Gran Paradiso National Park
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Europarc Conference “We are concerned about climate change” Measurements of biodiversity in north‐western Italian Alps Biodiversity monitoring in mountain ecosystems: a multi - taxa approach Gran Paradiso National Park Parc Jura Vaudois–20 – 20th October 2016 Gran ParadisoNational Park Mountain ecosystems • Very sensitive to climate change • Bio diversit y h ot spot • Ecosystem services NW Italian Alps SfSurface: 70, 000 ha Altitudinal range: 700700--4,0004,000 m a.s.l.a.s.l. Main habitats: rock and glaciers , alpine pastures, woodlands, shrublands Orsiera-Rocciavré Natural Park , Veglia Devero Natural Park, Val Grande National Park Image from wwf.panda.org We are concerned about climate change... Adapted from IPCC 2012 LongLong--termterm monitoring to identify and (potentially) resolve scientific gaps…. ….converting the acquired knoweledge in concrete conservation actions Monitoring Projects “Single species approach” “Multi taxa approach” To analyse the effects of climate To describe alpha and beta parameters on the population dynamic of diversity variation along altitudinal species that can act as surrogate of gradients analysing the factors that biodiversity influence this distribution Storch (2007) Indicator of the health status of the entire ecosystem Because of the complexity of biodi versi ty, surrogates such as sub sets of species, species assemblages and habitat types have to be used as measures of biodiversity Margules and Pressey (2000) Systematic conservation planning. Nature 405 Single species approach – Alpine Ibex (Capra ibex) Ibex number and snow depth berber mmmm Since the middle of the 80s until 1993, ibex nunu Ibex Ibex number increased Clear decrease in mean (cm) (cm) snow depth hhhh Snow deptdept Snow Snow Single species approach – Alpine Ibex (Capra ibex) What i s h appeni ng? Real Trend Prediction Newborn survival rate decreased f rom 70% i n th e 80s to 25% in 2006 Phhlenology o f vegetation l RateRate l l aa aa SurvivSurviv Pettorelli et al. 2007 Single species approach ––BlackBlack Grouse (Tetrao tetrix ) Orsiera Rocciavrè Natural Park Male density (ind(ind/ha)/ha) 1991-2009 4valleys,4 valleys, characterised by a similar trend Probable control by a common factor Single species approach ––BlackBlack Grouse (Tetrao tetrix ) Negative effect of Positive effect of Density dependence rainfalls in June temperature range in December Burrow ––44°° Air–3030°° + + Snow surface –25–25°° Snow 40 cm ––1818°° Summers et al., 2004 Klaus et al. 1990 Lindström et al., 1997 Ludwig et al., 2010 Population projections 20% decrease PROTHEUS model - A1B scenario • Snow cover is not included in the populations models • Indirect effects of climate change (e.g. modifica tions in vegetation cover) Single species approach ––RockRock Ptarmigan (Lagopus mutus) Veglia Devero Natural Park 25 Snowmelt datett--11 – + Snow cover start datett--11 – 2 20 p<0.0001 R =0.78 alesales 15 es l l mmmm ma N. 10 Number of of Number Number 5 0 Observed data 1996 - 2011 Filtered series by a state space model ((KalmanKalmanfilter, assuming a Gompertz density dependence) Number of males Early appearance of snowsnow--freefree ground in spring is associated with higher reproductive success Novoa et al. 2008 . Effect of weather on the reproductive rate of Rock Ptarmigan Lagopusmuta in the eastern Pyrenees. Ibis 150: 270-270-278.278. Mismatch between snowmelt and moult?moult? Single species approach ––RockRock Ptarmigan (Lagopus mutus) Population projections Climate change only Human disturbance only Human disturbance Climate change + Human disturbance Ski lift wi rere--sstiktrike Up to 5.3 deaths per km of wire per year Watson A, Moss R (2004) Impacts of ski-ski-developmentdevelopment on ptarmigan ((LagopusLagopusmutus) mutus) at Cairn GormGorm,, Scotland. BiolConserv 116 Bevanger K, Brøseth H (2004) Impact of power lines on bird mortality in a subalpine area. AnimBiodivers Conserv 27 Multi taxa approach A multi taxa approach to assess pattern of congruence and diversity To set the basis for the development of a long term monitoring scheme, focused on multi‐taxa community data 4 yrs stop 4 yrs stop 2006‐2007 2012‐2013 2018‐2019 Multi taxa approach • Sampling methodology 7 taxonomic groups 9‐10 samplings Formicidae Pitfall traps May‐September every 15 days Staphylinidae Araneae Carabidae 2 samplings Point counts April‐July Aves Butterflies: OhOrthoptera Linear transects • 5 samplings • May‐September Grasshoppers: Lepidoptera • 3 samplings • July‐September Multi taxa approach Objectives 1. To describe animal biodiversity along altitudinal gradients and identify the parameters influencing species’’species distribution 2. To estimate the risk of biodiversityy, loss, also through the application of climate change scenarios 3. To identify the (group of) species and the habitat type more sensitive to environmental and climatic changes, whic h can be used as biodive rsit y /ec ological indicato rs 2012‐2014 ‐‐ Fondi ministeriali ex capitolo 1551 ‐‐ Azioni di sistema Parco Nazionale Parco Nazionale Stelvio Dolomiti bellunesi Parco Nazionale Val 6 transects Grande 30 plot 3 transects 2 transects 17 plot 11 plot • 2012‐2013: First repetition PNGP, PNOR, PNVD • 2013‐2014: First “2‐years”of activityactivity,, 3 National Parks 132 sampling stations ‐‐ 24 transects Multi taxa approach MbidiitttMeasure biodiversity status • Baseline against which identify future changes • Tool for estimating conservation value • Planning highlyfocused conservation action Active management toreduce environmentalstressors Multi taxa approach FtForecast biodi versit y st at us Tempppperature increase scenarios applied on multimulti--taxataxadistribution Alpine Subalpine Montane • Identify the threshold beyond which the risk of biodiversity loss will be extremely elevated • Identify ppyyotential “vulnerability and safety” Promote adaptive management Multi taxa approach Effecti ve biodi versit y monitori ng One year ρ=0.645, p<0.001 Two years ρ=0.765, p<0.001 • Simplify the monitoring, as much as possible providing, at the same time, a representative picture • Take them into account in developing management strategies ((,p)infrastructures, winter sports…) Early warning signs of changes Glacier Monitoring 34 glaciers on the 59 presents inside Gran Paradiso National Park are monitored every year Mass balance since 1999 for the Gran Etrèt Glacier A decrease of more than 13 meters of thickness in 12 years Citizen Science http://www.pngp.it/citizenhttp://www.pngp.it/citizen--sciencescience Concrete Conservation Actions Active management – PSR Piedmont Region 2007-2007-20132013 Measure 323 WtldWetland ecosyst ems Orco Valley, Dres peat bog ()(2100 m) • Land purchase • Grazing exclusion • Drainage control Active management – PSR Piedmont Region 2007-2007-20132013 Measure 323 Alpi ne past ures Orco Valley, Gran Prà (2000 m a.s.l.) • Development of a list of Good Practices: mainly determined by rotational grazing, accepted Overgrazed and adopted by the herder Pasture • Phytodepuration System : a natural purtification technique by biological treatments to reduce accumulation of organic waste and the eutrophication of nearby grasslands and creeks Active management MtMontane an dblid subalpine past ures Orco Valley, Noaschetta (2000 m a.s.l.) Sustainable Grazing Active management –LIFE– LIFE Bioaquae Unique ecosystems, extremely delicate and vulnerable to many anthropic factors: factors:climate changg,e, the use of water in energy production, the introduction of alien species, and local sources of pollutants The LIFE+ BIOAQUAE fiveve--yearyear lllong project ((20122012--20172017))isis an opportunity to develop handshands--onon conservation initiatives for the promotion of the biodiversity of aquatic ecosystems in the Gran Paradiso National Park • Eradication of nonnon--nativenative fishes (Salvelinus fontinalis ) • ElilEcological filters • Marble trout (Salmo marmoratus) Conclusions... Presence of vulnerable species and habitat - take them into account in developing management strategies (infrastructures, winter sports, hunting quota…) Monitoring of vulnerable and umbrella species in the long term - for early warning signs of climate change - as empirical tests of predictions Promotion of the resilience of ecological systems - protect appropriate places - limit non climaticclimatic--stressorsstressors - manage adaptively Use of pro tect ed areas as lit mus t est of any ch ange • To measure biodiversity status • To underline the climatic and environmental factors that influence these patterns • To model the effects of climate and land use changes on these parameters • To measure the effectiveness of management decisions (adaptive management) Conclusions... Presence of vulnerable species and habitat - take them into account in developing management strategies (infrastructures, winter sports, hunting quota…) Monitoring of vulnerable and umbrella species in the long term - for early warning signs of climate change - as empirical tests of predictions Promotion of the resilience of ecological systems - protect appropriate places - limit non climaticclimatic--stressorsstressors - manage adaptively Use of pro tect ed areas as lit mus t est of any ch ange • To measure biodiversity status • To underline the climatic and environmental factors that influence these patterns • To model the effects of climate and land use changes on these parameters • To measure the effectiveness of management decisions (adaptive management) Conclusions... Presence of vulnerable species and habitat - take them into account