Dynamic Modeling for Environmental Processes: A Case Study of Lake Engure

Abstract This focus of the study was on system dynamic models that could be useful for modelling environmental processes in Lake Engure. The paper considers the system dynamic model development principles, the most important elements and structure. The aim of the study was to describe possible methods of ecosystem process modelling that allow to represent the actual state of ecosystems and provide opportunities to predict further processes. The methods of ecosystem modelling considered in the paper reveal interactive factors of anthropogenic and environmental processes that influence changes in ecosystems. System dynamic models indicate not only interactions between various factors in the e…

Barriers and Bridges for Landscape Stewardship and Knowledge Production to Sustain Functional Green Infrastructures

Sustainable landscapes and regions require both stewardship and management to sustain the composition, structure and function of ecosystems as a base for delivering human benefits. This complex is captured by the topic of ecosystem services. To deliver these, the concept green (or blue) infrastructure emerged as a tool for spatial planning of networks of natural and semi-natural areas. Such planning requires evidence-based knowledge about both ecological and social systems. For ecosystems, states and trends need be monitored, and improved knowledge must be developed about ecological tipping points for assessment of sustainability, as well as measures for conservation, management and restora…

Klimats un ilgtspējīga attīstība

Population asynchrony alone does not explain stability in species‐rich soil animal assemblages: The stabilizing role of forest age on oribatid mite communities

The importance of microbial and plant communities in the control of the diversity and structure of soil animal communities has been clarified over the last decade. Previous research focused on abiotic factors, niche separation and spatial patterns. Significant gaps still exist in our knowledge of the factors that control the stability of these communities over time. We analysed a 9-year dataset from the national Long-term Ecological Research Network of Latvia. We focused on 117 oribatid species from three Scots pine forests of different age (40, 65 and150 years) and structure. For each forest type, 100 samples were collected each year, providing very high replication and long time series fo…

Long-Term Observations of Soil Mesofauna

General problems connected with planning, sampling, and data processing of long-term research of soil mesofauna are discussed, based on two case studies: (i) the Bremen study of predatory mites (Gamasina) covering 20 years of secondary succession on a ruderal site in northern Germany and (ii) the Mazsalaca study of the effects of climate warming on Collembola of coniferous stands in the North Vidzeme Biosphere Reserve, Latvia, covering 11 years. The findings from both sites are embedded in an array of environmental data. The results from Bremen document the asynchrony of different biota in successional dynamics. The long-lasting increase of the species numbers of soil predatory mites (Gamas…

The armoured mite fauna (Acari: Oribatida) from a long-term study in the Scots pine forest of the Northern Vidzeme Biosphere Reserve, Latvia

In 1992-2012, a considerable amount of soil micro-arthropods has been collected annually as a part of a project of the National Long-Term Ecological Research Network of Latvia at the Mazsalaca Scots Pine forest sites of the North Vidzeme Biosphere Reserve. Until now, the data on oribatid species have not been published. This paper presents a list of oribatid species collected during 21 years of ongoing research in three pine stands of different age. The faunistic records refer to 84 species (including 17 species new to the fauna of Latvia), 1 subspecies, 1 form, 5 morphospecies and 18 unidentified taxa. The most dominant and most frequent oribatid species are Oppiella (Oppiella) nova, Tecto…

Global warming affect Collembola community: A long-term study

Summary Long-term (1992–2002) effects of climate changes on soil Collembola in Scots pine Pinus sylvestris forests in North Vidzeme Biosphere Reserve (northern Latvia) are investigated. The study was carried out in three forest stands of different age, young (30–40 years), middle aged (50–70 years), and old (150–200 years). One hundred soil samples were collected within each sampling site once a year in autumn over a period of 11 years. In total, 66 species of Collembola were found. Species richness varied between 47 and 56 and density of Collembola from 7300 to 8300 ind m−2. A statistically significant increase in the sums of positive air temperatures (⩾4 °C) was recorded during the period…

LTSER platforms as a place-based transdisciplinary research infrastructure: learning landscape approach through evaluation

Context: Place-based transdisciplinary research involves multiple academic disciplines and non-academic actors. Long-Term Socio-Ecological Research (LTSER) platform is one concept with ~ 80 initiatives globally. Objectives: As an exercise in learning through evaluation we audited (1) the siting, construction and maintenance of individual LTSER platforms, and (2) them as a distributed infrastructure for place-based transdisciplinary research with focus on the European continent. Methods: First, we defined a normative model for ideal performance at both platform and network levels. Second, four surveys were sent out to the 67 self-reported LTSER platforms officially listed at the end of 2016.…

Long-Term Ecological Research in Latvia

The article describes the National Long-term Ecological Research (LTER) Network of Latvia, which includes five study sites and eight research projects. It is supported by the Latvian Council of Sciences. The main directions of the research are impacts of climate warming and anthropogenic factors on terrestrial and freshwater communities and ecosystems. Characteristics of research sites are presented. The main results of the long-term investigations and their implementation in ecological management projects are described.

Initial indicator analysis of bioethylen production pathways

Abstract Circular economy and bioeconomy factors has driven the economy sectors towards sustainable choices. Chemical industry, as stated by the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission, has a potential to reduce 36 % of the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050 [1] mainly linked with introduction of emerging energy technologies. Ethylene, chlorine, ammonia and hydrogen are important chemicals for such reduction as they are the most worldwide produced chemicals (16 % of the total production in 2050 for ethylene, 11 % for chlorine and 6 % for ammonia). Meanwhile planned GHG reduction potential for these chemicals, through introduction of compression and separation technologies, is e…

Long-term dynamics of Collembola in a pine forest ecosystemProceedings of the Xth international Colloquium on Apterygota, České Budějovice 2000: Apterygota at the Beginning of the Third Millennium

Summary Biomonitoring data on soil Collembola collected over a six year period (1992-1997) in Scots pine ( Pinus sylvestris L.) forest in the Northern Vidzeme Biosphere Reserve, northern Latvia, are analysed. Monitoring was conducted in three plots: young (30-40 years), middle-aged (50—70 years), and old (150—200 years) pine stands. Sampling was performed once a year, in late August or early September, according to a systematic sampling scheme. One hundred soil cores (5 cm 2 × 10 cm) were taken within each plot every year, Collembola were extracted from the cores by using a modified high gradient extractor. During the monitoring period, there was a tendency of climate warming between 1992 a…

What is socio-ecological research delivering? A literature survey across 25 international LTSER platforms

[Departement_IRSTEA]Eaux [TR1_IRSTEA]QUASARE [ADD1_IRSTEA]Systèmes aquatiques soumis à des pressions multiples; International audience; With an overarching goal of addressing global and regional sustainability challenges, Long Term Socio-Ecological Research Platforms (LTSER) aim to conduct place-based research, to collect and synthesize both environmental and socio-economic data, and to involve a broader stakeholder pool to set the research agenda. To date there have been few studies examining the output from LTSER platforms. In this study we enquire if the socio-ecological research from 25 self-selected LTSER platforms of the International Long-Term Ecological Research (ILTER) network has …

Analysis of spatial patterns informs community assembly and sampling requirements for Collembola in forest soils

Abstract The relative importance of niche separation, non-equilibrial and neutral models of community assembly has been a theme in community ecology for many decades with none appearing to be applicable under all circumstances. In this study, Collembola species abundances were recorded over eleven consecutive years in a spatially explicit grid and used to examine (i) whether observed beta diversity differed from that expected under conditions of neutrality, (ii) whether sampling points differed in their relative contributions to overall beta diversity, and (iii) the number of samples required to provide comparable estimates of species richness across three forest sites. Neutrality could not…

Long-Term Effects of Climate Warming on Forest Soil Collembola

Long-term changes in the collembolan community structure were studied in a Scots pine forest in northern Latvia over a period of 11 successive years (1992–2002). Soil Collembola were yearly sampled from three pine forest stands of different age – young (30 to 40 years old), middle-aged (50 to 70 years old) and old (150 to 200 years old). During the study period a statistically significant increase in sums of positive temperatures (>+4°C) was recorded and a gradual decrease in species richness of Collembola was observed in all forest stands. The study showed that sums of positive air temperatures produce statistically significant effects on collembolan populations. Community responses were s…

Using long-term ecosystem service and biodiversity data to study the impacts and adaptation options in response to climate change: insights from the global ILTER sites network

The International Long Term Ecological Research (ILTER) network can coordinate ecological research to provide observations of the ecosystem changes, and their socio-economic impacts on human societies at different scales. In this paper we demonstrate the importance of the ILTER network in the study and monitoring of environmental changes at a global level. We give examples of how biodiversity and ecosystem service data can be used to study impacts and adaptation options in response to climate change. Analysis of the 107 recent publications from LTER networks representing 21 countries show that LTER studies are often local and heterogeneous. There are some ecosystem types, such as agricultur…