BIBLIOS

Document type
Journal articles

Document subtype
Full paper

Title
BASS - Biodiversity Assessments at Small Scales

Participants in the publication
Fernando Ascensão (Author)
Dep. Biologia Animal
CE3C
Pedro Cardoso (Author)
Dep. Biologia Animal
CE3C
Rui Rebelo (Author)
Dep. Biologia Animal
CE3C
CE3C
Mário Boieiro (Author)
CE3C
Alice Nunes (Author)
Dep. Biologia Vegetal
Sergio Chozas (Author)
Inês do Rosário (Author)
Dep. Biologia Vegetal
CE3C
Adriana Príncipe (Author)
cE3c/FCUL
Dep. Biologia Vegetal
Cristina Máguas (Author)
Dep. Biologia Vegetal
CE3C
Cristina Branquinho (Author)
Dep. Biologia Vegetal
CE3C
Paulo Borges (Author)

Summary
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.


Where published
Research Ideas and Outcomes

Publication Identifiers
ISSN - 2367-7163

Publisher
Pensoft Publishers


Document Identifiers
DOI - https://doi.org/10.3897/rio.10.e138341
URL - https://doi.org/10.3897/rio.10.e138341

Rankings
SCOPUS (2023)