Haubrock Phillip J, Soto Ismael, Tarkan Ali Serhan, Macêdo Rafael L, Kouba Antonín, Cuthbert Ross N, Briski Elizabeta, Everts Teun, Kurtul Irmak
Faculty of Fisheries and Protection of Waters, South Bohemian Research Center of Aquaculture and Biodiversity of Hydrocenoses, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, 389 25, Vodňany, Czech Republic; Department of River Ecology and Conservation, Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum Frankfurt, 63571, Gelnhausen, Germany; CAMB, Center for Applied Mathematics and Bioinformatics, Gulf University for Science and Technology, 73F2+GV4, Kuwait.
Faculty of Fisheries and Protection of Waters, South Bohemian Research Center of Aquaculture and Biodiversity of Hydrocenoses, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, 389 25, Vodňany, Czech Republic.
J Environ Manage. 2024 Nov;370:122431. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.122431. Epub 2024 Sep 7.
In the current anthropogenic era characterised by human-induced environmental changes, long-term biomonitoring has become a crucial component for understanding ecological patterns and detecting shifts in biodiversity. However, spatiotemporal inconsistencies in biomonitoring efforts hinder transboundary progress in understanding and mitigating global environmental change effectively. The International Long-Term Ecosystem Research (ILTER) network is one of the largest standardised biomonitoring initiatives worldwide, encompassing 44 countries globally, including 26 European countries that are part of the European Long-Term Ecosystem Research network (eLTER). To better understand the establishment and development of such long-term biomonitoring efforts, we analysed spatial and temporal trends within the eLTER network. Additionally, we evaluated the environmental, social, and economic factors influencing engagement in biomonitoring activities within this European network. Our findings reveal a spatial imbalance, with biomonitoring efforts concentrated in Central and Western European countries, where monitoring initiatives have typically been established for a longer duration. Furthermore, our analyses underscore the complex interplay of economic, geographic, and cultural factors in the development of long-term ecological research infrastructures. Countries with greater geographic connectivity, slower economic growth, and higher research activity are more likely to be involved in the eLTER network. The intensity of biomonitoring significantly increased with greater research investments, economic growth, and elevated levels of tourism. In contrast, it decreased in countries that are more inward-facing and exhibit a belief in their ability to control environmental outcomes independently. Addressing spatial gaps in monitoring necessitates enhanced support and funding to ensure comprehensive ecological monitoring over extended time periods. This is essential for achieving transboundary sustainability and effective biodiversity conservation in the face of global change drivers.
在当前由人类引起的环境变化所表征的人为时代，长期生物监测已成为理解生态模式和检测生物多样性变化的关键组成部分。然而，生物监测工作中的时空不一致阻碍了在有效理解和缓解全球环境变化方面的跨界进展。国际长期生态系统研究（ILTER）网络是全球最大的标准化生物监测倡议之一，涵盖全球44个国家，其中包括26个作为欧洲长期生态系统研究网络（eLTER）一部分的欧洲国家。为了更好地理解此类长期生物监测工作的建立和发展，我们分析了eLTER网络内的空间和时间趋势。此外，我们评估了影响该欧洲网络内生物监测活动参与度的环境、社会和经济因素。我们的研究结果揭示了一种空间不平衡，生物监测工作集中在中欧和西欧国家，这些国家的监测倡议通常建立的时间更长。此外，我们的分析强调了经济、地理和文化因素在长期生态研究基础设施发展中的复杂相互作用。地理连通性更高、经济增长较慢且研究活动水平较高的国家更有可能参与eLTER网络。生物监测的强度随着更多的研究投资、经济增长和更高的旅游水平而显著增加。相比之下，在那些更加内向且相信自己有能力独立控制环境结果的国家，生物监测强度则有所下降。解决监测中的空间差距需要加强支持和资金投入，以确保在更长时间内进行全面的生态监测。这对于在面对全球变化驱动因素时实现跨界可持续性和有效的生物多样性保护至关重要。
