The Experts below are selected from a list of 51513 Experts worldwide ranked by ideXlab platform
Michiel Rutgers - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Mapping Soil Biodiversity in Europe and the Netherlands.
Soil Systems, 2019Co-Authors: Michiel Rutgers, Jeroen P. Van Leeuwen, Dirk Vrebos, Harm J. Van Wijnen, T. Schouten, Ron G.m. De GoedeAbstract:Soil is fundamental for the functioning of terrestrial ecosystems, but our knowledge about Soil organisms and the habitat they provide (shortly: Soil Biodiversity) is poorly developed. For instance, the European Atlas of Soil Biodiversity and the Global Soil Biodiversity Atlas contain maps with rather coarse information on Soil Biodiversity. This paper presents a methodology to map Soil Biodiversity with limited data and models. Two issues were addressed. First, the lack of consensus to quantify the Soil Biodiversity function and second, the limited data to represent large areas. For the later issue, we applied a digital Soil mapping (DSM) approach at the scale of the Netherlands and Europe. Data of five groups of Soil organisms (earthworms, enchytraeids, micro-arthropods, nematodes, and micro-organisms) in the Netherlands were linked to Soil habitat predictors (chemical Soil attributes) in a regression analysis. High-resolution maps with Soil characteristics were then used together with a model for the Soil Biodiversity function with equal weights for each group of organisms. To predict Soil Biodiversity at the scale of Europe, data for Soil biological (earthworms and bacteria) and chemical (pH, Soil organic matter, and nutrient content) attributes were used in a Soil Biodiversity model. Differential weights were assigned to the Soil attributes after consulting a group of scientists. The issue of reducing uncertainty in Soil Biodiversity modelling and mapping by the use of data from biological Soil attributes is discussed. Considering the importance of Soil Biodiversity to support the delivery of ecosystem services, the ability to create maps illustrating an aggregate measure of Soil Biodiversity is a key to future environmental policymaking, optimizing land use, and land management decision support taking into account the loss and gains on Soil Biodiversity.
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Soil Biodiversity atlas: mapping earthworms of Europe
2014Co-Authors: Michiel Rutgers, T. Schouten, Ciro Gardi, Jörg Römbke, Alberto Orgiazzi, Stephan Jänsch, Guénola Pérès, Daniel Cluzeau, Aidan M. Keith, Dick De ZwartAbstract:As a spin-off of the FP7-EU EcoFINDERS project, we are producing a first European Soil Biodiversity map, with earthworms as the targeted Soil organisms.
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Soil Biodiversity, biological indicators and Soil ecosystem services—an overview of European approaches
Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability, 2012Co-Authors: Mirjam Pulleman, Guénola Pérès, Rachel Creamer, Ute Hamer, Johannes Helder, Céline Pelosi, Michiel RutgersAbstract:Soil biota are essential for many Soil processes and functions, yet there are increasing pressures on Soil Biodiversity and Soil degradation remains a pertinent issue. The sustainable management of Soils requires Soil monitoring, including biological indicators, to be able to relate land use and management to Soil functioning and ecosystem services. Since the 1990s, biological Soil parameters have been assessed in an increasing number of field trials and monitoring programmes across Europe. The development and effective use of meaningful and widely applicable bio-indicators, however, continue to be challenging tasks. This paper aims to provide an overview of current knowledge on the characterization and assessment of Soil Biodiversity. Examples of biological Soil indicators and monitoring approaches are presented. Furthermore the value of databases for developing a better understanding of the relationship between Soil management, Soil functions and ecosystem services is discussed. We conclude that integration of monitoring approaches and data sets offers good opportunities for advancing ecological theory as well as application of such knowledge by land managers and other decision makers.
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Soil Biodiversity, biological indicators and Soil ecosystem services--an overview of European approaches
Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability, 2012Co-Authors: Mirjam Pulleman, Guénola Pérès, Rachel Creamer, Ute Hamer, Johannes Helder, Céline Pelosi, Michiel RutgersAbstract:Soil biota are essential for many Soil processes and functions, yet there are increasing pressures on Soil Biodiversity and Soil degradation remains a pertinent issue. The sustainable management of Soils requires Soil monitoring, including biological indicators, to be able to relate land use and management to Soil functioning and ecosystem services. Since the 1990s, biological Soil parameters have been assessed in an increasing number of field trials and monitoring programmes across Europe. The development and effective use of meaningful and widely applicable bio-indicators, however, continue to be challenging tasks. This paper aims to provide an overview of current knowledge on the characterization and assessment of Soil Biodiversity. Examples of biological Soil indicators and monitoring approaches are presented. Furthermore the value of databases for developing a better understanding of the relationship between Soil management, Soil functions and ecosystem services is discussed. We conclude that integration of monitoring approaches and data sets offers good opportunities for advancing ecological theory as well as application of such knowledge by land managers and other decision makers.
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Priority areas in the Soil Framework Directive : the significance of Soil Biodiversity and ecosystem services
2010Co-Authors: Michiel Rutgers, G.a.j.m. Jagers Op Akkerhuis, Jaap BloemAbstract:Seven Soil threats are distinguished in the draft text of the Soil Framework Directive of the European Commission. Soil organic matter decline and Soil compaction are the most relevant for the Netherlands due to intensive agricultural land management. Loss of Soil Biodiversity should be considered when identifying priority areas requiring protection from organic matter decline and compaction. This report describes the first steps in clarifying the relationship between Soil Biodiversity and decline in Soil organic matter or Soil compaction.
Alberto Orgiazzi - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Soil Biodiversity and Soil erosion: It is time to get married: Adding an earthworm factor to Soil erosion modelling
Global Ecology and Biogeography, 2018Co-Authors: Alberto Orgiazzi, Panos PanagosAbstract:AIM: The relationship between erosion and Biodiversity is reciprocal. Soil organisms can both reduce Soil loss, by improving porosity, and increase it, by diminishing Soil stability as a result of their mixing activities. Simultaneously, Soil runoff has ecological impacts on belowground communities. Despite clear research into interactions, Soil erosion models do not consider Biodiversity in their estimates and Soil ecology has poorly investigated the effects of erosion. In order to start filling in these research gaps, we present a novel biological factor and introduce it into a well‐known Soil erosion model (the revised universal Soil loss equation). Furthermore, we propose insights to advance Soil erosion ecology. LOCATION: Pan‐European. TIME PERIOD: Simulation of present‐day conditions. MAJOR TAXA STUDIED: Earthworms. METHODS: We present three pathways to fill in current knowledge gaps in Soil Biodiversity and erosion studies: (a) introducing a biological factor into Soil erosion models; (b) developing plot‐scale experiments to clarify and quantify the positive/negative effects of Soil organisms on erosion; (c) promoting ecological studies to assess both short‐ and long‐term effects of Soil erosion on Soil biota. RESULTS: We develop a biological factor to be included in Soil erosion modelling. Thanks to available data on earthworm diversity (richness and abundance), we generate an “earthworm factor”, incorporate it into a model of Soil erosion and produce the first pan‐European maps of it. MAIN CONCLUSIONS: New estimates of Soil loss can be generated by including biological factors in Soil erosion models. At the same time, the effects of Soil loss on belowground diversity require further investigation. Available data and technologies make both processes possible. We think that it is time to commit to fostering the fundamental, although complex, relationship between Soil Biodiversity and erosion.
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Lancement en France du ‘Global Soil Biodiversity Atlas’
2016Co-Authors: Jean Luc Chotte, Philippe Lemanceau, Alberto OrgiazziAbstract:Les sols représentent l’épiderme vivant de la planète qui supporte la production d’aliments, de fibre et de bois, qui purifie l’eau et l’air, contribuant ainsi à la santé humaine. Les organismes du sol, allant des bactéries et protistes microscopiques aux vers de terre, coléoptères et taupes, remplissent des tâches essentielles, dans les écosystèmes naturels et anthropisés, qui rendent possible la vie sur Terre. Ces organismes représentent des acteurs-clé des transformations des nutriments et de leurs cycles ; ils impactent la décomposition et la dynamique de la matière organique dans les sols, le stockage du carbone dans le sols et l’émission de gaz à effet de serre ; les interactions symbiotiques des champignons mycorhiziens et des bactéries fixatrices d’azote avec les plantes promeuvent le niveau et l’efficacité de la nutrition des plantes ; les prédateurs et antagonistes des ravageurs et agents phytopathogènes assurent une protection biologique des plantes, certains organismes du sol sont de plus capables de stimuler les réactions de défense des plantes contre ces ravageurs et pathogènes, l’ensemble de ces interactions contribuant à la santé des plantes. Malheureusement, la remarquable biodiversité des sols est soumise à des pressions majeures du fait de la gestion parfois inappropriée des sols. En réponse aux challenges urgents associés à la gestion durable des sols et à la préservation de la vie dans ces sols, une action collective s’est mise en place. Elle mobilise des chercheurs dans des domaines variés et complémentaires. La publication du premier atlas mondial de la biodiversité des sols ‘Global Soil Biodiversity Atlas’ représente une première réalisation remarquable de cette action collective. Le ‘Global Soil Biodiversity Atlas’ paru en mai 2016 est le résultat d’un effort collaboratif entre le ‘Joint Research Centre’ de la Commission Européenne et l’initiative mondiale de biodiversité des sols ‘Global Soil Biodiversity Initiative’. Il présente pour la première fois une vue globale de la biodiversité des sols qu’ils soient soumis ou non à l’action humaine. L’Atlas représente un effort scientifique international majeur comprenant la contribution de plus de 120 experts issus de 26 pays différents. Les progrès rapides dans le développement de nouvelles technologies d’analyse du vivant, en particulier dans le domaine de la biologie moléculaire, mais également les nouvelles technologies de l’information et de la communication ont facilité l’effort collectif qui a conduit à la réalisation du ‘Global Soil Biodiversity Atlas’. Cependant, cet Atlas serait resté incomplet sans l’apport de collaborations globales qui ont permis l’émergence de nouvelles synthèses et analyses de l’importance des organismes du sol à la surface du globe. Les huit chapitres de l’Atlas couvrent tous les aspects de la biodiversité des sols, allant de la taxonomie, la distribution géographique, les services écosystémiques, les menaces, les interventions et politique de gestion des sols en relation avec la biodiversité. L’ouvrage a été conçu pour s’adresser à un large public, aux politiciens mais également aux chercheurs et techniciens. Plus de 800 images, plus de 50 cartes et des centaines d’encadrés conduisent le lecteur au travers un voyage fantastique au coeur de la vie des sols. Cet Atlas a pour ambition de contribuer à rendre chacun et chacune conscient de l’importance et de la beauté de organismes vivants dans le sol et d’attirer l’attention et le respect qu’ils méritent. Ce symposium a pour objectif le lancement en France du ‘Global Soil Biodiversity Atlas’. Cela représente une occasion unique de présenter des initiatives européenne et mondiale relatives à la biodiversité des sols et d’illustrer les avancées de connaissances, de stratégies d’études et de gestion durable des sols en relation avec leur biodiversité dans des environnements variés par des experts européens et mondiaux, dont certains ont contribué à l’Atlas. Titre en anglais : Launch in France of the Global Soil Biodiversity Atlas
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Global Soil Biodiversity atlas
2016Co-Authors: Alberto Orgiazzi, Richard D Bardgett, Edmundo Barrios, Valerie M. Behan-pelletier, Maria J. I. Briones, J.l. Chotte, G.b. De Deyn, P. Eggleton, Noah Fierer, Tandra D. FraserAbstract:2015 was the United Nations International Year of Soils and, for the first time, Soils and the life within them were in the spotlight globally. An international group of experts and scientists from the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC), in close collaboration with colleagues from the Commission’s Directorate-General for the Environment and the Global Soil Biodiversity Initiative, have produced the first ever Global Soil Biodiversity Atlas. Soils are vital for human survival and underpin many sectors of our economy. It is estimated that 99% of the world’s food comes from the terrestrial environment. But Soils are also home to over a quarter of global Biodiversity. Millions of Soil-dwelling organisms promote essential ecosystem services – from plant growth to food production. They support Biodiversity, benefit human health, promote the regulation of nutrient cycles that in turn influence climate, and represent an unexplored capital of natural sources. Our knowledge of Soil life is growing continuously, thanks to recent technological advances and awareness of its value. However, it is estimated that only 1% of Soil microorganism species have been identified. Therefore, understanding the highly complex and dynamic life below ground remains one of the most fascinating challenges facing scientists today. A clearer picture of our Soils will allow us to better understand environmental and global climate change processes whilst also exploring possible adaptation strategies. Pressures on Soil organisms are well known. An ever increasing global population, and increased demand for food and fibre lead to intensified agriculture, greater use of fertilisers and pesticides as well as monocultures. Unsustainable agricultural practices, climate change, Soil erosion and loss of aboveground diversity all negatively affect organisms that live in Soil. To develop actions that will preserve Soil life, we need to better understand the consequences of the loss of Soil Biodiversity. The Global Soil Biodiversity Atlas raises awareness of the role of Soil organisms in sustaining life on our planet, and presents the latest research on Soil Biodiversity. It is also a major contribution to the EU target of halting the loss of Biodiversity and ecosystem services in the EU by 2020, and the goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development on sustainable food production and fighting land degradation. This publication marks a crucial step towards a global coordinated effort to assess life below ground, and highlights the need to improve Soil conservation and the diversity of life within it.
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A knowledge-based approach to estimating the magnitude and spatial patterns of potential threats to Soil Biodiversity.
The Science of the total environment, 2015Co-Authors: Alberto Orgiazzi, Ciro Gardi, Luca Montanarella, Panos Panagos, Martha B. Dunbar, Yusuf Yigini, Cristiano BallabioAbstract:Because of the increasing pressures exerted on Soil, below-ground life is under threat. Knowledge-based rankings of potential threats to different components of Soil Biodiversity were developed in order to assess the spatial distribution of threats on a European scale. A list of 13 potential threats to Soil Biodiversity was proposed to experts with different backgrounds in order to assess the potential for three major components of Soil Biodiversity: Soil microorganisms, fauna, and biological functions. This approach allowed us to obtain knowledge-based rankings of threats. These classifications formed the basis for the development of indices through an additive aggregation model that, along with ad-hoc proxies for each pressure, allowed us to preliminarily assess the spatial patterns of potential threats. Intensive exploitation was identified as the highest pressure. In contrast, the use of genetically modified organisms in agriculture was considered as the threat with least potential. The potential impact of climate change showed the highest uncertainty. Fourteen out of the 27 considered countries have more than 40% of their Soils with moderate-high to high potential risk for all three components of Soil Biodiversity. Arable Soils are the most exposed to pressures. Soils within the boreal biogeographic region showed the lowest risk potential. The majority of Soils at risk are outside the boundaries of protected areas. First maps of risks to three components of Soil Biodiversity based on the current scientific knowledge were developed. Despite the intrinsic limits of knowledge-based assessments, a remarkable potential risk to Soil Biodiversity was observed. Guidelines to preliminarily identify and circumscribe Soils potentially at risk are provided. This approach may be used in future research to assess threat at both local and global scale and identify areas of possible risk and, subsequently, design appropriate strategies for monitoring and protection of Soil biota.
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Soil Biodiversity and DNA barcodes: opportunities and challenges
Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 2015Co-Authors: Alberto Orgiazzi, Martha Bonnet Dunbar, Panos Panagos, Gerard Arjen De Groot, Philippe LemanceauAbstract:Soils encompass a huge diversity of organisms which mostly remains to be characterized due to a number of methodological and logistical issues. Nonetheless, remarkable progress has been made in recent years toward developing strategies to characterize and describe Soil Biodiversity, especially thanks to the development of molecular approaches relying on direct DNA extraction from the Soil matrix. Metabarcoding can be applied to DNA from any environment or organism, and is gaining increasing prominence in Biodiversity studies. This approach is already commonly used to characterize Soil microbial communities and its application is now being extended to other Soil organisms, i.e. meso- and macro-fauna. These developments offer unprecedented scientific and operational opportunities in order to better understand Soil Biodiversity distribution and dynamics, and to propose tools and strategies for Biodiversity diagnosis. However, these opportunities also come with challenges that the scientific community must face. Such challenges are related to i) clarification of terminology, (ii) standardisation of methods and further methodological development for additional taxonomic groups, (iii) development of a common database, and (iv) ways to avoid waste of information and data derived from metabarcoding. In order to facilitate common application of metabarcoding in Soil Biodiversity assessment, we discuss these opportunities and challenges and propose solutions towards a more homogeneous framework.
Rachel Creamer - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Modeling of Soil functions for assessing Soil quality: Soil Biodiversity and habitat provisioning
Frontiers in Environmental Science, 2019Co-Authors: Jeroen P. Van Leeuwen, Guénola Pérès, Daniel Cluzeau, Rachel Creamer, Marko Debeljak, Fabio Gatti, Vladimir Kuzmanovski, Cristina Menta, Christian Bugge Henriksen, Calypso PicaudAbstract:Soil Biodiversity and habitat provisioning is one of the Soil functions that agricultural land provides to society. This paper describes assessment of the Soil Biodiversity function (SB function) as a proof of concept to be used in a decision support tool for agricultural land management. The SB function is defined as ‘the multitude of Soil organisms and processes, interacting in an ecosystem, providing society with a rich Biodiversity source and contributing to a habitat for aboveground organisms.’ So far, no single measure provides the full overview of the Soil Biodiversity and how a Soil supports a habitat for a biodiverse ecosystem. We have assembled a set of attributes for a proxy-indicator system, based on four ‘integrated attributes’: 1) Soil nutrient status, 2) Soil biological status, 3) Soil structure, and 4) Soil hydrological status. These attributes provide information to be used in a model for assessing the capacity of a Soil to supply the SB function. A multi-criteria decision model was developed which comprises of 34 attributes providing information to quantify the four integrated attributes and subsequently assess the SB function for grassland and for cropland separately. The model predictions (in terms of low – moderate – high Soil Biodiversity status) were compared with expert judgements for a collection of 137 grassland Soils in the Netherlands and 52 French Soils, 29 grasslands and 23 croplands. For both datasets, the results show that the proposed decision model predictions were statistically significantly correlated with the expert judgements. A sensitivity analysis indicated that the Soil nutrient status, defined by attributes such as pH and organic carbon content, was the most important integrated attribute in the assessment of the SB function. Further progress in the assessment of the SB function is needed. This can be achieved by better information regarding land use and farm management. In this way we may make a valuable step in our attempts to optimize the multiple Soil functions in agricultural landscapes, and hence the multifaceted role of Soils to deliver a bundle of ecosystem services for farmers and citizens, and support land management and policy towards a more sustainable society.
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Modeling of Soil Functions for Assessing Soil Quality: Soil Biodiversity and Habitat Provisioning
Frontiers in Environmental Science, 2019Co-Authors: Jeroen Van Leeuwen, Guénola Pérès, Daniel Cluzeau, Rachel Creamer, Marko Debeljak, Fabio Gatti, Christian Henriksen, Vladimir Kuzmanovski, Cristina Menta, Calypso PicaudAbstract:Soil Biodiversity and habitat provisioning is one of the Soil functions that agricultural land provides to society. This paper describes assessment of the Soil Biodiversity function (SB function) as a proof of concept to be used in a decision support tool for agricultural land management. The SB function is defined as "the multitude of Soil organisms and processes, interacting in an ecosystem, providing society with a rich Biodiversity source and contributing to a habitat for aboveground organisms." So far, no single measure provides the full overview of the Soil Biodiversity and how a Soil supports a habitat for a biodiverse ecosystem. We have assembled a set of attributes for a proxy-indicator system, based on four "integrated attributes": (1) Soil nutrient status, (2) Soil biological status, (3) Soil structure, and (4) Soil hydrological status. These attributes provide information to be used in a model for assessing the capacity of a Soil to supply the SB function. A multi-criteria decision model was developed which comprises of 34 attributes providing information to quantify the four integrated attributes and subsequently assess the SB function for grassland and for cropland separately. The model predictions (in terms of low-moderate-high Soil Biodiversity status) were compared with expert judgements for a collection of 137 grassland Soils in the Netherlands and 52 French Soils, 29 grasslands, and 23 croplands. For both datasets, the results show that the proposed model predictions were statistically significantly correlated with the expert judgements. A sensitivity analysis indicated that the Soil nutrient status, defined by attributes such as pH and organic carbon content, was the most important integrated attribute in the assessment of the SB function. Further progress in the assessment of the SB function is needed. This can be achieved by better information regarding land use and farm
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The Living Soil: Biodiversity and Functions
World Soils Book Series, 2018Co-Authors: Olaf Schmidt, Rachel Creamer, Thomas Bolger, Fiona Brennan, Alan D. W. DobsonAbstract:Soil Biodiversity encompasses an enormous array of life on the planet. Soil organisms are essential for most processes and functions in the Soil. Soil biological knowledge is critical for understanding functions such as nutrient supply to plants, carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas emissions, all of which are key to meeting the global challenges of food security and climate change mitigation. Soil microorganisms include a wide array of bacterial, archaeal and eukaryotic taxa. Microbes are extremely diverse and abundant, with up to 10 billion microorganisms predicted in a single gram of Soil. Nematodes provide a good case study of a Soil faunal group that encompasses all feeding habits within their own taxonomic group. Their different feeding habits mean that nematodes provide many and different connections in Soil food webs. Microarthropods are discussed, as representing a well-studied Soil animal group in Ireland in terms of their community ecology and biogeography, with several species of the Mesostigmata identified. Knowledge of larger animals such as earthworms is more complete, with 27 species recorded from Ireland.
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Soil Biodiversity data: Actual and potential use in European and national legislation
Applied Soil Ecology, 2015Co-Authors: Jörg Römbke, Ciro Gardi, Rachel Creamer, Ladislav MikoAbstract:Abstract In the EU-FP7 project EcoFINDERS 81 sites located across Europe were sampled in a standardized way in order to determine and evaluate the local Soil Biodiversity and associated ecosystem function. The results of this sampling activity give a broad overview on the structure and functions of Soil biological communities at European arable, grassland and forest sites. Probably more importantly, a set of indicators (i.e., organism groups and measurement endpoints) were identified, fulfilling criteria such as ecological relevance, practicability, or cost efficiency. In this contribution we want to address two issues: firstly, we review current legalization in the European Union and selected member states that relates to monitoring of Soil Biodiversity as well as selected individual Member States. Secondly, we discuss which legal tools could benefit from applying the set of Soil biology indicators identified in the EcoFINDERS project. Since the withdrawal of the proposed Soil Framework Directive in 2014 there is no common legal approach on how to protect Soils – and specifically its ecological functions – in Europe. However, assuming that such a general framework will be in shape in the foreseeable future, we will discuss how the new knowledge of Soil Biodiversity and in particular its monitoring as identified in the EcoFINDERS project would fit into such a potential legal approach.
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Soil Biodiversity, biological indicators and Soil ecosystem services—an overview of European approaches
Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability, 2012Co-Authors: Mirjam Pulleman, Guénola Pérès, Rachel Creamer, Ute Hamer, Johannes Helder, Céline Pelosi, Michiel RutgersAbstract:Soil biota are essential for many Soil processes and functions, yet there are increasing pressures on Soil Biodiversity and Soil degradation remains a pertinent issue. The sustainable management of Soils requires Soil monitoring, including biological indicators, to be able to relate land use and management to Soil functioning and ecosystem services. Since the 1990s, biological Soil parameters have been assessed in an increasing number of field trials and monitoring programmes across Europe. The development and effective use of meaningful and widely applicable bio-indicators, however, continue to be challenging tasks. This paper aims to provide an overview of current knowledge on the characterization and assessment of Soil Biodiversity. Examples of biological Soil indicators and monitoring approaches are presented. Furthermore the value of databases for developing a better understanding of the relationship between Soil management, Soil functions and ecosystem services is discussed. We conclude that integration of monitoring approaches and data sets offers good opportunities for advancing ecological theory as well as application of such knowledge by land managers and other decision makers.
Guénola Pérès - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Modeling of Soil functions for assessing Soil quality: Soil Biodiversity and habitat provisioning
Frontiers in Environmental Science, 2019Co-Authors: Jeroen P. Van Leeuwen, Guénola Pérès, Daniel Cluzeau, Rachel Creamer, Marko Debeljak, Fabio Gatti, Vladimir Kuzmanovski, Cristina Menta, Christian Bugge Henriksen, Calypso PicaudAbstract:Soil Biodiversity and habitat provisioning is one of the Soil functions that agricultural land provides to society. This paper describes assessment of the Soil Biodiversity function (SB function) as a proof of concept to be used in a decision support tool for agricultural land management. The SB function is defined as ‘the multitude of Soil organisms and processes, interacting in an ecosystem, providing society with a rich Biodiversity source and contributing to a habitat for aboveground organisms.’ So far, no single measure provides the full overview of the Soil Biodiversity and how a Soil supports a habitat for a biodiverse ecosystem. We have assembled a set of attributes for a proxy-indicator system, based on four ‘integrated attributes’: 1) Soil nutrient status, 2) Soil biological status, 3) Soil structure, and 4) Soil hydrological status. These attributes provide information to be used in a model for assessing the capacity of a Soil to supply the SB function. A multi-criteria decision model was developed which comprises of 34 attributes providing information to quantify the four integrated attributes and subsequently assess the SB function for grassland and for cropland separately. The model predictions (in terms of low – moderate – high Soil Biodiversity status) were compared with expert judgements for a collection of 137 grassland Soils in the Netherlands and 52 French Soils, 29 grasslands and 23 croplands. For both datasets, the results show that the proposed decision model predictions were statistically significantly correlated with the expert judgements. A sensitivity analysis indicated that the Soil nutrient status, defined by attributes such as pH and organic carbon content, was the most important integrated attribute in the assessment of the SB function. Further progress in the assessment of the SB function is needed. This can be achieved by better information regarding land use and farm management. In this way we may make a valuable step in our attempts to optimize the multiple Soil functions in agricultural landscapes, and hence the multifaceted role of Soils to deliver a bundle of ecosystem services for farmers and citizens, and support land management and policy towards a more sustainable society.
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Modeling of Soil Functions for Assessing Soil Quality: Soil Biodiversity and Habitat Provisioning
Frontiers in Environmental Science, 2019Co-Authors: Jeroen Van Leeuwen, Guénola Pérès, Daniel Cluzeau, Rachel Creamer, Marko Debeljak, Fabio Gatti, Christian Henriksen, Vladimir Kuzmanovski, Cristina Menta, Calypso PicaudAbstract:Soil Biodiversity and habitat provisioning is one of the Soil functions that agricultural land provides to society. This paper describes assessment of the Soil Biodiversity function (SB function) as a proof of concept to be used in a decision support tool for agricultural land management. The SB function is defined as "the multitude of Soil organisms and processes, interacting in an ecosystem, providing society with a rich Biodiversity source and contributing to a habitat for aboveground organisms." So far, no single measure provides the full overview of the Soil Biodiversity and how a Soil supports a habitat for a biodiverse ecosystem. We have assembled a set of attributes for a proxy-indicator system, based on four "integrated attributes": (1) Soil nutrient status, (2) Soil biological status, (3) Soil structure, and (4) Soil hydrological status. These attributes provide information to be used in a model for assessing the capacity of a Soil to supply the SB function. A multi-criteria decision model was developed which comprises of 34 attributes providing information to quantify the four integrated attributes and subsequently assess the SB function for grassland and for cropland separately. The model predictions (in terms of low-moderate-high Soil Biodiversity status) were compared with expert judgements for a collection of 137 grassland Soils in the Netherlands and 52 French Soils, 29 grasslands, and 23 croplands. For both datasets, the results show that the proposed model predictions were statistically significantly correlated with the expert judgements. A sensitivity analysis indicated that the Soil nutrient status, defined by attributes such as pH and organic carbon content, was the most important integrated attribute in the assessment of the SB function. Further progress in the assessment of the SB function is needed. This can be achieved by better information regarding land use and farm
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Soil Biodiversity atlas: mapping earthworms of Europe
2014Co-Authors: Michiel Rutgers, T. Schouten, Ciro Gardi, Jörg Römbke, Alberto Orgiazzi, Stephan Jänsch, Guénola Pérès, Daniel Cluzeau, Aidan M. Keith, Dick De ZwartAbstract:As a spin-off of the FP7-EU EcoFINDERS project, we are producing a first European Soil Biodiversity map, with earthworms as the targeted Soil organisms.
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Soil Biodiversity, biological indicators and Soil ecosystem services—an overview of European approaches
Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability, 2012Co-Authors: Mirjam Pulleman, Guénola Pérès, Rachel Creamer, Ute Hamer, Johannes Helder, Céline Pelosi, Michiel RutgersAbstract:Soil biota are essential for many Soil processes and functions, yet there are increasing pressures on Soil Biodiversity and Soil degradation remains a pertinent issue. The sustainable management of Soils requires Soil monitoring, including biological indicators, to be able to relate land use and management to Soil functioning and ecosystem services. Since the 1990s, biological Soil parameters have been assessed in an increasing number of field trials and monitoring programmes across Europe. The development and effective use of meaningful and widely applicable bio-indicators, however, continue to be challenging tasks. This paper aims to provide an overview of current knowledge on the characterization and assessment of Soil Biodiversity. Examples of biological Soil indicators and monitoring approaches are presented. Furthermore the value of databases for developing a better understanding of the relationship between Soil management, Soil functions and ecosystem services is discussed. We conclude that integration of monitoring approaches and data sets offers good opportunities for advancing ecological theory as well as application of such knowledge by land managers and other decision makers.
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Soil Biodiversity, biological indicators and Soil ecosystem services--an overview of European approaches
Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability, 2012Co-Authors: Mirjam Pulleman, Guénola Pérès, Rachel Creamer, Ute Hamer, Johannes Helder, Céline Pelosi, Michiel RutgersAbstract:Soil biota are essential for many Soil processes and functions, yet there are increasing pressures on Soil Biodiversity and Soil degradation remains a pertinent issue. The sustainable management of Soils requires Soil monitoring, including biological indicators, to be able to relate land use and management to Soil functioning and ecosystem services. Since the 1990s, biological Soil parameters have been assessed in an increasing number of field trials and monitoring programmes across Europe. The development and effective use of meaningful and widely applicable bio-indicators, however, continue to be challenging tasks. This paper aims to provide an overview of current knowledge on the characterization and assessment of Soil Biodiversity. Examples of biological Soil indicators and monitoring approaches are presented. Furthermore the value of databases for developing a better understanding of the relationship between Soil management, Soil functions and ecosystem services is discussed. We conclude that integration of monitoring approaches and data sets offers good opportunities for advancing ecological theory as well as application of such knowledge by land managers and other decision makers.
Ciro Gardi - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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A knowledge-based approach to estimating the magnitude and spatial patterns of potential threats to Soil Biodiversity.
The Science of the total environment, 2015Co-Authors: Alberto Orgiazzi, Ciro Gardi, Luca Montanarella, Panos Panagos, Martha B. Dunbar, Yusuf Yigini, Cristiano BallabioAbstract:Because of the increasing pressures exerted on Soil, below-ground life is under threat. Knowledge-based rankings of potential threats to different components of Soil Biodiversity were developed in order to assess the spatial distribution of threats on a European scale. A list of 13 potential threats to Soil Biodiversity was proposed to experts with different backgrounds in order to assess the potential for three major components of Soil Biodiversity: Soil microorganisms, fauna, and biological functions. This approach allowed us to obtain knowledge-based rankings of threats. These classifications formed the basis for the development of indices through an additive aggregation model that, along with ad-hoc proxies for each pressure, allowed us to preliminarily assess the spatial patterns of potential threats. Intensive exploitation was identified as the highest pressure. In contrast, the use of genetically modified organisms in agriculture was considered as the threat with least potential. The potential impact of climate change showed the highest uncertainty. Fourteen out of the 27 considered countries have more than 40% of their Soils with moderate-high to high potential risk for all three components of Soil Biodiversity. Arable Soils are the most exposed to pressures. Soils within the boreal biogeographic region showed the lowest risk potential. The majority of Soils at risk are outside the boundaries of protected areas. First maps of risks to three components of Soil Biodiversity based on the current scientific knowledge were developed. Despite the intrinsic limits of knowledge-based assessments, a remarkable potential risk to Soil Biodiversity was observed. Guidelines to preliminarily identify and circumscribe Soils potentially at risk are provided. This approach may be used in future research to assess threat at both local and global scale and identify areas of possible risk and, subsequently, design appropriate strategies for monitoring and protection of Soil biota.
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Toward a global platform for linking Soil Biodiversity data
Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, 2015Co-Authors: Kelly S. Ramirez, Matthias C. Rillig, Ciro Gardi, Markus Döring, Nico Eisenhauer, Josh Ladau, Jonathan W. Leff, Guillaume Lentendu, Zoë Lindo, David RussellAbstract:Soil Biodiversity is immense, with an estimated 10-100 million organisms belonging to over 5000 taxa in a handful of Soil. In spite of the importance of Soil Biodiversity for ecosystem functions and services, information on Soil species, from taxonomy to biogeographical patterns, is incomplete and there is no infrastructure to connect pre-existing or future data. Here, we propose a global platform to allow for greater access to Soil Biodiversity information by linking databases and repositories through a single open portal. The proposed platform would for the first time, link data on Soil organisms from different global sites and biomes, and will be inclusive of all data types, from molecular sequences to morphology measurements and other supporting information. Access to Soil Biodiversity species records and information will be instrumental to progressing scientific research and education. Further, as demonstrated by previous Biodiversity synthesis efforts, data availability is key for adapting to, and creating mitigation plans in response to global changes. With the rapid influx of Soil Biodiversity data, now is the time to take the first steps forward in establishing a global Soil Biodiversity information platform.
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Soil Biodiversity data: Actual and potential use in European and national legislation
Applied Soil Ecology, 2015Co-Authors: Jörg Römbke, Ciro Gardi, Rachel Creamer, Ladislav MikoAbstract:Abstract In the EU-FP7 project EcoFINDERS 81 sites located across Europe were sampled in a standardized way in order to determine and evaluate the local Soil Biodiversity and associated ecosystem function. The results of this sampling activity give a broad overview on the structure and functions of Soil biological communities at European arable, grassland and forest sites. Probably more importantly, a set of indicators (i.e., organism groups and measurement endpoints) were identified, fulfilling criteria such as ecological relevance, practicability, or cost efficiency. In this contribution we want to address two issues: firstly, we review current legalization in the European Union and selected member states that relates to monitoring of Soil Biodiversity as well as selected individual Member States. Secondly, we discuss which legal tools could benefit from applying the set of Soil biology indicators identified in the EcoFINDERS project. Since the withdrawal of the proposed Soil Framework Directive in 2014 there is no common legal approach on how to protect Soils – and specifically its ecological functions – in Europe. However, assuming that such a general framework will be in shape in the foreseeable future, we will discuss how the new knowledge of Soil Biodiversity and in particular its monitoring as identified in the EcoFINDERS project would fit into such a potential legal approach.
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Soil Biodiversity atlas: mapping earthworms of Europe
2014Co-Authors: Michiel Rutgers, T. Schouten, Ciro Gardi, Jörg Römbke, Alberto Orgiazzi, Stephan Jänsch, Guénola Pérès, Daniel Cluzeau, Aidan M. Keith, Dick De ZwartAbstract:As a spin-off of the FP7-EU EcoFINDERS project, we are producing a first European Soil Biodiversity map, with earthworms as the targeted Soil organisms.
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An estimate of potential threats levels to Soil Biodiversity in EU
Global Change Biology, 2013Co-Authors: Ciro Gardi, Simon Jeffery, Andrea SaltelliAbstract:Life within the Soil is vital for maintaining life on Earth due to the numerous ecosystem services that it provides. However, there is evidence that pressures on the Soil biota are increasing which may undermine some of these ecosystem services. Current levels of belowground Biodiversity are relatively poorly known, and so no benchmark exists by which to measure possible future losses of Biodiversity. Furthermore, the relative risk that each type of anthropogenic pressures places on the Soil biota remains unclear. Potential threats to Soil Biodiversity were calculated through the use of a composite score produced from data collected from 20 international experts using the budget allocation methodology. This allowed relative weightings to be given to each of the identified pressures for which data were available in the European Soil Data Centre (ESDC). A total of seven different indicators were used for calculating the composite scores. These data were applied through a model using ArcGIS to produce a spatial analysis of composite pressures on Soil Biodiversity at the European scale. The model highlights the variation in the composite result of the potential threats to Soil Biodiversity. A sensitivity analysis demonstrated that the intensity of land exploitation, both in terms of agriculture and use intensity, as well as in terms of land-use dynamics, were the main factors applying pressure on Soil Biodiversity. It is important to note that the model should not be viewed as an estimate of the current level of Soil Biodiversity in Europe, but as an estimate of pressures that are currently being exerted. The results obtained should be seen as a starting point for further investigation on this relatively unknown issue and demonstrate the utility of this type of model which may be applied to other regions and scales.