Initiative de recherche Blue-Green Biodiversity

Une collaboration entre l'Eawag et le WSL consacrée à la biodiversité à l'interface des écosystèmes aquatiques et terrestres

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Graphique: Les milieux naturels bleu-vert sont des hotspots de biodiversité

Les écosystèmes aquatiques et terrestres sont étroitement liés et s’enrichissent réciproquement. Ces hotspots ou points chauds de biodiversité sont toutefois menacés par des modification d’origine humaine tels que le changement climatique, l’urbanisation ou l’intensification de l’agriculture. Le graphique suivant illustre les interactions entre l’eau et la terre et les questions sur lesquelles porte l’initiative de recherche BGB.

Comment la biodiversité évolue-t-elle ?

Sur toute la planète, la biodiversité connaît un déclin dramatique. L’initiative BGB étudie son évolution dans l’espace et dans le temps, au niveau local bien sûr, par exemple le long de la Thur en Suisse, mais aussi au niveau mondial à l’aide de données archivées et d’images satellitaires, sur une échelle temporelle allant de quelques décennies à plusieurs millions d’années.

Qu’est-ce qui influence la diversité des espèces ?

Les nouvelles affectations des sols découlant de l’intensification de l’agriculture ou de l’urbanisation, du changement climatique, de la surexploitation des ressources naturelles ou de l’apparition d’espèces envahissantes modifient les milieux naturels et menacent la biodiversité. L’initiative BGB étudie l’impact de ces différents facteurs.

Quelles sont les relations entre écosystèmes terrestres et aquatiques ?

Sur terre et dans l’eau, les écosystèmes sont étroitement imbriqués. Par exemple, en tombant dans l’eau, les feuilles nourrissent des micro-organismes. Ceux-ci sont dévorés par les larves prédatrices d’insectes qui quittent le milieu aquatique après leur dernier stade larvaire. Sur terre, ces insectes particulièrement nutritifs alimentent les oiseaux. L’initiative BGB examine ce réseau de biodiversité dans son ensemble.

Comment promouvoir et protéger la biodiversité ?

L’initiative BGB vise à élaborer des recommandations pour la pratique et la politique afin de stopper ou au moins de réduire la perte de biodiversité aussi rapidement que possible. Comment relier les milieux naturels dans les agglomérations par une infrastructure bleu-vert ? Ou encore, à quoi ressemble une politique efficace de biodiversité ?

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Capture d'écran de la vidéo “Translating science into action and engage in biodiversity policy-making”, Eawag. 300c
10 décembre 2024

Mettre la science en pratique et s’engager politiquement pour la biodiversité

10 décembre 2024Dans un contexte de déclin de la biodiversité, il est important que les jeunes chercheuses et chercheurs s’investissent en science mais s’engagent aussi en politique pour défendre la biodiversité.

En savoir plus

Plus d'actualités

Blue-Green Biodiversity

La biodiversité est essentielle à la vie et au bien-être des populations humaines. La perte de biodiversité est, avec le changement climatique, l'un des plus grands défis auxquels l'humanité est confrontée. La recherche et les mesures pour inverser et atténuer la perte de biodiversité et celle des fonctions et services écosystémiques qui lui sont associés sont donc indispensables. Afin d'aborder cette urgence scientifique et sociale, le Conseil des EPF a financé l’initiative de recherche Blue-Green Biodiversity (BGB, biodiversité bleu-vert), c'est-à-dire la diversité biologique à l'interface de l'eau et de la terre. Cette initiative a pour objet de renforcer la recherche interdisciplinaire sur la biodiversité au sein du WSL et de l'Eawag, mais aussi dans l'ensemble du domaine des EPF et au-delà, afin de comprendre et de relever le plus rapidement possible les défis liés à la disparition d'espèces et aux modifications de la biodiversité.

Phase 2: BGB 2021–2025

En 2021, des projets de recherche à plus long terme ont été lancés, notamment de nouvelles expériences, des études de terrain et de la collecte de données. Cinq projets de recherche et trois projets de mise en œuvre visent à approfondir les thèmes de BGB 2020, ainsi qu'à mettre en place de nouvelles recherches de pointe et à aborder des questions appliquées pour lesquelles il n'existe pas encore de données. Les questions de recherche ciblées seront scientifiquement stimulantes et directement pertinentes pour des applications pratiques et/ou des actions de vulgarisation.

Principaux objectifs pour 2021 à 2025

  • Former une cohorte de chercheuses et chercheurs en début de carrière sur des sujets liés à la biodiversité.
  • Développer et tester des modèles de modification de la biodiversité.
  • Renforcer les capacités de conception, de mise en œuvre et de gestion des mesures de conservation et de restauration de la biodiversité.
  • Sensibiliser et traduire les résultats pour les communiquer aux professionnelles et professionnels de la pratique et au grand public.

Liste des projets BGB financés en 2023 - 2025

Bleu: Projets de recherche et de formation avec un doctorat
Gris: Projets de mise en œuvre

Projet 1

Inter- and transdisciplinary integration at the interface between science, policy and practice: Empirical insights from the BGB Research Initiative
Direction du projet: Dr. Sabine Hoffmann (Eawag), Dr. Blake Matthews (Eawag)
et PD Dr. Anita Risch (WSL)
Postdoc: Jana Thierfelder
Projet 2 Gaps within and between International and National Biodiversity Policy
Direction du projet: PD Dr. Manuel Fischer (Eawag) et PD Dr. Catherine Graham (WSL)
Postdoc: Dechen Lham
Projet 3 Integrating biodiversity standards into local planning: The case of Swiss municipalities
Direction du projet: Prof.h.c. Dr. Anna Hersperger (WSL), Prof. Dr. Rolf Holderegger (WSL), Dr. Marco Moretti (WSL) et Prof. Dr. Florian Altermatt (Eawag)
Collaboratrice scientifique: Stephanie Schwab (WSL)

Liste des projets BGB financés en 2021 - 2024

Bleu: Projets de recherche et de formation avec un doctorat
Gris: Projets de mise en œuvre

Projet 1 Blue-green stormwater infrastructure meets biodiversity in the city (Benefit)
Direction du projet: Dr. Lauren Cook (Eawag) et Dr. Marco Moretti (WSL)
Postdoc: Andreas Dietzel
PhD student: Kilian Perrelet
Coopération: João P. Leitão (Eawag), Florian Altermatt (Eawag), Nicole Bauer (WSL), Anna Hersperger (WSL)
Projet 2 Food-webs across aquatic-terrestrial environments in forests in the face of climate change
Direction du projet: Prof. Dr. Martin Gossner (WSL) et Prof. Dr. Carsten Schubert (Eawag)
Postdoc: Maja Ilic
PhD student: Bastiaan Drost
Coopération: Marco Moretti (WSL), Marco Lehmann (WSL), Matthias Saurer (WSL), Catherine Graham (WSL), Loïc Pellissier (WSL), Florian Altermatt (Eawag), Jakob Brodersen (Eawag), Blake Matthews (Eawag), Anita Narwani (Eawag), Ole Seehausen (Eawag), Christoph Vorburger (Eawag), Andreas Bruder (SUPSI)
Projet 3 Species interactions in beaver engineered habitats link let-water ecosystem processes
Direction du projet: PD Dr. Anita Risch (WSL) et  Dr. Francesco Pomati (Eawag)
Postdoc: Leonardo Capitani
PhD student: Valentin Moser
Coopération: Aline Frossard (WSL), Steffen Boch (WSL), Chris Robinson (Eawag), Christof Angst (Biberfachstelle CH), Thomas Kreienbühl (Ecqua), Silvan Minnig (umweltbildner.ch)
Projet 4 Blue-Green Cyanobacteria: Diversity, Toxins et alpine Tourism
Direction du projet: Prof. Dr. Christoph Scheidegger (WSL) et Dr. Elisabeth Janssen (Eawag)
Postdoc: Francesca Pittino
PhD student: Juliana Oliveira
Coopération: Sabine Fink (WSL)
Projet 5 Assessing et designing blue-green conservation strategies for the 21st Century in Switzerland
Direction du projet: Prof. Dr. Niklaus Zimmerman (WSL) et Prof. Dr. Ole Seehausen (Eawag)
Postdoc: Wenna Ding
PhD student: Oluwadamilola Ogundipe
Coopération: Florian Altermatt (Eawag), Jakob Brodersen (Eawag), Anita Narwani (Eawag), Blake Matthews (Eawag), Loïc Pellissier (WSL), Catherine Graham (WSL), Rolf Holderegger (WSL), Martin Gossner (WSL), Kurt Bollmann (WSL), Michael Nobis (WSL), Philipp Brun (WSL)
Projet 6 The let-water-scape: Capacity building across the blue-green interface
Direction du projet: Florian Altermatt (Eawag) et Prof. Dr. Rolf Holderegger (WSL)
Postdoc: Sabine Güsewell
Coopération: divers scientifiques du programme BGB
Projet 7 Enhancing residents’ understanding of blue-green biodiversity through participatory interventions et social learning: A key for successful river restoration planning and implementation
Direction du projet: Dr. Matthias Buchecker (WSL) et Dr. Nadja Contzen (Eawag)
Postdoc: Marius Fankhauser
Coopération: Janine Bolliger (WSL), Christopher Robinson (Eawag)
Projet 8 BlueGreenNet - Social-ecological networks to enhance biodiversity in peri-urban regions
Direction du projet: Dr. Manuel Fischer (Eawag) et PD Dr. Janine Bolliger (WSL)
Postdoc: Giulia Donati
Coopération: Peter Bach (Eawag), Adrienne Grêt-Regamey (ETH), Sabine Hoffmann (Eawag), Achilleas Psomas (WSL), Francine van den Brandeler (Eawag)

Phase 1: BGB 2020

BGB2020 a identifié un ensemble de questions fondamentales et comprend 13 projets de recherche subventionnés pour financer des boursiers post-doctoraux pendant un an. Ces projets ont fourni des résultats rapides en se concentrant sur l'analyse des données existantes pour répondre à des questions d'actualité dans le domaine des sciences fondamentales et appliquées de la biodiversité à l'interface de la biodiversité aquatique et terrestre.

Principaux objectifs de l'appel 2020

  • Créer une communauté de recherche, observer les développements actuels (analyse prospective) et fixer des priorités pour établir de nouvelles collaborations et réagir à temps aux problèmes.
  • Analyse des données existantes et modélisation pour mieux comprendre les similitudes et les interconnexions entre les systèmes aquatiques et terrestres
  • Sensibilisation du grand public et transfert de connaissancse aux praticiens

Liste des projets BGB financés en 2020

Projet 1 The architecture of community structure, functional traits and trophic networks across blue-green ecosystems
Direction du projet : Prof. Dr. Florian Altermatt (Eawag) et Prof. Dr. Loïc Pellissier (WSL)
Postdoc: Hsi-Cheng Ho
Coopération: Jakob Brodersen (Eawag), Martin Gossner (WSL), Catherine Graham (WSL), Ole Seehausen (Eawag), Niklaus Zimmermann (WSL)
Projet 2 Blue-green infrastructure for blue-green lives: modelling use and colonization credit of an ecological infrastructure to inform evidence-based amphibian conservation
Direction du projet : Dr. Ariel Bergamini (WSL) et Prof. Dr. Christoph Vorburger (Eawag)
Postdoc: Helen Moor
Coopération: Simon Egger (canton of Aargau), Rolf Holderegger (WSL), Benedikt Schmidt (info fauna karch & UZH)
Projet 3 Analysing recent developments in abundance, biomass and species richness of aquatic and terrestrial insects in Switzerland
Direction du projet : Dr. Kurt Bollmann (WSL) et Dr. Nele Schuwirth (Eawag)
Postdoc: Friederike Gebert
Coopération: Martin K. Obrist (WSL), Florian Altermatt (Eawag)
Projet 4 Contrasting patterns and processes of biological invasions in blue versus green ecosystems
Direction du projet : Dr. Eckehard Brockerhoff (WSL) et Dr. Marco Baity-Jesi (Eawag)
Postdoc: Agnieszka Sendek
Coopération: Florian Altermatt (Eawag), Martin Bader (WSL), Martin Gossner (WSL), Martin Obrist (WSL), Andrew Liebhold (US Forest Service / CULS), Hanno Seebens (Senckenberg Biodiv. & Climate Res.), Piet Spaak (Eawag), Christoph Vorburger (Eawag), Thomas Wohlgemuth (WSL)
Projet 5 Testing the generality of biotic homogenization by human impact in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems
Direction du projet : Dr. Martin M. Gossner (WSL) et Prof. Dr. Florian Altermatt (Eawag)
Postdoc: Mark Wong
Coopération: Jakob Brodersen (Eawag), Catherine Graham (WSL), Heike Lischke (WSL), Marco Moretti (WSL), Loïc Pellissier (WSL), Ole Seehausen (Eawag), Thomas Wohlgemuth (WSL), Niklaus E. Zimmermann (WSL)
Projet 6 Evaluating temporal community structure as a function of environmental variables acting at different scales
Direction du projet : Prof. Dr. Catherine Graham (WSL) et Dr. Blake Matthews (Eawag)
Postdoc: Shyamolina Ghosh
Coopération: Martin Gossner (WSL), Heike Lischke (WSL), Anita Narwani (Eawag), Christian Rixen (WSL), Ole Seehausen (Eawag), Sarah R. Supp (Denison University), Thomas Wohlgemuth ( WSL), Niklaus E. Zimmermann (WSL)
Projet 7 How has Swiss biodiversity policy been performing over the last 30 years?
Direction du projet : Prof. Dr. Felix Kienast (WSL) et Dr. Manuel Fischer (Eawag)
Postdoc: Ueli Reber
Coopération: Rolf Grütter (WSL), Anna Hersperger (WSL), Karin Ingold (Eawag), Olga Koblet (Univ. Zürich), Ross Purves (Univ. Zürich)
Projet 8 Predator coupling of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems: the importance of nutritional diversity of prey
Direction du projet : Dr. Blake Matthews (Eawag) et Prof. Dr. Catherine Graham (WSL)
Postdoc: Ryan Shipley
Coopération: Jakob Brodersen (Eawag), Martin Gossner (WSL), Ryan Shipley (MPI-AB), Christine Weber (Eawag)
Projet 9 Blue-green infrastructure for biodiversity enrichment in human-dominated landscapes
Direction du projet: Prof. Dr. Max Maurer (Eawag) et Dr. Janine Bolliger (WSL)
Postdoc: Giulia Donati
Coopération: Peter Marcus Bach (Eawag), Achilleas Psomas (WSL)
Projet 10 Warming-related community turnover in terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems
Direction du projet : Dr. Anita Narwani (Eawag) et Dr. Christian Rixen (WSL)
Postdoc: Imran Khaliq
Coopération: Jakob Brodersen (Eawag), Martin Gossner (WSL), Catherine Graham (WSL), Blake Matthews (Eawag), Loïc Pellissier (WSL), Francesco Pomati (Eawag), Ole Seehausen (Eawag), Florian Zellweger (WSL), Niklaus E. Zimmermann (WSL)
Projet 11 Global remotely sensed phenology: A unifying Essential Biodiversity Variable for assessing the linkage between aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems
Direction du projet : Dr. Daniel Odermatt (Eawag) et Dr. Yann Vitasse (WSL)
Postdoc: Jelle Lever
Coopération: Alexander Damm-Reiser (University of Zurich), Petra D’Odorico (WSL), Arthur Martin Gessler (WSL), Luis Gilarranz (Eawag), Christian Ginzler (WSL)
Projet 12 Biodiversity assembly in blue and green ecosystems: speciation versus immigration
Direction du projet : Prof. Dr. Ole Seehausen (Eawag) et Prof. Dr. Niklaus E. Zimmermann (WSL)
Postdoc: Luiz Jardim de Queiroz
Coopération: Florian Altermatt (Eawag), Jakob Brodersen (Eawag), Catherine Graham (WSL), Blake Matthews (Eawag), Loïc Pellissier (WSL), Lukas Rüber (NMBE)
Projet 13

Assessing richness differences between blue and green systems by quantifying biodiversity turnover along global gradients
Direction du projet : Prof. Dr. Niklaus E. Zimmermann (WSL) et Prof. Dr. Ole Seehausen (Eawag)
Postdoc: Ian McFadden
Coopération: Florian Altermatt (Eawag), Blake Matthews (Eawag), Martin Gossner (WSL), Catherine Graham (WSL), Nicolas Gruber (ETHZ), Martina Hobi (WSL), Loïc Pellissier (WSL), Meike Vogt (ETHZ), Tom Wohlgemuth (WSL)

Liste des projets associés à BGB

Biodiversity change in a warming world
Responsible de projet: Anita Narwani (Eawag), Co-Pl: Christian Rixen (WSL)
Postdoc: Imran Khaliq (Eawag)
Durée: 01.01.2022 - 31.05.2022
Organe de financement: Eawag's Academic Transition Grant

Rezente Entwicklungen in der Vielfalt und Abundanz aquatischer Insekten in der Schweiz (Recent developments in richness and abundance of aquatic insects in Switzerland)
Responsible de projet: Kurt Bollmann (WSL) Co-Pl: Nele Schuwirth (Eawag)
Postdoc: Friederike Gebert
Durée: 01.10.2021 - 30.06.2022
Organe de financement: FOEN (Yael Schindler)

Global analysis of the phenology of supply and demand for n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in consumer diets and its relationship to consumer fitness
Responsible de projet: Blake Matthews, Daniel Odermatt, and J. Ryan Shipley (Eawag)
Durée: 01.09.2021 - 30.08.2022
Collaborateurs:
Luis J. Gilarranz (Eawag), Cornelia Twining (Eawag), Jelle Lever (WSL), Catherine Graham (WSL) and Yann Vitasse (WSL)
Organe de financement: Eawag

Living Lab Bern: Establishing a pre-urbanisation baseline
Responsible de projet: Max Maurer (Eawag)
Co-responsible de projet: Lauren Cook, Peter M Bach, João Leitão (Eawag)
Durée: 09.2021 - 09.2022
Collaborateurs:
Marco Moretti, Janine Bolliger, Anna Hersperger, Matthias Buchecker (WSL), Nadja Contzen, Manuel Fischer (Eawag), Stephanos Anderski, Frank Marti, Judith Dobmann (Stadt Bern)
Organe de financement: Eawag

Biodiversity assembly in blue and green ecosystems: speciation versus immigration
Responsible de projet: Ole Seehausen (Eawag)
Co-responsible de projet: Niklaus Zimmermann (WSL)
Postdoc: Luiz Jardim de Queiroz
Durée: 01.09.2021 – 31.06.2022
Collaborateurs:
Carmela Dönz, Soraya Villalba, Roman Alther, Špela Borko, Ian R. McFadden, Thomas Schmitt, Florian Altermatt, Jakob Brodersen, Martin Gossner, Catherine Graham, Blake Matthews, Loïc Pellissier, Lukas Rüber
Organe de financement: Eawag

BIOMONDO - Towards Earth Observation supported monitoring of freshwater biodiversity
Responsible de projet: Petra Philipson, coordinator (Brockmann Geomatics)
Postdoc: Jelle Lever
Durée: 2021-2023
Collaborateurs:
Daniel Odermatt (Eawag), Consortium of Brockmann Geomatics, Brockmann Consult, Eawag, PBL, and Deltares
Organe de financement: European Space Agency

Seasonal changes and recovery from extreme climatic events as indicators of ecosystem stability and impending regime shifts
Responsbile de projet: Jelle Lever (WSL)
Co-responsible de projet: Yann Vitasse & Arthur Gessler (WSL)
Durée: 2021-2022
Organe de financement: SwissForestLab

GreenCityNet-Social-ecological networks to enhance biodiversity in urban green spaces
Responsbile de projet: Janine Bolliger (WSL)
Co-responsible de projet: Manuel Fischer (Eawag)
Durée: 2022-2025
Organe de financement: SNF

Publications et distinctions

Publications pour stakeholders

Zeitliche Trends von Makroinvertebraten. Kantonale und nationale Monitoringdaten im Vergleich

Daten zur zeitlichen Entwicklung der Vielfalt wirbelloser Kleinlebewesen in Fliessgewässern verschiedener Kantone werden den nationalen Datensätzen BDM und NAWA gegenübergestellt. Bis auf wenige Ausnahmen zeigt sich eine auf kantonaler und nationaler Ebene einheitliche Entwicklung: Vor allem die Anzahl pestizidtoleranter Familien und wärmeliebender Arten pro Probenahmestandort nimmt in den letzten Jahrzehnten zu. Mögliche Ursachen dieses Trends sind der Klimawandel sowie eine verbesserte Gewässerqualität.
Gebert, F.; Bollmann, K.; Siber, R.; Schuwirth, N. (2022) Zeitliche Trends von Makroinvertebraten. Kantonale und nationale Monitoringdaten im Vergleich, Aqua & Gas, 102(10), 76-82, Institutional Repository

Revitalisierte Bäche leisten einen Beitrag zur städtischen Pflanzenvielfalt. Les ruisseaux revitalisés favorisent la diversité spécifique de la flore urbaine

Bevor sie grösstenteils in den Untergrund verlegt wurden, prägten Bäche das Bild der Schweiz, auch in der Stadt Zürich. Im Rahmen des naturnahen Wasserbaus werden in Zürich diese Bäche seit 35 Jahren wieder an die Oberfläche gebracht. In dieser Studie untersuchten wir die Vielfalt der Gefässpflanzen an wieder geöffneten Bächen in der Stadt Zürich.

Avant d’être en majeure partie enfouis, les ruisseaux étaient des marqueurs omniprésents du paysage en Suisse, y compris dans l’espace urbain. Depuis 35 ans, les petits cours d’eau de la ville de Zurich sont progressivement remis à ciel ouvert dans le cadre d’un plan de réaménagement tendant vers l’état naturel. Une étude s’est intéressée à la diversité des plantes vasculaires présentes dans le courant et au bord des ruisseaux ainsi revitalisés.
Schnorf, H.; Bergamini, A.; Cook, L.; Moretti, M. (2022) Revitalisierte Bäche leisten einen Beitrag zur städtischen Pflanzenvielfalt. Les ruisseaux revitalisés favorisent la diversité spécifique de la flore urbaine, Nature et Paysage. Natur und Landschaft: Inside, 35-39, Institutional Repository
Ho, H.-C.; Pellissier, L.; Altermatt, F. (2023) Die Klimaerwärmung bedroht die biologische Vielfalt und intensive landwirtschaftliche Nutzung kann dies zusätzlich verschärfen. Le réchauffement climatique menace la biodiversité et l'agriculture intensive risque d'aggraver la situation, Nature et Paysage. Natur und Landschaft: Inside, 20-23, Institutional Repository

Weiherbau stoppt Abwärtstrend bei Amphibien

Im «Wasserschloss» Schweiz fühlten sich Amphibien wohl. In unseren heutigen trockengelegten Landschaen haben sie jedoch einen schweren Stand. Viele Arten sind gefährdet. Der Kanton Aargau hat vorgemacht, was im Amphibienschutz möglich ist. In den letzten 20 Jahren hat er grossflächig neue Weiher gebaut und das mit Erfolg: Die Anzahl der Populationen fast aller Amphibienarten hat sich stabilisiert oder in einer Trendwende sogar zugenommen.
Moor, H.; Holderegger, R.; Bergamini, A.; Schmidt, B.; Vorburger, C. (2023) Weiherbau stoppt Abwärtstrend bei Amphibien, Aqua Viva, 65(3), 8-11, Institutional Repository

Villes éponges: pour et avec la biodiversité

Une infrastructure bleue et verte composée de cours d’eau, de stations d’épuration végétales ou de toits verts peut rendre l’espace urbain, et surtout les villes, à la fois biodiverses et résistantes aux aléas climatiques. La condition préalable est la collaboration entre l’ingénierie et les sciences naturelles.
Perrelet, K.; Moretti, M.; Dietzel, A.; Maurer, M.; Cook, L. (2023) Villes éponges: pour et avec la biodiversité, Hotspot, 48, 22-23, Institutional Repository

Blau-grüne Biodiversität ist ein wichtiger Teil des Waldes

Im Wald gibt es eine Vielfalt von Lebensräumen und Arten, die von Wechselwirkungen zwischen Wasser und Land beeinflusst sind. Ein grösseres Bewusstsein für diese gegenseitige Abhängigkeit ermöglicht effektiveren Biodiversitätsschutz.
Moor, H.; Gossner, M. M.; Graham, C.; Hobi, M. L.; Logar, I.; Matthews, B.; Narwani, A.; Seehausen, O.; Holderegger, R.; Altermatt, F. (2022) Blau-grüne Biodiversität ist ein wichtiger Teil des Waldes, Wald und Holz, 103(4), 30-33, Institutional Repository

Besserer Biodiversitätsschutz in Blau-Grünen Ökosystemen. Des écosystèmes bleus-verts pour mieux protéger la biodiversité

Obwohl aquatische (blaue) und terrestrische (grüne) Ökosysteme eng miteinander verwoben sind, werden sie oft getrennt voneinander betrachtet und verwaltet. Um Biodiversität Ökosystem-übergreifend besser zu schützen, braucht es integrative Ansätze in Forschung, Praxis und Gesetzgebung.

Bien qu’ils soient interdépendants, les écosystèmes aquatiques (bleus) et terrestres (verts) sont trop souvent appréhendés isolément les uns des autres. Pour que la conservation de la biodiversité soit plus efficace, la recherche, la pratique et la législation doivent dépasser cette approche cloisonnée au profit d’une vision inter-écosystémique.
Moor, H.; Gossner, M. M.; Graham, C.; Hobi, M. L.; Logar, I.; Narwani, A.; Reber, U.; Seehausen, O.; Holdereger, R.; Altermatt, F. (2022) Besserer Biodiversitätsschutz in Blau-Grünen Ökosystemen. Des écosystèmes bleus-verts pour mieux protéger la biodiversité, Nature et Paysage. Natur und Landschaft: Inside, 25-29, Institutional Repository

Biodiversitätsschutz dank Ökosystem-übergreifendem Denken. Forschungsinitiative Blau-Grüne Biodiversität (BGB)

Aquatische und terrestrische Ökosysteme sind eng miteinander verknüpft - sowohl durch die Bewegungen von Organismen wie auch durch den Austausch von Nährstoffen oder Schadstoffen. Dennoch werden in der Regel Wasser- und Land-Ökosysteme isoliert voneinander betrachtet und verwaltet. Diese Silo-Mentalität in Forschung, Praxis und Gesetzgebung behindert integrative Ansätze für den effektiveren Schutz der Biodiversität.
Moor, H.; Gossner, M. M.; Graham, C.; Hobi, M. L.; Holderegger, R.; Reber, U.; Altermatt, F.; Logar, I.; Matthews, B.; Narwani, A.; Seehausen, O.; Shipley, R. (2021) Biodiversitätsschutz dank Ökosystem-übergreifendem Denken. Forschungsinitiative Blau-Grüne Biodiversität (BGB), Aqua & Gas, 101(12), 44-49, Institutional Repository

Zum Fressen gern: unsere Gewässer aus der Vogelperspektive

Fische, Invertebraten oder Makrophyten – im Gewässermanagement stehen traditionellerweise die aquatischen Lebewesen im Vordergrund. Im vorliegenden Artikel betrachten wir unsere Flüsse und Seen aus der Vogelperspektive – mit speziellem Fokus auf die insektenfressenden Vögel. Wir zeigen, dass aquatische Insekten eine besonders wichtige Nahrungsquelle sind aufgrund der spezifischen Fettsäuren, die sie enthalten. Für insektenfressende Vögel ist es deshalb entscheidend, dass in kritischen Lebensphasen, wie z. B. während der Aufzucht der Jungen, genügend aquatische Insekten vorhanden sind. Menschliche Eingriffe in die Umwelt, wie z. B. die Intensivierung der Landwirtschaft oder der Klimawandel, haben die Menge, Qualität und zeitliche Verfügbarkeit von Insekten verändert und damit auch die Nahrungsgrundlage für insektenfressende Vögel. Wir schliessen mit Überlegungen, wie das Gewässermanagement (z. B. Revitalisierung, Gewässerschutz, Einzugsgebietsmanagement) zum Schutz der Vogelvielfalt und zur Förderung des grün-blauen Nahrungsnetzes beitragen kann.

Poissons, invertébrés ou macrophytes – dans la gestion des cours d'eau, les organismes aquatiques sont traditionnellement au premier plan. Dans le présent article, nous considérons nos rivières et nos lacs du point de vue des oiseaux – avec un accent particulier sur les oiseaux insectivores. Nous montrons que les insectes aquatiques sont une source de nourriture particulièrement importante en raison des acides gras spécifiques qu'ils contiennent. Pour les oiseaux insectivores, il est donc crucial de disposer de suffisamment d'insectes aquatiques durant les phases critiques de leur vie, comme pendant l'élevage des jeunes. Les interventions humaines dans l'environnement, telles que l'intensification de l'agriculture ou le changement climatique, ont modifié la quantité, la qualité et la disponibilité temporelle des insectes, et donc la base alimentaire des oiseaux insectivores. Nous concluons par des réflexions sur la manière dont la gestion des cours d'eau (p. ex. revitalisation, protection des eaux, gestion des bassins versants) peut contribuer à la protection de la diversité des oiseaux et à la promotion du réseau alimentaire vert et bleu.
Twining, C. W.; Weber, C.; Kowarik, C.; Gossner, M. M.; Graham, C. H.; Matthews, B.; Shipley, J. R. (2022) Zum Fressen gern: unsere Gewässer aus der Vogelperspektive, Wasser, Energie, Luft, 114(2), 68-74, Institutional Repository

Urbane Strategien zur Hitzeminderung. Wie wirksam sind blau-grüne Infrastrukturen?

Schwammstadt, grüne Infrastruktur, WSUD, LID, SuDS – für das Konzept, den Wasserhaushalt in der Stadt naturnaher zu gestalten, gibt es viele Namen. All diese Ansätze versprechen verschiedenste naturnahe Servicefunktionen, die für die Adaptation unserer Städte an den Klimawandel eine zentrale Rolle spielen. Dieser Artikel geht der Frage nach, was wir über die Wirkung für die Hitzereduktion solcher «blau-grüner Infrastrukturen» wissen, wie wir diese quantifizieren und effektiv planen können.
Bach, P. M.; Probst, N.; Maurer, M. (2021) Urbane Strategien zur Hitzeminderung. Wie wirksam sind blau-grüne Infrastrukturen?, Aqua & Gas, 101(10), 20-25, Institutional Repository

Publications scientifiques

Similar temporal patterns in insect richness, abundance and biomass across major habitat types

1. While many studies on insect diversity report declines, others show stable, fluctuating or increasing trends. For a thorough understanding of insect trends and their effects on ecosystem functioning, it is important to simultaneously assess insect richness, abundance and biomass, and to report trends for multiple taxa.
2. We analysed insect richness, abundance and biomass data for all insects and for eight insect taxa (Buprestidae, Cerambycidae, Carabidae, other Coleoptera, Aculeata, other Hymenoptera, Heteroptera and Lepidoptera) from 42 sites across Switzerland from 2000 to 2007, representing three major habitat types in Switzerland (agricultural, unmanaged [open and forested] and managed forest habitats). As potential drivers of temporal patterns, we evaluated weather- and land-use-related factors. As predictors, we included temperature and precipitation as well as the vegetation index and the habitat type, respectively.
3. We found a consistent pattern of stable or increasing trends for richness, abundance and biomass of insects in total and the eight taxa over 8 years. Both overall patterns and six out of eight taxa (except for Cerambycidae and Lepidotpera) showed the highest values in agricultural habitats. However, when accounting for elevation, there was no difference in open habitats regardless of whether they were used agriculturally.
4. Habitat types were the most important predictors, followed by weather- and vegetation-related factors. Modelled responses to mean temperature were unimodal, whereas the standard deviation of temperature showed positive and precipitation negative effects. Longer time series are needed to draw robust inferences and to investigate potential negative effects of future warming.
Gebert, F.; Bollmann, K.; Schuwirth, N.; Duelli, P.; Weber, D.; Obrist, M. K. (2024) Similar temporal patterns in insect richness, abundance and biomass across major habitat types, Insect Conservation and Diversity, 17(1), 139-154, doi:10.1111/icad.12700, Institutional Repository

Warming underpins community turnover in temperate freshwater and terrestrial communities

Rising temperatures are leading to increased prevalence of warm-affinity species in ecosystems, known as thermophilisation. However, factors influencing variation in thermophilisation rates among taxa and ecosystems, particularly freshwater communities with high diversity and high population decline, remain unclear. We analysed compositional change over time in 7123 freshwater and 6201 terrestrial, mostly temperate communities from multiple taxonomic groups. Overall, temperature change was positively linked to thermophilisation in both realms. Extirpated species had lower thermal affinities in terrestrial communities but higher affinities in freshwater communities compared to those persisting over time. Temperature change’s impact on thermophilisation varied with community body size, thermal niche breadth, species richness and baseline temperature; these interactive effects were idiosyncratic in the direction and magnitude of their impacts on thermophilisation, both across realms and taxonomic groups. While our findings emphasise the challenges in predicting the consequences of temperature change across communities, conservation strategies should consider these variable responses when attempting to mitigate climate-induced biodiversity loss.
Khaliq, I.; Rixen, C.; Zellweger, F.; Graham, C. H.; Gossner, M. M.; McFadden, I. R.; Antão, L.; Brodersen, J.; Ghosh, S.; Pomati, F.; Seehausen, O.; Roth, T.; Sattler, T.; Supp, S. R.; Riaz, M.; Zimmermann, N. E.; Matthews, B.; Narwani, A. (2024) Warming underpins community turnover in temperate freshwater and terrestrial communities, Nature Communications, 15, 1921 (9 pp.), doi:10.1038/s41467-024-46282-z, Institutional Repository

Engineering blue-green infrastructure for and with biodiversity in cities

Blue-green infrastructure (BGI), combining semi-natural and engineered elements, offers multifaceted benefits like stormwater management, water purification, heat mitigation, and habitat provision. However, current BGI designs prioritize engineering goals, overlooking its ecological potential. Here we advocate for integrating engineering and ecological objectives into BGI design to enhance performance and biodiversity. Through an interdisciplinary literature review, we emphasize the importance of species diversity, abundance, and ecological processes, to improve engineering performance and resilience, and lower management costs. We emphasize the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration to navigate trade-offs between engineering and ecological objectives, ultimately enabling us to engineer both for and with biodiversity.
Perrelet, K.; Moretti, M.; Dietzel, A.; Altermatt, F.; Cook, L. M. (2024) Engineering blue-green infrastructure for and with biodiversity in cities, npj Urban Sustainability, 4(1), 27 (11 pp.), doi:10.1038/s42949-024-00163-y, Institutional Repository

Shrinkage-based Bayesian variable selection for species distribution modelling in complex environments: an application to urban biodiversity

Robust, quantitative understanding of the diverse ecological needs of species is needed to inform effective biodiversity conservation, now and in the future, but is lacking for most species. The advent of "big data" in ecology presents unprecedented opportunities to fill this gap and to disentangle the diverse drivers of biodiversity. Variable and model selection in sparse (small sample sizes for most species), high-dimensional (large pool of candidate predictors) problems is, however, non-trivial. Here, we employ cross-validated Bayesian projection predictive variable selection and shrinkage priors to identify, from a list of 70 ecological and biophysical candidate predictor variables, the minimal subset that best predicts the habitat preferences and distributions of 103 species of amphibians, birds, butterflies, dragonflies, and grasshoppers using the city of Zurich, Switzerland, as a case study. We contrast the predictive performance and ecological inference of models fit with the full set of predictors using shrinkage priors (exhaustive models) to models fit with a limited number of predictors obtained by compiling predictors from the full list of predictors using weakly informative priors (selective models). We show that exhaustive models excel in predictive performance, albeit at the cost of greater model complexity compared to selective models. Results from the selective models reveal the importance of access to aquatic habitat for a wide range of taxa, relative to other drivers such as urbanisation, vegetation and environmental hazards. These results are complemented by more nuanced insights from the exhaustive models into the importance of specific types of aquatic habitat (ponds, lakes, streams) and vegetation (herb, shrub, canopy cover) for the distribution of urban biodiversity, as well as the different spatial scales at which drivers are of predictive relevance. Our findings demonstrate the potential of shrinkage-based Bayesian variable selection to leverage big ecological data for species distribution modelling, and contribute to the development of concrete guidelines for urban planning and infrastructure design that account for biodiversity conservation.
Dietzel, A.; Moretti, M.; Cook, L. M. (2024) Shrinkage-based Bayesian variable selection for species distribution modelling in complex environments: an application to urban biodiversity, Ecological Informatics, 81, 102561 (9 pp.), doi:10.1016/j.ecoinf.2024.102561, Institutional Repository

Quantifying the utilisation of blue, green and brown resources by riparian predators: a combined use of amino acid isotopes and fatty acids

1. Global change drives multiple facets of biodiversity including interaction diversity, which is fundamental for ecosystem functioning. However, studying trophic interactions is challenging in meta-ecosystems, that is ecosystems connected by spatial flows of energy, materials and organisms across ecosystem boundaries. While analytical methods based on abundances of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and stable isotopes of amino acids (AAs) are being increasingly used, it has never been explored if both approaches could be: (i) combined in mixing models to enhance precision in dietary inference (ii) compared to disentangle transfers of various PUFAs and proteins in food webs in the wild.
2. We explore the utility of analytical approaches based on PUFA abundances and AA isotopes to resolve resource transfers in a natural riparian food web. We focus on spiders and their potential prey from blue, green and brown sources to address three important and persisting methodological issues in food-web ecology, namely whether (i) essential AA carbon isotopes can resolve protein origin from blue, green and brown resources, (ii) PUFA relative abundance and AA isotopes can be combined in a mixing model to provide higher precision estimates (i.e. narrower intervals) and (iii) combining the two approaches can unveil the coupling of protein and PUFA transfers in food webs. 3. Our research demonstrates the power of AA isotopes and PUFAs to distinguish blue, green, and brown sources and their transfer up to consumers. We show that combining PUFA relative abundance and AA isotopes in a mixing model provides overall estimates similar to the individual estimates but significantly increases precision. In addition, we showcase how combining approaches unveil the coupling of protein and PUFA transfers. For instance, we show that most PUFAs are less concentrated from prey to predators, relative to proteins, highlighting uncoupling of PUFAs and protein transfer along food chains.
4. We show for the first time the effectiveness of combining AA isotopes and PUFA abundances, particularly relevant for complex trophic interactions in a meta-ecosystem context. Our study illustrates the trophic uncoupling of proteins and PUFAs, highlighting the necessity in combining both approaches.
Saboret, G.; Drost, B. J. W.; Kowarik, C.; Schubert, C. J.; Gossner, M. M.; Ilić, M. (2024) Quantifying the utilisation of blue, green and brown resources by riparian predators: a combined use of amino acid isotopes and fatty acids, Methods in Ecology and Evolution, 15(8), 1450-1462, doi:10.1111/2041-210X.14371, Institutional Repository

Building pondscapes for amphibian metapopulations

The success of ponds constructed to restore ecological infrastructure for pond-breeding amphibians and benefit aquatic biodiversity depends on where and how they are built. We studied effects of pond and landscape characteristics, including connectivity, on metapopulation dynamics of 12 amphibian species in Switzerland. To understand the determinants of long-term occupancy (here summarized as incidence), environmental effects on both colonization and persistence should be considered. We fitted dynamic occupancy models to 20 years of monitoring data on a pond construction program to quantify effects of pond and landscape characteristics and different connectivity metrics on colonization and persistence probabilities in constructed ponds. Connectivity to existing populations explained dynamics better than structural connectivity metrics, and simple metrics (distance to the nearest neighbor population, population density) were useful surrogates for dispersal kernel-weighted metrics commonly used in metapopulation theory. Population connectivity mediated the persistence of conservation target species in new ponds, suggesting source–sink dynamics in newly established populations. Population density captured this effect well and could be used by practitioners for site selection. Ponds created where there were 2–4 occupied ponds within a radius of ∼0.5 km had >3.5 times higher incidence of target species (median) than isolated ponds. Species had individual preferences regarding pond characteristics, but breeding sites with larger (≥100 m2) total water surface area, that temporarily dried, and that were in surroundings with maximally 50% forest benefitted multiple target species. Pond diversity will foster amphibian diversity at the landscape scale.
Moor, H.; Bergamini, A.; Vorburger, C.; Holderegger, R.; Bühler, C.; Bircher, N.; Schmidt, B. R. (2024) Building pondscapes for amphibian metapopulations, Conservation Biology, 38, e14165 (16 pp.), doi:10.1111/cobi.14281, Institutional Repository

Linking human impacts to community processes in terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems

Human impacts such as habitat loss, climate change and biological invasions are radically altering biodiversity, with greater effects projected into the future. Evidence suggests human impacts may differ substantially between terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems, but the reasons for these differences are poorly understood. We propose an integrative approach to explain these differences by linking impacts to four fundamental processes that structure communities: dispersal, speciation, species-level selection and ecological drift. Our goal is to provide process-based insights into why human impacts, and responses to impacts, may differ across ecosystem types using a mechanistic, eco-evolutionary comparative framework. To enable these insights, we review and synthesise (i) how the four processes influence diversity and dynamics in terrestrial versus freshwater communities, specifically whether the relative importance of each process differs among ecosystems, and (ii) the pathways by which human impacts can produce divergent responses across ecosystems, due to differences in the strength of processes among ecosystems we identify. Finally, we highlight research gaps and next steps, and discuss how this approach can provide new insights for conservation. By focusing on the processes that shape diversity in communities, we aim to mechanistically link human impacts to ongoing and future changes in ecosystems.
McFadden, I. R.; Sendek, A.; Brosse, M.; Bach, P. M.; Baity‐Jesi, M.; Bolliger, J.; Bollmann, K.; Brockerhoff, E. G.; Donati, G.; Gebert, F.; Ghosh, S.; Ho, H.‐C.; Khaliq, I.; Lever, J. J.; Logar, I.; Moor, H.; Odermatt, D.; Pellissier, L.; de Queiroz, L. J.; Rixen, C.; Schuwirth, N.; Shipley, J. R.; Twining, C. W.; Vitasse, Y.; Vorburger, C.; Wong, M. K. L.; Zimmermann, N. E.; Seehausen, O.; Gossner, M. M.; Matthews, B.; Graham, C. H.; Altermatt, F.; Narwani, A. (2023) Linking human impacts to community processes in terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems, Ecology Letters, 26(2), 203-218, doi:10.1111/ele.14153, Institutional Repository

Cyanobacteria: extreme environments and toxic metabolites

Cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae, are photosynthetic bacteria that can colonize different habitats, including extreme ones. They are of great interest to the scientific community, especially because of their ability to produce cyanotoxins: toxic secondary metabolites potentially harmful to organisms especially when released to surface waters.
Pittino, F.; Oliveira, J.; De Almeida Torres, M.; Fink, S.; Janssen, E. M. L.; Scheidegger, C. (2022) Cyanobacteria: extreme environments and toxic metabolites, Chimia, 76(11), 967-969, doi:10.2533/chimia.2022.967, Institutional Repository

Blue and green food webs respond differently to elevation and land use

While aquatic (blue) and terrestrial (green) food webs are parts of the same landscape, it remains unclear whether they respond similarly to shared environmental gradients. We use empirical community data from hundreds of sites across Switzerland and a synthesis of interaction information in the form of a metaweb to show that inferred blue and green food webs have different structural and ecological properties along elevation and among various land-use types. Specifically, in green food webs, their modular structure increases with elevation and the overlap of consumers’ diet niche decreases, while the opposite pattern is observed in blue food webs. Such differences between blue and green food webs are particularly pronounced in farmland-dominated habitats, indicating that anthropogenic habitat modification modulates the climatic effects on food webs but differently in blue versus green systems. These findings indicate general structural differences between blue and green food webs and suggest their potential divergent future alterations through land-use or climatic changes.
Ho, H.-C.; Brodersen, J.; Gossner, M. M.; Graham, C. H.; Kaeser, S.; Reji Chacko, M.; Seehausen, O.; Zimmermann, N. E.; Pellissier, L.; Altermatt, F. (2022) Blue and green food webs respond differently to elevation and land use, Nature Communications, 13(1), 6415 (12 pp.), doi:10.1038/s41467-022-34132-9, Institutional Repository

Climate change shifts the timing of nutritional flux from aquatic insects

Climate change can decouple resource supply from consumer demand, with the potential to create phenological mismatches driving negative consequences on fitness. However, the underlying ecological mechanisms of phenological mismatches between consumers and their resources have not been fully explored. Here, we use long-term records of aquatic and terrestrial insect biomass and egg-hatching times of several co-occurring insectivorous species to investigate temporal mismatches between the availability of and demand for nutrients that are essential for offspring development. We found that insects with aquatic larvae reach peak biomass earlier in the season than those with terrestrial larvae and that the relative availability of omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 LCPUFAs) to consumers is almost entirely dependent on the phenology of aquatic insect emergence. This is due to the 4- to 34-fold greater n-3 LCPUFA concentration difference in insects emerging from aquatic as opposed to terrestrial habitats. From a long-sampled site (25 years) undergoing minimal land use conversion, we found that both aquatic and terrestrial insect phenologies have advanced substantially faster than those of insectivorous birds, shifting the timing of peak availability of n-3 LCPUFAs for birds during reproduction. For species that require n-3 LCPUFAs directly from diet, highly nutritious aquatic insects cannot simply be replaced by terrestrial insects, creating nutritional phenological mismatches. Our research findings reveal and highlight the increasing necessity of specifically investigating how nutritional phenology, rather than only overall resource availability, is changing for consumers in response to climate change.
Shipley, J. R.; Twining, C. W.; Mathieu-Resuge, M.; Parmar, T. P.; Kainz, M.; Martin-Creuzburg, D.; Weber, C.; Winkler, D. W.; Graham, C. H.; Matthews, B. (2022) Climate change shifts the timing of nutritional flux from aquatic insects, Current Biology, 32(6), 1342-1349, doi:10.1016/j.cub.2022.01.057, Institutional Repository

Recent trends in stream macroinvertebrates: warm-adapted and pesticide-tolerant taxa increase in richness

Recently, a plethora of studies reporting insect declines has been published. Even though the common theme is decreasing insect richness, positive trends have also been documented. Here, we analysed nationwide, systematic monitoring data on aquatic insect richness collected at 438 sites in Switzerland from 2010 to 2019. In addition to taxonomic richness, we grouped taxa in accordance with their ecological preferences and functional traits to gain a better understanding of trends and possible underlying mechanisms. We found that in general, richness of aquatic insects remained stable or increased with time. Warm-adapted taxa, common feeding guilds and pesticide-tolerant taxa showed increasing patterns while cold-adapted, rarer feeding guilds and pesticide-sensitive taxa displayed stable trends. Both climate and land-use-related factors were the most important explanatory variables for the patterns of aquatic insect richness. Although our data cover the last decade only, our results suggest that recent developments in insect richness are context-dependent and affect functional groups differently. However, longer investigations and a good understanding of the baseline are important to reveal if the increase in temperature- and pesticide-tolerant species will lead to a decrease in specialized species and a homogenization of biotic communities in the long term.
Gebert, F.; Obrist, M. K.; Siber, R.; Altermatt, F.; Bollmann, K.; Schuwirth, N. (2022) Recent trends in stream macroinvertebrates: warm-adapted and pesticide-tolerant taxa increase in richness, Biology Letters, 18(3), 20210513 (7 pp.), doi:10.1098/rsbl.2021.0513, Institutional Repository

Integrating biodiversity: a longitudinal and cross-sectoral analysis of Swiss politics

The effective conservation and promotion of biodiversity requires its integration into a wide range of sectoral policies. For this to happen, the issue must receive attention across policy sectors. Yet, we know little about how attention to the issue evolves over time and across sectors. Drawing from the literature on environmental policy integration/mainstreaming and policy process theories, we develop competing hypotheses, expecting either increasing or fluctuating attention to the biodiversity issue. We tested the hypotheses using the case of Swiss politics between 1999 and 2018. Applying a combination of computational methods, we analyze the content of a comprehensive collection of policy documents (n ≈ 440,000) attributed to 20 policy sectors. Comparing the sectors, we find that (1) a persistent increase in attention is the exception, (2) if there is an increase in attention, it is likely to be temporary, and (3) the most common pattern is that of invariant attention over time. Biodiversity integration - if it does happen at all - tends to occur in cycles rather than in steady long-term shifts. This implies that the conservation of biodiversity does not follow the cross-sectoral nature of the problem, but is subject to the dynamics of "politics," where actors, because of limited resources, engage with (aspects of) an issue only for a certain amount of time.
Reber, U.; Fischer, M.; Ingold, K.; Kienast, F.; Hersperger, A. M.; Grütter, R.; Benz, R. (2022) Integrating biodiversity: a longitudinal and cross-sectoral analysis of Swiss politics, Policy Sciences, 55, 311-335, doi:10.1007/s11077-022-09456-4, Institutional Repository

Reconciling cities with nature: Identifying local Blue-Green Infrastructure interventions for regional biodiversity enhancement

Increasing urbanization degrades quantity, quality, and the functionality of spatial cohesion of natural areas essential to biodiversity and ecosystem functioning worldwide. The uncontrolled pace of building activity and the erosion of blue (i.e., aquatic) and green (i.e., terrestrial) landscape elements threaten existing habitat ranges and movability of wildlife. Local scale measures, such as nature-inspired engineered Blue-Green Infrastructure (BGI) are emerging mitigation solutions. Originally planned to promote sustainable stormwater management, adaptation to climate change and improved human livability in cities, such instruments offer interesting synergies for biodiversity in support of existing ecological infrastructure. BGI are especially appealing for globally declining amphibians, a rich and diverse vertebrate assemblage sensitive to urbanization. We integrated biological and highly resolved urban-rural land-cover data, ensemble models of habitat suitability, and connectivity models based on circuit theory to improve multi-scale and multi-species protection of core habitats and ecological corridors in the Swiss lowlands. Considering a broad spectrum of amphibian biodiversity, we identified distributions of amphibian biodiversity hotspots and four landscape elements essential to amphibian movability at the regional scale, namely i) forest edges, ii) wet-forest habitats, iii) soils with variable moisture and iv) riparian zones. Our work shows that cities can make a substantial contribution (e.g., up to 15% of urban space in the study area) to wider landscape habitat connectivity. We highlight the importance of planning BGI locally in strategic locations across urban and peri-urban areas to promote the permeability and availability of ‘stepping stone’ habitats in densely populated landscapes, essential to the maintenance of regional habitat connectivity and thereby enhancing biodiversity and ecosystem functioning.
Donati, G. F. A.; Bolliger, J.; Psomas, A.; Maurer, M.; Bach, P. M. (2022) Reconciling cities with nature: Identifying local Blue-Green Infrastructure interventions for regional biodiversity enhancement, Journal of Environmental Management, 316, 115254 (14 pp.), doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.115254, Institutional Repository

Climate change creates nutritional phenological mismatches

Climate change is creating phenological mismatches between consumers and their resources. However, while the importance of nutritional quality in ecological interactions is widely appreciated, most studies of phenological mismatch focus on energy content alone. We argue that mismatches in terms of phenology and nutrition will increase with climate change.
Twining, C. W.; Shipley, J. R.; Matthews, B. (2022) Climate change creates nutritional phenological mismatches, Trends in Ecology and Evolution, 37(9), 736-739, doi:10.1016/j.tree.2022.06.009, Institutional Repository

Climate, immigration and speciation shape terrestrial and aquatic biodiversity in the European Alps

Quaternary climate fluctuations can affect speciation in regional biodiversity assembly in two non-mutually exclusive ways: a glacial species pump, where isolation in glacial refugia accelerates allopatric speciation, and adaptive radiation in underused adaptive zones during ice-free periods. We detected biogeographic and genetic signatures associated with both mechanisms in the assembly of the biota of the European Alps. Age distributions of endemic and widespread species within aquatic and terrestrial taxa (amphipods, fishes, amphibians, butterflies and flowering plants) revealed that endemic fish evolved only in lakes, are highly sympatric, and mainly of Holocene age, consistent with adaptive radiation. Endemic amphipods are ancient, suggesting preglacial radiation with limited range expansion and local Pleistocene survival, perhaps facilitated by a groundwater-dwelling lifestyle. Terrestrial endemics are mostly of Pleistocene age and are thus more consistent with the glacial species pump. The lack of evidence for Holocene adaptive radiation in the terrestrial biome is consistent with faster recolonization through range expansion of these taxa after glacial retreats. More stable and less seasonal ecological conditions in lakes during the Holocene may also have contributed to Holocene speciation in lakes. The high proportion of young, endemic species makes the Alpine biota vulnerable to climate change, but the mechanisms and consequences of species loss will likely differ between biomes because of their distinct evolutionary histories.
Jardim de Queiroz, L.; Doenz, C. J.; Altermatt, F.; Alther, R.; Borko, Š.; Brodersen, J.; Gossner, M. M.; Graham, C.; Matthews, B.; McFadden, I. R.; Pellissier, L.; Schmitt, T.; Selz, O. M.; Villalba, S.; Rüber, L.; Zimmermann, N. E.; Seehausen, O. (2022) Climate, immigration and speciation shape terrestrial and aquatic biodiversity in the European Alps, Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 289(1980), 20221020 (10 pp.), doi:10.1098/rspb.2022.1020, Institutional Repository

Bending the curve: simple but massive conservation action leads to landscape-scale recovery of amphibians

Success stories are rare in conservation science, hindered also by the research-implementation gap, where scientific insights rarely inform practice and practical implementation is rarely evaluated scientifically. Amphibian population declines, driven by multiple stressors, are emblematic of the freshwater biodiversity crisis. Habitat creation is a straightforward conservation action that has been shown to locally benefit amphibians, as well as other taxa, but does it benefit entire amphibian communities at large spatial scales? Here, we evaluate a landscape-scale pond-construction program by fitting dynamic occupancy models to 20 y of monitoring data for 12 pond-breeding amphibian species in the Swiss state Aargau, a densely populated area of the Swiss lowlands with intensive land use. After decades of population declines, the number of occupied ponds increased statewide for 10 out of 12 species, while one species remained stable and one species further declined between 1999 and 2019. Despite regional differences, in 77% of all 43 regional metapopulations, the colonization and subsequent occupation of new ponds stabilized (14%) or increased (63%) metapopulation size. Likely mechanisms include increased habitat availability, restoration of habitat dynamics, and increased connectivity between ponds. Colonization probabilities reflected species-specific preferences for characteristics of ponds and their surroundings, which provides evidence-based information for future pond construction targeting specific species. The relatively simple but landscape-scale and persistent conservation action of constructing hundreds of new ponds halted declines and stabilized or increased the state-wide population size of all but one species, despite ongoing pressures from other stressors in a human-dominated landscape.
Moor, H.; Bergamini, A.; Vorburger, C.; Holderegger, R.; Bühler, C.; Egger, S.; Schmidt, B. R. (2022) Bending the curve: simple but massive conservation action leads to landscape-scale recovery of amphibians, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America PNAS, 119(42), e2123070119 (8 pp.), doi:10.1073/pnas.2123070119, Institutional Repository

Fewer non-native insects in freshwater than in terrestrial habitats across continents

Aim: Biological invasions are a major threat to biodiversity in aquatic and terrestrial habitats. Insects represent an important group of species in freshwater and terrestrial habitats, and they constitute a large proportion of non-native species. However, while many non-native insects are known from terrestrial ecosystems, they appear to be less represented in freshwater habitats. Comparisons between freshwater and terrestrial habitats of invader richness relative to native species richness are scarce, which hinders syntheses of invasion processes. Here, we used data from three regions on different continents to determine whether non-native insects are indeed under-represented in freshwater compared with terrestrial assemblages.
Location: Europe, North America, New Zealand.
Methods: We compiled a comprehensive inventory of native and non-native insect species established in freshwater and terrestrial habitats of the three study regions. We then contrasted the richness of non-native and native species among freshwater and terrestrial insects for all insect orders in each region. Using binomial regression, we analysed the proportions of non-native species in freshwater and terrestrial habitats. Marine insect species were excluded from our analysis, and insects in low-salinity brackish water were considered as freshwater insects.
Results: In most insect orders living in freshwater, non-native species were under-represented, while they were over-represented in a number of terrestrial orders. This pattern occurred in purely aquatic orders and in orders with both freshwater and terrestrial species. Overall, the proportion of non-native species was significantly lower in freshwater than in terrestrial species.
Main conclusions: Despite the numerical and ecological importance of insects among all non-native species, non-native insect species are surprisingly rare in freshwater habitats. This is consistent across the three investigated regions. We review hypotheses concerning species traits and invasion pathways that are most likely to explain these patterns. Our findings contribute to a growing appreciation of drivers and impacts of biological invasions.
Sendek, A.; Baity-Jesi, M.; Altermatt, F.; Bader, M. K. F.; Liebhold, A. M.; Turner, R. M.; Roques, A.; Seebens, H.; Spaak, P.; Vorburger, C.; Brockerhoff, E. G. (2022) Fewer non-native insects in freshwater than in terrestrial habitats across continents, Diversity and Distributions, 28(11), 2303-2315, doi:10.1111/ddi.13622, Institutional Repository

Zum Fressen gern: unsere Gewässer aus der Vogelperspektive

Fische, Invertebraten oder Makrophyten – im Gewässermanagement stehen traditionellerweise die aquatischen Lebewesen im Vordergrund. Im vorliegenden Artikel betrachten wir unsere Flüsse und Seen aus der Vogelperspektive – mit speziellem Fokus auf die insektenfressenden Vögel. Wir zeigen, dass aquatische Insekten eine besonders wichtige Nahrungsquelle sind aufgrund der spezifischen Fettsäuren, die sie enthalten. Für insektenfressende Vögel ist es deshalb entscheidend, dass in kritischen Lebensphasen, wie z. B. während der Aufzucht der Jungen, genügend aquatische Insekten vorhanden sind. Menschliche Eingriffe in die Umwelt, wie z. B. die Intensivierung der Landwirtschaft oder der Klimawandel, haben die Menge, Qualität und zeitliche Verfügbarkeit von Insekten verändert und damit auch die Nahrungsgrundlage für insektenfressende Vögel. Wir schliessen mit Überlegungen, wie das Gewässermanagement (z. B. Revitalisierung, Gewässerschutz, Einzugsgebietsmanagement) zum Schutz der Vogelvielfalt und zur Förderung des grün-blauen Nahrungsnetzes beitragen kann.

Poissons, invertébrés ou macrophytes – dans la gestion des cours d'eau, les organismes aquatiques sont traditionnellement au premier plan. Dans le présent article, nous considérons nos rivières et nos lacs du point de vue des oiseaux – avec un accent particulier sur les oiseaux insectivores. Nous montrons que les insectes aquatiques sont une source de nourriture particulièrement importante en raison des acides gras spécifiques qu'ils contiennent. Pour les oiseaux insectivores, il est donc crucial de disposer de suffisamment d'insectes aquatiques durant les phases critiques de leur vie, comme pendant l'élevage des jeunes. Les interventions humaines dans l'environnement, telles que l'intensification de l'agriculture ou le changement climatique, ont modifié la quantité, la qualité et la disponibilité temporelle des insectes, et donc la base alimentaire des oiseaux insectivores. Nous concluons par des réflexions sur la manière dont la gestion des cours d'eau (p. ex. revitalisation, protection des eaux, gestion des bassins versants) peut contribuer à la protection de la diversité des oiseaux et à la promotion du réseau alimentaire vert et bleu.
Twining, C. W.; Weber, C.; Kowarik, C.; Gossner, M. M.; Graham, C. H.; Matthews, B.; Shipley, J. R. (2022) Zum Fressen gern: unsere Gewässer aus der Vogelperspektive, Wasser, Energie, Luft, 114(2), 68-74, Institutional Repository

Urbane Strategien zur Hitzeminderung. Wie wirksam sind blau-grüne Infrastrukturen?

Schwammstadt, grüne Infrastruktur, WSUD, LID, SuDS – für das Konzept, den Wasserhaushalt in der Stadt naturnaher zu gestalten, gibt es viele Namen. All diese Ansätze versprechen verschiedenste naturnahe Servicefunktionen, die für die Adaptation unserer Städte an den Klimawandel eine zentrale Rolle spielen. Dieser Artikel geht der Frage nach, was wir über die Wirkung für die Hitzereduktion solcher «blau-grüner Infrastrukturen» wissen, wie wir diese quantifizieren und effektiv planen können.
Bach, P. M.; Probst, N.; Maurer, M. (2021) Urbane Strategien zur Hitzeminderung. Wie wirksam sind blau-grüne Infrastrukturen?, Aqua & Gas, 101(10), 20-25, Institutional Repository

Besserer Biodiversitätsschutz in Blau-Grünen Ökosystemen. Des écosystèmes bleus-verts pour mieux protéger la biodiversité

Obwohl aquatische (blaue) und terrestrische (grüne) Ökosysteme eng miteinander verwoben sind, werden sie oft getrennt voneinander betrachtet und verwaltet. Um Biodiversität Ökosystem-übergreifend besser zu schützen, braucht es integrative Ansätze in Forschung, Praxis und Gesetzgebung.

Bien qu’ils soient interdépendants, les écosystèmes aquatiques (bleus) et terrestres (verts) sont trop souvent appréhendés isolément les uns des autres. Pour que la conservation de la biodiversité soit plus efficace, la recherche, la pratique et la législation doivent dépasser cette approche cloisonnée au profit d’une vision inter-écosystémique.
Moor, H.; Gossner, M. M.; Graham, C.; Hobi, M. L.; Logar, I.; Narwani, A.; Reber, U.; Seehausen, O.; Holdereger, R.; Altermatt, F. (2022) Besserer Biodiversitätsschutz in Blau-Grünen Ökosystemen. Des écosystèmes bleus-verts pour mieux protéger la biodiversité, Nature et Paysage. Natur und Landschaft: Inside, 25-29, Institutional Repository

Blau-grüne Infrastuktur: eine Möglichkeit zur Förderung der biologischen Vielfalt in vom Menschen geprägten Landschaften? Les infrastructures bleues-vertes: une opportunité pour améliorer la biodiversité dans les paysages dominés par l'homme?

Intensiv genutzte Landschaften und Lebensraumfragmentierung sind mitverantwortlich für den Rückgang der Biodiversität, weil Lebensraumqualität und grundlegende biologische Prozesse wie z.B. die Ausbreitung gestört werden. Stetig wachsende Städte als überregionale Barrieren für die Vernetzung natürlicher Lebensräume stellen eine besondere Herausforderung dar (Abb. 1). Wir zeigen am Beispiel von Amphibien auf, wie eine gezielte Platzierung blaugrüner Infrastrukturen die Durchlässigkeit von Städten verbessern könnte und dadurch Lebensräume und Laichgebiete von regionaler Bedeutung besser vernetzt werden. Die Einrichtung blaugrüner Infrastrukturen ist eine vielversprechende Massnahme, um die Anpassung an den Klimawandel zu fördern und die Lebensqualität zu verbessern. Synergien zur Vernetzung der Biodiversität bieten sich auf lokaler und regionaler Ebene an.

L'utilisation intensive des paysages et la fragmentation des habitats sont en partie co-responsables du déclin de la biodiversité, dans la mesure où la qualité des habitats et des processus biologiques fondamentaux tels que la dispersion sont perturbés. L'urbanisation croissante constitue un défi particulier dans ce contexte, notamment en tant qu'obstacle transrégional à la connectivité des habitats naturels. En prenant l'exemple des amphibiens, nous montrons comment la planification ciblée d'infrastructures bleuesvertes pourrait améliorer la perméabilité des villes en reliant mieux les habitats naturels et les sites de reproduction d'importance régionale. L'installation d'infrastructures bleues-vertes est une mesure prometteuse qui est actuellement planifiée dans de nombreuses villes surtout pour promouvoir l'adaptation au changement climatique ainsi que pour l'amélioration de la qualité de vie. Cependant, des synergies pour la mise en réseau de la biodiversité sont aussi disponibles non seulement à niveaux local mais aussi régional.
Donati, G. F. A.; Bolliger, J.; Psomas, A.; Maurer, M.; Bach, P. M. (2021) Blau-grüne Infrastuktur: eine Möglichkeit zur Förderung der biologischen Vielfalt in vom Menschen geprägten Landschaften? Les infrastructures bleues-vertes: une opportunité pour améliorer la biodiversité dans les paysages dominés par l'homme?, Nature et Paysage. Natur und Landschaft: Inside, 41-44, Institutional Repository

Biodiversitätsschutz dank Ökosystem-übergreifendem Denken. Forschungsinitiative Blau-Grüne Biodiversität (BGB)

Aquatische und terrestrische Ökosysteme sind eng miteinander verknüpft - sowohl durch die Bewegungen von Organismen wie auch durch den Austausch von Nährstoffen oder Schadstoffen. Dennoch werden in der Regel Wasser- und Land-Ökosysteme isoliert voneinander betrachtet und verwaltet. Diese Silo-Mentalität in Forschung, Praxis und Gesetzgebung behindert integrative Ansätze für den effektiveren Schutz der Biodiversität.
Moor, H.; Gossner, M. M.; Graham, C.; Hobi, M. L.; Holderegger, R.; Reber, U.; Altermatt, F.; Logar, I.; Matthews, B.; Narwani, A.; Seehausen, O.; Shipley, R. (2021) Biodiversitätsschutz dank Ökosystem-übergreifendem Denken. Forschungsinitiative Blau-Grüne Biodiversität (BGB), Aqua & Gas, 101(12), 44-49, Institutional Repository

Reber, U., Fischer, M., Ingold, K., Kienast, F., Hersperger, A., & Grütter, R. (2021). Die vielen Gesichter der Biodiversitätspolitik. Hotspot, 44, 9.
HOTSPOT 44.2021 deutsch WEB 31.10.2021.pdf (scnat.ch)

Roth L., Bolliger J., Donati G. 2021. Auswirkungen von zukünftigen Landnutzungsszenarien auf Amphibien im Kanton Aargau. N+L Inside 3/21.

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Initiative de recherche de Eawag & WSL

   

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   Prof. Dr. Catherine    Graham
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