Vortrag: Modelling and assessment of freshwater biodiversity using biological monitoring data (Dr. Jukka Aroviita, SYKE, Oulu, Finland)

Online: https://uni-kl-de.zoom-x.de/j/61511043953?pwd=0ANN0mFze3jf8PjlXiEwhW6b1MoacA.1

Abstract:

Biodiversity in freshwaters has declined globally more than in any other ecosystem. Despite the decline, systematic data-driven assessments of status of freshwater biodiversity are often lacking. In this talk, I will present our ongoing work at Syke to evaluate the status of freshwater biodiversity across Finland. We are using monitoring and survey data of biological communities from streams and lakes across Finland from past 20 years to assess status of freshwater biodiversity across Finland. Together with catchment land cover data, we are developing RIVPACS-type multitaxon distribution models to make inferences how much freshwater biodiversity has changed from the natural conditions. The model outputs (probabilities of taxa capture in natural conditions) can be used to estimate which taxa have decreased or increased regionally in response to human activities. For example for stream macroinvertebrates, we found significant, up to 50% declines in regional biodiversity with often marked decline in common taxa. This type of regional multitaxon assessments of biodiversity provide key information to more effectively implement policies aiming to halt freshwater biodiversity loss.