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Navarro A, Vicente López-Bao J. Agribusiness undermines EU green policy. Science 2024; 384:169-170. [PMID: 38603487 DOI: 10.1126/science.ado6250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/13/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Navarro
- Biodiversity Research Institute (Oviedo University, Spanish National Research Council, and Principality of Asturias), Oviedo University, 33600 Mieres, Spain
| | - José Vicente López-Bao
- Biodiversity Research Institute (Oviedo University, Spanish National Research Council, and Principality of Asturias), Oviedo University, 33600 Mieres, Spain
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Van der Cruysse L, De Cock A, Lock K, Boets P, Goethals PLM. Introduction of Native Submerged Macrophytes to Restore Biodiversity in Streams. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 13:1014. [PMID: 38611543 PMCID: PMC11013439 DOI: 10.3390/plants13071014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2024] [Revised: 03/12/2024] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024]
Abstract
Streams are biodiversity hotspots that provide numerous ecosystem services. Safeguarding this biodiversity is crucial to uphold sustainable ecosystem functioning and to ensure the continuation of these ecosystem services in the future. However, in recent decades, streams have witnessed a disproportionate decline in biodiversity compared to other ecosystems, and are currently considered among the most threatened ecosystems worldwide. This is the result of the combined effect of a multitude of stressors. For freshwater systems in general, these have been classified into five main pressures: water pollution, overexploitation, habitat degradation and destruction, alien invasive species, and hydromorphological pressures. On top of these direct stressors, the effects of global processes like environmental and climate change must be considered. The intricate and interconnected nature of various stressors affecting streams has made it challenging to formulate effective policies and management strategies. As a result, restoration efforts have not always been successful in creating a large-scale shift towards a better ecological status. In order to achieve an improved status in these systems, situation-specific management strategies tailored to specific stressor combinations may be needed. In this paper, we examine the potential of introducing native submerged macrophyte species to advance the restoration of stream ecosystems. Through successful introductions, we anticipate positive ecological outcomes, including enhanced water quality and increased biodiversity. This research is significant, as the potential success in restoring stream biodiversity not only represents progress in ecological understanding but also offers valuable insights for future restoration and management strategies for these vital ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas Van der Cruysse
- Department of Animal Sciences and Aquatic Ecology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; (A.D.C.); (K.L.); (P.B.); (P.L.M.G.)
| | - Andrée De Cock
- Department of Animal Sciences and Aquatic Ecology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; (A.D.C.); (K.L.); (P.B.); (P.L.M.G.)
| | - Koen Lock
- Department of Animal Sciences and Aquatic Ecology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; (A.D.C.); (K.L.); (P.B.); (P.L.M.G.)
| | - Pieter Boets
- Department of Animal Sciences and Aquatic Ecology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; (A.D.C.); (K.L.); (P.B.); (P.L.M.G.)
- Provincial Centre of Environmental Research, Godshuizenlaan 95, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Peter L. M. Goethals
- Department of Animal Sciences and Aquatic Ecology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; (A.D.C.); (K.L.); (P.B.); (P.L.M.G.)
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Schürings C, Globevnik L, Lemm JU, Psomas A, Snoj L, Hering D, Birk S. River ecological status is shaped by agricultural land use intensity across Europe. WATER RESEARCH 2024; 251:121136. [PMID: 38246083 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2024.121136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Revised: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
Agriculture impacts the ecological status of freshwaters through multiple pressures such as diffuse pollution, water abstraction, and hydromorphological alteration, strongly impairing riverine biodiversity. The agricultural effects, however, likely differ between agricultural types and practices. In Europe, agricultural types show distinct spatial patterns related to intensity, biophysical conditions, and socioeconomic history, which have been operationalised by various landscape typologies. Our study aimed at analysing whether incorporating agricultural intensity enhances the correlation between agricultural land use and the ecological status. For this, we aggregated the continent's agricultural activities into 20 Areas of Farming-induced Freshwater Pressures (AFFP), specifying individual pressure profiles regarding nutrient enrichment, pesticides, water abstraction, and agricultural land use in the riparian zone to establish an agricultural intensity index and related this intensity index to the river ecological status. Using the agricultural intensity index, nearly doubled the correlative strength between agriculture and the ecological status of rivers as compared to the share of agriculture in the sub-catchment (based on the analysis of more than 50,000 sub-catchment units). Strongest agricultural pressures were found for high intensity cropland in the Mediterranean and Temperate regions, while extensive grassland, fallow farmland and livestock farming in the Northern and Highland regions, as well as low intensity mosaic farming, featured lowest pressures. The results provide advice for pan-European management of freshwater ecosystems and highlight the urgent need for more sustainable agriculture. Consequently, they can also be used as a basis for European Union-wide and global policies to halt biodiversity decline, such as the post-2027 renewal of the Common Agricultural Policy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Schürings
- Department of Aquatic Ecology, Faculty of Biology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Universitätsstrasse 5, Essen D-45141, Germany.
| | - Lidija Globevnik
- TC VODE, Thematic Center for Water Research, Studies and Project Development TC Vode, Trnovski pristan 10, Ljubljana 1000, Slovenia
| | - Jan U Lemm
- City of Wolfsburg, Department Data, Strategies, Urban Development Unit, Germany
| | - Alexander Psomas
- Brilliant Solutions Engineering & Consulting, V. Hugo St. 15, Rethymno 74100, Greece
| | - Luka Snoj
- TC VODE, Thematic Center for Water Research, Studies and Project Development TC Vode, Trnovski pristan 10, Ljubljana 1000, Slovenia
| | - Daniel Hering
- Department of Aquatic Ecology, Faculty of Biology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Universitätsstrasse 5, Essen D-45141, Germany; Centre for Water and Environmental Research, University of Duisburg-Essen, Universitätsstrasse 5, Essen D-45141, Germany
| | - Sebastian Birk
- Department of Aquatic Ecology, Faculty of Biology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Universitätsstrasse 5, Essen D-45141, Germany; Centre for Water and Environmental Research, University of Duisburg-Essen, Universitätsstrasse 5, Essen D-45141, Germany
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