Perspective: sustainability challenges, opportunities and solutions for long-term ecosystem observations

Abstract

As interest in natural capital grows and society increasingly recognizes the value of biodiversity, we must discuss how ecosystem observations to detect changes in biodiversity can be sustained through collaboration across regions and sectors. However, there are many barriers to establishing and sustaining large-scale, fine-resolution ecosystem observations. First, comprehensive monitoring data on both biodiversity and possible anthropogenic factors are lacking. Second, some in situ ecosystem observations cannot be systematically established and maintained across locations. Third, equitable solutions across sectors and countries are needed to build a global network. Here, by examining individual cases and emerging frameworks, mainly from (but not limited to) Japan, we illustrate how ecological science relies on long-term data and how neglecting basic monitoring of our home planet further reduces our chances of overcoming the environmental crisis. We also discuss emerging techniques and opportunities, such as environmental DNA and citizen science as well as using the existing and forgotten sites of monitoring, that can help overcome some of the difficulties in establishing and sustaining ecosystem observations at a large scale with fine resolution. Overall, this paper presents a call to action for joint monitoring of biodiversity and anthropogenic factors, the systematic establishment and maintenance of in situ observations, and equitable solutions across sectors and countries to build a global network, beyond cultures, languages, and economic status. We hope that our proposed framework and the examples from Japan can serve as a starting point for further discussions and collaborations among stakeholders across multiple sectors of society. It is time to take the next step in detecting changes in socio-ecological systems, and if monitoring and observation can be made more equitable and feasible, they will play an even more important role in ensuring global sustainability for future generations. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Detecting and attributing the causes of biodiversity change: needs, gaps and solutions’.

Wild bee surveys across 60 years reveal remarkable reduction of bee abundance in urban green areas in northern Japan

“…Although reliable historical records such as museum specimens are useful to reveal the trends and patterns at large spatial scales, regular monitoring data at fixed locations in urban landscapes can clarify temporal processes and infer potential anthropogenic impacts on local bee communities. Because the standardized procedure of weekly hand netting along fixed census routes seems reliable to describe wild bee communities, the revival of past surveys using the same procedure is useful to obtain long-term data (Mori et al, 2023;Stroud & Thompson, 2019). After species identification, bee traits different between species, such as body size, foraging behavior, seasonality, and more can be examined.…”

“…At the two sites in urban green areas of Sapporo city in northern Japan, wild bee surveys using hand netting were conducted every 10 years since 1959 but had been suspended after 1989 (Matsumura et al, 2020;Sakagami & Fukuda, 1973). Revisiting historical surveys is one of the most practical approaches to obtain long-term monitoring data (Mori et al, 2023;Stroud & Thompson, 2019). Thus, we resumed the surveys at the same locations using the same method in 2018 and 2019.…”

Twenty Years of Progress, Challenges, and Opportunities in Measuring and Understanding Soil Respiration

“…Long‐term observations are crucial for drawing robust scientific inference about the Earth system (Luo et al., 2011; Mori et al., 2023; Müller et al., 2016; Ward et al., 2017). While short‐term observations provide insight into how Rs responds to perturbations, any extrapolation to long‐term system behavior is problematic.…”

Detecting and attributing the causes of biodiversity change: needs, gaps and solutions

“…Mori et al [ 46 ] advocate long-term, fine-resolution ecosystem observations to understand the complex feedbacks that natural and anthropogenic drivers can induce in food webs and ecosystem functioning. Drawing on examples of terrestrial and marine monitoring in Japan, they discuss important barriers and challenges to ecosystem monitoring, for example, related to funding and coordination, and the joint monitoring of biotic and abiotic factors.…”

“…Drawing on examples of terrestrial and marine monitoring in Japan, they discuss important barriers and challenges to ecosystem monitoring, for example, related to funding and coordination, and the joint monitoring of biotic and abiotic factors. Importantly, Mori et al [ 46 ] suggest that inclusive and equitable collaborations should be established to provide training in cutting-edge technologies such as laser imaging detection and ranging (LIDAR) and environmental DNA (eDNA) for developing countries. This would be a cornerstone for a standardized and equitable global observation network.…”