Cecilio Oyonarte

The ecosystem functioning dimension in conservation: insights from remote sensing

An important goal of conservation biology is the maintenance of ecosystem processes. Incorporating quantitative measurements of ecosystem functions into conservation practice is important given that it provides not only proxies for biodiversity patterns, but also new tools and criteria for management. In the satellite era, the translation of spectral information into ecosystem functional variables expands and complements the more traditional use of satellite imagery in conservation biology. Remote sensing scientists have generated accurate techniques to quantify ecosystem processes and properties of key importance for conservation planning such as primary production, ecosystem carbon gains, surface temperature, albedo, evapotranspiration, and precipitation use efficiency; however, these techniques are still unfamiliar to conservation biologists. In this article, we identify specific fields where a remotely-sensed characterization of ecosystem functioning may aid conservation science and practice. Such fields include the management and monitoring of species and populations of conservation concern; the assessment of ecosystem representativeness and singularity; the use of protected areas as reference sites to assess global change effects; the implementation of monitoring and warning systems to guide adaptive management; the direct evaluation of supporting ecosystem services; and the planning and monitoring of ecological restorations. The approaches presented here illustrate feasible ways to incorporate the ecosystem functioning dimension into conservation through the use of satellite-derived information.

Temporal and spatial patterns of ecosystem functioning in protected arid areas in southeastern Spain

Abstract We characterized the spatial variability and temporal dynamics of the photosynthetic active radiation absorbed (APAR) by the canopy, a descriptor of ecosystem functioning, in Cabo de Gata - Níjar Natural Park (CGNNP) (Spain). Ecosystem functioning was characterized for five landscape classes using the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) derived from NOAA/AVHRR LAC (1 km × 1 km) images. We also used a 19-year time series of NDVI PAL data (8 km × 8 km) to analyse the relationship APAR-precipitation inside and outside the park. The vegetation of CGNNP absorbed less than 20% of the incoming radiation. Plains intercepted 37% and hills 14% less photosynthetic active radiation than mountains, the most productive landscape of the park. CGNNP showed a well-defined growing season with a unique peak of APAR. Plains and piedmont, covered by annual vegetation displayed an earlier development of the leaf area index than the shrublands and grasslands typical of the other landscapes. APAR had a significant relationship with the sum of the precipitation of the current and two previous growing seasons, except for the plains. We found that the APAR of the areas more modified by humans (outside the park) showed a lower sensitivity to changes in precipitation than those under protection. The differences were higher if the accumulated precipitation of the previous three growing seasons was considered. The description of such differences in the response of absorbed PAR to water availability are proposed as the base of a monitoring system for semi-arid and arid areas. Abbreviations: ANPP = Above-ground net primary production; APAR = Photosynthetic active radiation absorbed by green vegetation; CGNNP = Cabo de Gata - Níjar Natural Park; fAPAR = Fraction of incoming photosynthetic active radiation absorbed by green vegetation; NPP = Net primary production; PPT = Precipitation; PUE = Precipitation use efficiency.

Winds induce CO2 exchange with the atmosphere and vadose zone transport in a karstic ecosystem

Andalusian regional government project GEOCARBO [P08-RNM-3721]; European Union ERDF funds; Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation project SOILPROF [CGL2011-15276-E]; Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation project CARBORAD [CGL2011-27493]; Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation project GEISpain [CGL2014-52838-C2-1-R]; Marie Curie International Outgoing Fellowship within the 7th European Community Framework Programme, DIESEL project [625988]

The Carbon Cycle in Drylands

Drylands are characterized by an aridity index (ratio of annual rainfall to potential evapotranspiration) lower than 0.65, and occupy nearly a third of the total land surface. Globally, the organic and inorganic carbon (C) storage in such water-limited systems is about 20–30% of the terrestrial global total. The total soil organic C (SOC) stored in drylands is approximately 230 Pg. The C content in dryland biomass is about four times lower than that stored as SOC (65 Pg). The soil inorganic C (SIC) pools are estimated to be more than twice the SOC pools for drylands and may exceed SOC by a factor of 10 in some arid lands. These statistics can be modified significantly taking into account anthropogenic practices. Ideally, NT management may potentially increase the SOC by 20%, while non-grazing in grassland could increase SOC storage by about 45%. These ecosystems are highly vulnerable to climatic changes and susceptible to desertification, leading to reduction in the C pool. In addition, due to arid conditions and the large percentage of bare soil, some other processes besides photosynthesis and respiration contribute to C sequestration or gaseous emissions to the atmosphere. These include geochemical processes, formation of secondary carbonates, bio-sequestration, subsoil ventilation, erosion and photodegradation and can even dominate the ecosystem C exchange during the dry season. Such contributions limit the use of biological models to provide estimates of C pool in drylands. And the differences in the measured net C exchange with the atmosphere, ranging from −106 to 145 g C m−2 for deserts and from −190 to 140 g C m−2 for grasslands are not easily explained. A better understanding of C cycle in drylands is highly relevant to the Kyoto Protocol in order to prevent degradation and the C emissions to the atmosphere. This survey reviews measured C pools and annual C sink capacities in drylands, together with an analysis of principal processes involved and, finally, summarizes suggestions for management practices with the capability to reduce C losses from drylands.

From microhabitat to ecosystem: identifying the biophysical factors controlling soil CO2 dynamics in a karst shrubland: Biophysical factors controlling soil CO2 dynamics

C . J . R . L o p e z a , E . P . S á n c h e zC a ñ e t e b,c , P . S e r r a n oO r t i z b,d, A . L ó p e zB a l l e s t e r o s a,d, F . D o m i n g o a, A . S . K o w a l s k i b,c & C . O y o n a r t e e aDepartment of Desertification and Geo-Ecology, Experimental Station of Arid Zones (EEZA-CSIC), Ctra. Sacramento s/n, 04120 La Cañada, Almería, Spain, bInter-University Institute for Earth System Research (IISTA-CEAMA), Av. del Mediterráneo s/n, 18006, Granada, Spain, cDepartment of Applied Physics, University of Granada (UGR), Av. de Fuente Nueva s/n, 18071, Granada, Spain, dDepartment of Ecology, University of Granada (UGR), Av. de Fuente Nueva s/n, 18071, Granada, Spain, and eDepartment of Agronomy, University of Almería (UAL), Ctra. Sacramento s/n, 04120 La Cañada, Almería, Spain

Mapa digital del perfil del carbono orgánico en los suelos de Andalucía, España

Fallas Henriquez, A., Molina-Murillo, S. 2017. Methodological proposal to quantify and to compensate the agroecosystem services generated by the good agricultural practices of small-farmers. Ecosistemas 26(3): 89-102. Doi.: 10.7818/ECOS.2017.26-3.11 A diversified and less intensive management of agricultural systems produces agroecosystem services that are often not estimated nor compensated in developing countries. The main objective of this study was to create a tool that allows quantification of agroecosystemic services (SAgro) generated in agroforestry peasant farms, and additionally estimate compensation values. Following an initial test in 2013 on 10 farms, an important bibliographical review was carried out, the consultation of experts, and the evaluation in 2015 of 50 farms at the national level, most of them members of the National Agroforestry Union (UNAFOR) of Costa Rica. As a result, a tool was developed to measure in an agile, flexible and economical way the ecosystem services generated by good agricultural practices produced by small producers (peasants) both for their agricultural system as well as the forest system. We also found that the size of farms is not necessarily the determining factor for the production of agroecosystem services, but rather the type of management practices and investments made. In this process, it was estimated that with an average compensation of US

Ecological Land Zonation Using Integrated Geopedologic and Vegetation Information: Case Study of the Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park, Almería, Spain

271.6 per agricultural hectare per year, the production or maintenance of agroecosystem services could be encouraged through good agricultural practices.

Península Ibérica. Implicaciones para el cambio global y la conservación de la biodiversidad

The aim of the present study is to determine zonation units geared towards balancing conservation and development in the Cabo de Gata-Nijar Natural Park, an arid environment located in south-eastern Spain. Ecosystems were identified selecting the attributes that exert the strongest influence on ecosystem dynamics at three different spatial scales. A multi-categorial geoform-soil classification system was used as base for the definition of the ecosystems hierarchy, including ecosection (1:100,000), ecoserie (1:50,000), and ecotope (1:25,000). Vegetation was used for the identification of ecosystems at ecotope level. The hierarchic structure of the geoform-soil database allowed maintaining the thematic and spatial coherence in which lower levels of the hierarchy inherit the attributes of higher levels. Geoform-soil and vegetation attributes provided the data needed to assess the conservation value and the vulnerability of the ecosystems to land use, crucial for the definition of zonation units.

Impact of land degradation on soil respiration in a steppe (Stipa tenacissima L.) semi-arid ecosystem in the SE of Spain

El cambio global, a traves de las modificaciones en el clima y en el uso del suelo, afectara de forma importante a la biodiversidad. El ecosistema se revela como una escala adecuada para el estudio de estas transformaciones. En este articulo presentamos los trabajos que actualmente estamos llevando a cabo para documentar los patrones espaciales y temporales en el funcionamiento de los ecosistemas de la Peninsula Iberica mediante el empleo del Indice Verde Normalizado (NDVI) obtenido a partir de imagenes del satelite NOAA/AVHRR. Utilizamos tres atributos de las curvas estacionales de este Indice: la integral anual (NDVI-I), el rango relativo (RREL) y la epoca en que se alcanza el maximo (MMAX). Encontramos que el NDVI-I decrecio gradualmente del NW al SE. Se identificaron dos grandes zonas: una con maximos de verano, baja estacionalidad y alta productividad correspondiente a la Region Eurosiberiana y las principales cadenas montanosas mediterraneas; y el resto del territorio con mayor estacionalidad y productividad y maximos en las otras estaciones del ano. Ningun ecosistema fue poco productivo y estable (es decir, muy bajo NDVI-I y muy bajo RREL), y solo se presentaron situaciones de alta productividad y alta estacionalidad (alto NDVI-I y alto RREL) en Pirineos y Picos de Europa.