BASS - Biodiversity Assessments at Small Scales

Much of the work developed on biodiversity dynamics due to climate change focuses on large scales. Yet, we know that small scale is critical to fully understand biodiversity change, particularly for plants and small or less mobile organisms which might seek refuge in sites that keep specific microcl...

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Main Authors: Fernando Ascensão, Pedro Cardoso, Rui Rebelo, Mário Boieiro, Alice Nunes, Sergio Chozas, Inês do Rosário, Adriana Príncipe, Cristina Máguas, Cristina Branquinho, Paulo Borges
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Pensoft Publishers 2024-12-01
Series:Research Ideas and Outcomes
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Online Access:https://riojournal.com/article/138341/download/pdf/
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author Fernando Ascensão
Pedro Cardoso
Rui Rebelo
Mário Boieiro
Alice Nunes
Sergio Chozas
Inês do Rosário
Adriana Príncipe
Cristina Máguas
Cristina Branquinho
Paulo Borges
author_facet Fernando Ascensão
Pedro Cardoso
Rui Rebelo
Mário Boieiro
Alice Nunes
Sergio Chozas
Inês do Rosário
Adriana Príncipe
Cristina Máguas
Cristina Branquinho
Paulo Borges
author_sort Fernando Ascensão
collection DOAJ
description Much of the work developed on biodiversity dynamics due to climate change focuses on large scales. Yet, we know that small scale is critical to fully understand biodiversity change, particularly for plants and small or less mobile organisms which might seek refuge in sites that keep specific microclimatic and biotic conditions dampening the effects of large-scale changes. The project BASS - Biodiversity Assessment at Small Scales - aims to explore the intricate relationships between small-scale environmental variations in space and time and biodiversity patterns. Central to our study is researching how microclimatic conditions, such as potential solar radiation, influence species occurrence, abundance, community composition and biotic interactions within a Mediterranean context. Our objectives include gaining a deeper understanding of the effects of localised environmental conditions and their change in time on biodiversity, providing critical data for an under-researched Mediterranean Biodiversity Hotspot region, and examining the dynamics of small-sized species, particularly plants and invertebrates. We have established a network of 16 fixed sampling points across the Lisbon University field station - Herdade da Ribeira Abaixo (HRA), Grândola (South Portugal): eight with high and eight with low potential solar radiation. Each of these plots will serve as a 'mesocosm' for detailed ecological studies in the next decades. This framework will support a variety of research projects each focusing on different taxa and questions, including Masters' theses, PhD dissertations and independent studies, thereby fostering a collaborative research environment. By integrating previously collected data during the last three decades with new findings, we aim to offer valuable insights into the processes underlying ecosystem functioning and change at small spatial scales. This project not only addresses fundamental ecological questions, but also contributes to sustainable landscape management and biodiversity conservation efforts.
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spelling doaj-art-54dca76cfce84fc580c1ff5e3f4308da2025-08-20T02:36:09ZengPensoft PublishersResearch Ideas and Outcomes2367-71632024-12-01101910.3897/rio.10.e138341138341BASS - Biodiversity Assessments at Small ScalesFernando Ascensão0Pedro Cardoso1Rui Rebelo2Mário Boieiro3Alice Nunes4Sergio Chozas5Inês do Rosário6Adriana Príncipe7Cristina Máguas8Cristina Branquinho9Paulo Borges10CE3C - Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes & CHANGE - Global Change and Sustainability InstituteCE3C - Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes & CHANGE - Global Change and Sustainability InstituteCE3C - Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes & CHANGE - Global Change and Sustainability InstituteIUCN SSC Atlantic Islands Invertebrate Specialist Group, 9700-042CE3C - Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes & CHANGE - Global Change and Sustainability InstituteCE3C - Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes & CHANGE - Global Change and Sustainability InstituteCE3C - Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes & CHANGE - Global Change and Sustainability InstituteCE3C - Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes & CHANGE - Global Change and Sustainability InstituteCE3C - Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes & CHANGE - Global Change and Sustainability InstituteCE3C - Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes & CHANGE - Global Change and Sustainability InstituteIUCN SSC Species Monitoring Specialist Group, 9700-042Much of the work developed on biodiversity dynamics due to climate change focuses on large scales. Yet, we know that small scale is critical to fully understand biodiversity change, particularly for plants and small or less mobile organisms which might seek refuge in sites that keep specific microclimatic and biotic conditions dampening the effects of large-scale changes. The project BASS - Biodiversity Assessment at Small Scales - aims to explore the intricate relationships between small-scale environmental variations in space and time and biodiversity patterns. Central to our study is researching how microclimatic conditions, such as potential solar radiation, influence species occurrence, abundance, community composition and biotic interactions within a Mediterranean context. Our objectives include gaining a deeper understanding of the effects of localised environmental conditions and their change in time on biodiversity, providing critical data for an under-researched Mediterranean Biodiversity Hotspot region, and examining the dynamics of small-sized species, particularly plants and invertebrates. We have established a network of 16 fixed sampling points across the Lisbon University field station - Herdade da Ribeira Abaixo (HRA), Grândola (South Portugal): eight with high and eight with low potential solar radiation. Each of these plots will serve as a 'mesocosm' for detailed ecological studies in the next decades. This framework will support a variety of research projects each focusing on different taxa and questions, including Masters' theses, PhD dissertations and independent studies, thereby fostering a collaborative research environment. By integrating previously collected data during the last three decades with new findings, we aim to offer valuable insights into the processes underlying ecosystem functioning and change at small spatial scales. This project not only addresses fundamental ecological questions, but also contributes to sustainable landscape management and biodiversity conservation efforts.https://riojournal.com/article/138341/download/pdf/microclimatebiodiversity changelong-term resea
spellingShingle Fernando Ascensão
Pedro Cardoso
Rui Rebelo
Mário Boieiro
Alice Nunes
Sergio Chozas
Inês do Rosário
Adriana Príncipe
Cristina Máguas
Cristina Branquinho
Paulo Borges
BASS - Biodiversity Assessments at Small Scales
Research Ideas and Outcomes
microclimate
biodiversity change
long-term resea
title BASS - Biodiversity Assessments at Small Scales
title_full BASS - Biodiversity Assessments at Small Scales
title_fullStr BASS - Biodiversity Assessments at Small Scales
title_full_unstemmed BASS - Biodiversity Assessments at Small Scales
title_short BASS - Biodiversity Assessments at Small Scales
title_sort bass biodiversity assessments at small scales
topic microclimate
biodiversity change
long-term resea
url https://riojournal.com/article/138341/download/pdf/
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