the corresponding gridded air temperature, by up to 10°C (mean = 3.0 ± 2.1°C), with substantial variation across biomes and seasons. Over the year, soils in cold and/or dry biomes are substantially warmer (+3.6 ± 2.3°C) than gridded air temperature, whereas soils in warm and humid environments are on average slightly cooler (-0.7 ± 2.3°C). The observed substantial and biome-specific offsets emphasize that the projected impacts of climate and climate change on near-surface biodiversity and ecosystem functioning are inaccurately assessed when air rather than soil temperature is used, especially in cold environments. The global soil-related bioclimatic variables provided here are an important step forward for any application in ecology and related disciplines. Nevertheless, we highlight the need to fill remaining geographic gaps by collecting more in situ measurements of microclimate conditions to further enhance the spatiotemporal resolution of global soil temperature products for ecological applications