Mountain regions as key biodiversity observatories?

Abstract/Description

Assessing biodiversity in mountainous regions is challenging due to steep environmental gradients, complex small-scale landscape structures, and the resulting high habitat diversity. Even with carefully selected field survey locations, achieving a comprehensive, area-wide biodiversity characterization remains unattainable. Integrating field surveys with remote sensing data through spatial modelling approaches offers a promising solution to address this challenge. We developed such an approach to assess butterfly species richness and abundance in mountain grasslands in Western Austria – a region located in the Eastern Alps. Butterflies proved to be good biodiversity indicators, that can be surveyed comparably easily, inhabit a wide range of terrestrial habitats, react sensitively to changes in environmental conditions, and are representative for other groups of terrestrial insects. The models are based on butterfly monitoring data from 175 systematically selected survey sites of the Viel-Falter butterfly monitoring scheme and high-resolution remote sensing data including Sentinel-2 data. The environmental variables that were derived describe topography, grassland characteristics and the landscape composition and configuration around a site. The models were used to make predictions for butterfly species richness and abundance in the grassland areas of the study region and to analyse their drivers. Especially for species richness the models for predictions were promising with a residual mean squared error of less than 5 species on test data, while the models for abundance were less accurate. The analysis of drivers highlights the positive influence of moderate grassland productivity and forest ecotone structures and the importance of mountain topography. Our study contributes to a better understanding of the distribution and drivers of butterfly diversity and provides valuable information for policy makers and stakeholders at different spatial scales. The presented approach can aid the development of national nature conservation strategies that are especially relevant regarding EU Nature Restoration Law (NRL) and the role of grassland butterflies as designated indicators to monitor its progress. Ongoing technological developments have the potential to further improve the usability of remote sensing data for biodiversity assessments at large spatial extents.

Abstract/Description

In 2019, a permanent biodiversity monitoring program was launched in South Tyrol, Italy, as an initiative of the provincial government, with experts from different fields responsible for data collection and scientific analysis, public involvement (e.g., Citizen Science), public and stakeholder information, and advice to policymakers. Using standardized protocols, it aims to survey species groups considered sensitive to climate and land-use changes, i.e., vascular plants and bryophytes, orthopterans, butterflies, birds, bats, soil fauna, and freshwater macroinvertebrates. They are investigated in 320 terrestrial and 120 aquatic sites over repeated periods of five years. Sites were selected using a stratified sampling design to cover the most representative habitat types, from near natural to strongly anthropogenically altered ones. In addition, data on abiotic factors, landscape structure, and land-use management are collected. Moreover, a strong focus is placed on stakeholder engagement and communication. The presentation gives an overview of the project and reveals the findings of the project’s first five years, presenting also the scientific output to date. It clearly shows the different quality of the surveyed habitat types for the investigated taxonomical groups, e.g., the dependence of butterflies and grasshoppers on extensively managed grasslands and of bird and bat diversity on landscape diversity. For the second monitoring period, which has just started, we are adding new methodological approaches: The ornithological survey is supported by automated sound detectors, and image-based insect camera traps will be tested for the recognition of nocturnal insects. The program’s first five years have shown that our approach is well-suited for evidence-based decision-making. The stakeholder involvement from the beginning has been crucial to the success of the program – especially when it comes to solving applied research questions. Finally, the strategy to foster collaborations in international scientific consortia (e.g. GLORIA, Biodiversa+) and with local citizens and amateur naturalist associations allowed us to significantly enlarge the impact and the outreach of the program.

Abstract/Description

The alpine ecosystem covers about 3% of terrestrial habitats in isolated pockets extending nearly from pole to pole. Some of Earth’s highest and coldest regions have experienced more pronounced warming than other ecosystems. How will plants, the essential providers of the alpine world, survive in their sky islands?

The isolated nature of the alpine ecosystem physically separates researchers from one another and limits data sharing. The Alpine Plants Specialist Group within the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) communicates and advocates for plant conservation in the earth’s most threatened ecosystem. Observations made by the specialist group can lead the world in documenting the impacts of a warming planet.

Abstract/Description

The Alps are a relevant biodiversity hotspot in south-central Europe. Yet, the European Alps are threatened by climate change and other anthropogenic pressures, making increased conservation efforts imperative. Achieving EU targets including EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030 and EU Nature Restoration Law relies on a robust cooperation among Alpine states. However, a main challenge arises from the diverse monitoring schemes and data collection protocols adopted by each Alpine country. To ensure effective conservation measures and strategies, it is essential that data are comparable and that the selected indicators adequately represent the entire elevational gradient of the Alpine region.

Currently, some of the indicators used at the European level are assessed differently between Alpine countries (e.g., Farmland Bird Index, Grassland Butterfly Index, etc.) and may not include species normally found at higher elevations (i.e., above the treeline). Furthermore, existing monitoring schemes may not be adequately designed to detect rapid changes in mountain ecosystems arising from emerging global pressures and threats. This limitation compromises data comparability and slows progress in our understanding of biodiversity status along the whole Alps.

By surveying over 250 stakeholders (e.g., research institutions, universities, protected areas, national and sub-national authorities, NGOs, etc.) across the Alpine region, we will provide preliminary insights into 1) the most common biodiversity monitoring schemes currently in use across seven alpine countries, and 2) novel and alpine-representative indicator lists for various taxonomic groups – including mammals, birds, butterflies, and plants. Additionally, we will develop guidelines to harmonize biodiversity monitoring and in-situ data collection across the Alps.

AlpsLife represents the first collaborative effort at transnational level aimed at integrating biodiversity monitoring schemes throughout the Alps. Its main goal is to develop a comprehensive strategy for data collection, storage and sharing, while effectively communicating our findings to policymakers and stakeholders, to ultimately preserve and restore alpine ecosystems.