A Relevance Index for the habitat areas of Natura 2000 Network based on their Rarity and Representativeness

Duarte, Inês; Rego, Francisco; Casquilho, José Pinto; Arsénio, Pedro

doi:10.1016/j.ecolind.2015.09.015

Cited by 6 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 27 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The Portuguese coast is rich in endemic flora due to a singular biogeographic position (Braun-Blanquet et al, 1972;Asensi et al, 1993;van der Maarel and van der Maarel-Versluys, 1996;Costa et al, 2012) and about 35% of all Portuguese Natura 2000 habitats consist of coastal habitats (Costa et al, 2007;Duarte et al, 2016). The critically endangered endemic species Limonium daveaui Erben had a large distribution in the marshes of the Tagus Estuary (SW Portugal, SW Europe) in the past (Erben, 1978(Erben, , 1993Franco, 1984;Espírito-Santo et al, 2012;Caperta and Carapeto, 2020) but currently it is narrowly distributed in this area (Caperta and Carapeto, 2020).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Conservation of a Critically Endangered Endemic Halophyte of West Portugal: A Microcosm Assay to Assess the Potential of Soil Technology for Species Reintroduction

et al. 2021

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The soil system has been frequently overlooked during plant reintroduction planning and practice since working with soils and plant roots can be difficult, particularly in saline environments. Coastal saline environments are major contributors to regional and global biodiversity and an important source of endemic species. However, various species are in decline or considered threatened, particularly halophytes (salt tolerant) due to negative anthropic impacts. The Lusitanian endemic halophyte Limonium daveaui formerly had a large distribution range along the west coast of Portugal but currently it shows a restricted distribution in the Tagus estuary. Field surveys revealed that this critically endangered species forms few local populations with small size invaded by exotic species. In this study, we investigated the potential utilization of Technosols, an innovative sustainable, ecological engineering method combined with brackish water irrigation for potential L. daveaui reintroduction in native habitats. Seed germination percentages were evaluated in different environmental conditions. Through a microcosm assay, a Technosol was constructed using a saline Fluvisol with a mixture of low value inorganic and organic wastes, which were chemically characterized. Plants were cultivated in the Fluvisol and Technosol and irrigated with brackish water collected in the nearby area. To assess plant growth, morphometric parameters and the plants’ physiological status were assessed and the fresh and dry biomass determined. Results showed that seed germination was higher on moist filter paper with distilled water than in Fluvisol or Technosol. Plants grown in Technosol had a greater development, with higher values of photosynthetic indexes and biomass production than in Fluvisol. Our findings provide a basis for future in situ conservation studies and support the idea that eco-friendly soil technology approaches are beneficial to conserve rare halophyte species.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Conservation of a Critically Endangered Endemic Halophyte of West Portugal: A Microcosm Assay to Assess the Potential of Soil Technology for Species Reintroduction

et al. 2021

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Moreover, report information is increasingly being used in biodiversity conservation studies [90][91][92], which indicates a satisfactory degree of quality. The data from the Article 17 reporting is currently the most extensive database on the conservation status and distribution of habitat types in the EU [14], and in the case of data on Natura 2000 sites, further adjustments to these databases will enable the use of more precise results [34].…”

Section: A Methods For Identifying Habitat-type Conservation Prioritiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For example, Bacchetta et al [31] ranked habitat types based on their endemic plant richness and related priority index value. Attention has frequently been focused on assessing habitat-type conservation priorities at the scale of the Natura 2000 sites and network levels [32][33][34]. For example, Mikkonen and Moilanen [35] used the Zonation framework and software, which is a spatially explicit modeling tool, to identify areas of conservation priority within the Natura 2000 network.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Identifying Habitat Type Conservation Priorities under the Habitats Directive: Application to Two Italian Biogeographical Regions

2018

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The ongoing biodiversity crisis necessitates greater efforts to ensure the adequate conservation of critical habitat types. Even though the identification of protected areas is still required in Europe, conservation efforts are now focusing on management requirements for protected areas and habitat types. Establishing effective management approaches is important for the conservation of the natural and semi-natural habitat types that are identified under the Habitats Directive framework. In this study, we propose a methodology for determining priorities in the conservation management of habitat types based on readily available data. This method relies on four simple criteria to rank habitat types, which includes: conservation condition, biodiversity value, pressure factor, and the cover relevance of habitat types (indicating regional responsibility in terms of area covered). After ranking the habitat types based on the sum of the scores given to all of the criteria, the 25% top-ranking habitat types were prioritized. The pressure factors are analyzed using cluster analysis to better convey information regarding the management needs of groups of habitat types. This prioritization method was tested in habitat types occurring within the Italian Alpine and Continental biogeographical regions. From this analysis, forests, bogs and fens, and dry grasslands were identified as conservation priorities for the Alpine region; meanwhile, a wider variety of habitat types were identified for the Continental region. Important pressure factors were identified (e.g., roads and motorways) for these two biogeographical regions of Italy, which could be used to suggest specific conservation measures. The proposed approach represents a transparent and reliable method for outlining habitat-type priorities based on conservation, biodiversity, pressure, and cover factors, which can be applied to identifying conservation measures that can help achieve biodiversity targets.

show abstract

“…The link to this difference is rooted in the fact that each model incorporates a rarity valuation measure, which for W 1 , defined in Equation (2), is the nonlinear factor r 1,i = − log p 1,i (e.g., [51]) and for W 2 is the linear function r 2,i = 1 − p 2,i as we can check in Equation (3); when the habitat i vanishes we get respectively the results lim Highlighting areas for future research, we point out that the trends of the results presented here should be tested relative to an analogous higher dimensional problem, and also using other utility valuation functions such as the logarithmic or negative exponential and a valuation procedure that incorporates an ecological assessment of singularities.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Discussing Landscape Compositional Scenarios Generated with Maximization of Non-Expected Utility Decision Models Based on Weighted Entropies

Casquilho

Rego

2017

Entropy

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract:The search for hypothetical optimal solutions of landscape composition is a major issue in landscape planning and it can be outlined in a two-dimensional decision space involving economic value and landscape diversity, the latter being considered as a potential safeguard to the provision of services and externalities not accounted in the economic value. In this paper, we use decision models with different utility valuations combined with weighted entropies respectively incorporating rarity factors associated to Gini-Simpson and Shannon measures. A small example of this framework is provided and discussed for landscape compositional scenarios in the region of Nisa, Portugal. The optimal solutions relative to the different cases considered are assessed in the two-dimensional decision space using a benchmark indicator. The results indicate that the likely best combination is achieved by the solution using Shannon weighted entropy and a square root utility function, corresponding to a risk-averse behavior associated to the precautionary principle linked to safeguarding landscape diversity, anchoring for ecosystem services provision and other externalities. Further developments are suggested, mainly those relative to the hypothesis that the decision models here outlined could be used to revisit the stability-complexity debate in the field of ecological studies.

show abstract

A Relevance Index for the habitat areas of Natura 2000 Network based on their Rarity and Representativeness

Cited by 6 publications

References 27 publications

Conservation of a Critically Endangered Endemic Halophyte of West Portugal: A Microcosm Assay to Assess the Potential of Soil Technology for Species Reintroduction

Conservation of a Critically Endangered Endemic Halophyte of West Portugal: A Microcosm Assay to Assess the Potential of Soil Technology for Species Reintroduction

Identifying Habitat Type Conservation Priorities under the Habitats Directive: Application to Two Italian Biogeographical Regions

Discussing Landscape Compositional Scenarios Generated with Maximization of Non-Expected Utility Decision Models Based on Weighted Entropies

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About