1.7.2013: Forschung international

Biodiversität im Boden messen

Mesurer la biodiversité des sols


Ciro Gardi, Simon Jeffery, Andrea Saltelli

Die Bodenorganismen spielen eine zentrale Rolle bei den biologischen Prozessen, die das Leben auf der Erde ermöglichen. Dennoch wissen wir wenig über die Biodiversität unter unseren Füssen. Wissenschaftler haben nun eine Methode entwickelt, die es erlaubt, den Zustand der Bodenbiodiversität zu ermitteln. Erste Analysen zeigen, dass die biologische Vielfalt in den Böden der Europäischen Union auf 56% der Fläche in einem schlechten Zustand ist. Die intensive Landnutzung, die Abnahme des organischen Materials im Boden und die Fragmentierung der Habitate tragen dafür die Hauptverantwortung.

Les organismes du sol jouent un rôle central dans les processus biologiques rendant possible la vie sur terre. Néanmoins, nous savons peu de choses sur la biodiversité sous nos pieds. Des scientifiques ont maintenant développé une méthode permettant de déterminer l’état de la biodiversité du sol. Les premières analyses montrent que la diversité biologique des sols de l’Union européenne est en mauvais état sur 56% de sa surface. Une utilisation intensive du territoire, la réduction de la matière organique présente dans les sols et la fragmentation des habitats sont les principales responsables pour cette situation insatisfaisante.


There is a lack of baseline data regarding soil biodiversity, which means that it is almost impossible to determine what impact pressures such as climate change, agricultural intensification or soil erosion are having on soil species. However, the little evidence that does exist, for example from studies of mushroom species, suggests that the current rapid rate of extinction of species living above the ground is mirrored below ground.
Some EU Member States, including Ireland, UK, Germany, the Netherlands, France, Italy and Portugal have begun some monitoring of soil biodiversity, but these are small steps and there is a need for more comprehensive data worldwide. The authors of this paper developed a model, which they tested using data from Europe, to determine where soil biodiversity is under most pressure, and which human-induced factors contribute the most.
The authors supplied 20 experts from the Soil Biodiversity Working Group of the European Commission with a list of 12 potential threats to soil biodiversity. For each threat, the experts were given data that gave an indication of the extent of its impact on soil. They were then asked to rank the threats in order of likely severity of impact on soil biodiversity. The authors used a mathematical model to quantify the relative severity of each threat, based on the experts’ analysis. The top three most severe threats emerged as intensive exploitation of land, decline in the organic material found in soil, and habitat disruption. Further analysis using mapping software demonstrated that soil biodiversity is under threat in 56% of EU territory. Of the area studied, 15% was classed as under high, very high or extremely high threat.
The authors point out certain limitations of their model, for example, the omission of climate change as a pressure, since the impacts of climate change on soil biodiversity are
not yet well enough understood. They further recommend that the model be applied more widely in order to refine it as a tool for assessing threats to soil biodiversity. Overall, the authors conclude that the results of this study will help to inform policy, in terms of minimising identified threats, and highlighting the areas where resources, research and monitoring are urgently needed to protect soil biodiversity.

Quelle: Science for Environment Policy


Keywords:
Boden, Bodenbiodiversität, Landnutzung, Klimawandel

Art der Publikation:
Fachpublikation

Literatur:
Gardi C., Jeffery S., Saltelli A. (2013): An estimate of potential threats to soil biodiversity in the EU. Global Change Biology 19(5):1538 – 1548. DOI: 0.1111/gcb.12159


ciro.gardi@jrc.ec.europa.eu


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