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Carlos Zambrana-Torrelio Associate VP for Conservation and Health Research Into the Critical Connections Between Human, Wildlife Health and Ecosystems

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Carlos Zambrana-Torrelio Associate VP for Conservation and Health Research Into the Critical Connections Between Human, Wildlife Health and Ecosystems Red List of Ecosystems Carlos Zambrana-Torrelio Associate VP for Conservation and Health Research into the critical connections between human, wildlife health and ecosystems. • How human activities (land use change) could lead to disease emergence (Ebola, Zika, …) • Disease regulation as an ecosystem service: Estimate the economic impact of infectious diseases due to land use change Red List of Ecosystems: a quantitative framework to evaluate ecosystem condition Red List of Ecosystems Goal: develop a consistent global framework for monitoring the status of ecosystems and identifying those most at risk of biodiversity loss. • How great are the risks? • How soon are the changes likely to occur? Assessing risks to ecosystems 1989 2008 • Unlike species, ecosystems do not go extinct! • Cannot sustain its defining features: Characteristic native biota and Ecological processes that structure & sustain the system • Ecosystem collapse ~ species extinction - Analogous concepts • Ecosystem collapse affects capacity to deliver ecosystem Aral sea: collapsed ecosystem services Freshwater aquatic ephemeral steppe + hypersaline lakes Keith et al. (2013). Scientific foundations for an IUCN Red List of Ecosystems. PLoS ONE in press Supplementary material 14 TAPIA FOREST, MADAGASCAR contributed by Justin Moat & Steven Bachman, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew CLASSIFICATION National: Tapia Forest is recognised as a major vegetation type in the Atlas of vegetation of Madagascar (Rabehevitra and Rakotoarisoa 2007). IUCN Habitats Classification Scheme (Version 3.0): 1. Forest / 1.5 Subtropical/Tropical Dry Forest ECOSYSTEM DESCRIPTION Characteristic native biota A forest comprising an evergreen canopy of 10–12 m, with an understorey of ericoid shrubs. Lianas are frequent, but epiphytes are few. The herbaceous layer is dominated by grasses (Rabehevitra & Rakotoarisoa 2007). The primary form of Tapia forest is a stratified, evergreen forest (Fig. S12.1), with a low (8 - 12 m) semi-continuous tree canopy, an understorey of ericoid shrubs, frequent lianas but few epiphytes, and a moderate to rich herbaceous component dominated by grasses (Rabehevitra & Rakotoarisoa 2007). Tapia forest is floristically diverse compared to its surrounding vegetation of denuded grassland and wooded grasslands of the high plateaux. The plants are mostly sclerophyllous, hairy or heliophilous. The tree bark in this type is frequently thick, and resistant to fire. The most characteristic species are Promotes Uapaca bojeri, Sarcolaena oblongifolia, Pentachlaena latifolia, Schizolaena microphylla, Asteropeia labatii, Weinmannia spp. and Agarista spp. Common canopy families are Cunoniaceae, Anacardiaceae, May promote RubiacConceptualCeae, Eriocaceaen, Sarccolaenaeceae pand Astteruaceae, awhilel tw o emodelsmndemic polant fadmiliese ls (Sarcolaenaceae and Asteropeiaceae), also characterise the Tapia forest ecosystem. Poaceae and May reduce Asteraceae dominate the herbaceous stratum, with Pachypodium rossulatum occurring frequently on rock outcrops. Three mammals occurring within Tapia forests are known to be hunted: Echinops telfairi, Setifer setuosus and Tenrec ecaudatus (Kull 2003a). Insects occurring within this ecosystem include landibe (Borocera cajani) or wild silk moth (Razafimanantsoa et al. 2012). Soil erosion Fire: high Species richness frequency reduction (for cattle) Soil: acidic and lateritic Evergreen Charcoal open canopy Forest clearing production (10-12 m), Figure 1a. Figure 1b. dominated by Figure S14. 1. (a) Tapia forest on Iron stone hill sides. The dominate cParneopcyi ptreiet aseteino here is Uapaca bojeri. Near Isalo National Park Madagascar (Justin Moat). (b) Tapian fo:r e8st0 o0n- S1a4nd0st0on e. The Uapaca bojeri. mm, 80-90 Displacement of Exotic rainy days 133 Understory native species invasive spp ericoid shrubs. Herbaceous Fire: low Species richness layer frequency reduction Timber (natural) dominated by harvesting grasses Socio environmen tal factors: Managed timber reduces Cattle grazing managemen pressure on natives t RLE Methodology 5 Criteria 4 Time periods Extent of Occurrence (km²) Area of Occupancy (10x10 km grid cells) RLE Methodology Criteria A Reduction geographic distribution B Restricted geographic distribution C Environmental degradation D Disruption of biotic processes or interactions E Quantitative analysis RLE Methodology Each ecosystem type Listing Criteria assigned to an ordinal (decision rules) category of risk A Distribution Collapsed reduction Critically Restricted endangered B distribution & decline Quantitative Endangered Degradation of thresholds C abiotic environment Vulnerable Disruption to biotic D processes Near-threatened Quantitative estimate Least concern E of risk of collapse Data deficient RLE outcomes: more than a threat category Not Evaluated CRITERIO A1: UN EJEMPLO EN RLE CriterionPARAGU AYA: Declining distribution Example from Paraguay: Decline in distribution in the past 50 years > 50%: Endangered RLE Criterion C: Degradation abiotic environment Example Parana Seasonal Dry Forest Precipitation will increase in more than 40% of the area in the next 50 years Critically Endangered RLE Methodology CRITERIA HAVE ENSEMBLE PROPERTIES Two principles: • Assess as many criteria for which data are available • Overall status: highest returned by any one criterion A B C D E Overall status: Critically Endangered Global policy impact of RLE • National RLE assessments underway/completed in >20 countries on 6 continents • 3 countries already updating first assessments • 5 countries already integrate RLE into regulatory policy Applications of the RLE Colombia, Andres Etter Applications of the RLE Colombia, Andres Etter Applications of the RLE Mapping ecosystem services in China Ouyang et al. (2016) Science Applications of the RLE Reporting on ecosystem status Convention on Biological Diversity Reporting against Aichi targets China Applications of the RLE Support for assessors.
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