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The positive link between geo- and biodiversity reflected in bioturbation patterns along a climate gradient
In present times, climate change, pollution or the overexploitation of the natural environment cause a global decline in biodiversity. To maintain biodiversity, ecosystem management is crucial. Therefore, first, a general understanding of the prevailing biodiversity is needed to develop appropriate...
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| Formato: | Dissertation |
| Idioma: | inglés |
| Publicado: |
Philipps-Universität Marburg
2023
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| Acceso en liña: | Texto completo PDF |
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| Zusammenfassung: | In present times, climate change, pollution or the overexploitation of the natural environment cause a global decline in biodiversity. To maintain biodiversity, ecosystem management is crucial. Therefore, first, a general understanding of the prevailing biodiversity is needed to develop appropriate conservation strategies to prevent biodiversity losses. Recent research has suggested the idea to use easily available geodiversity data as a surrogate for biodiversity data. Thereby, geodiversity can determine the availability and diversity of ecological conditions and resources facilitating the coexistence of species. An example of such a positive link between geo- and biodiversity is reflected in bioturbation patterns along a climate gradient.
Bioturbation offers an important ecosystem engineering mechanism because burrowing animals biologically rework soils and sediments shaping the environment for themselves and other species. Through this, bioturbators affect crucial ecosystem processes such as sediment transport, soil formation, nutrient availability, and soil water cycles. As a result, bioturbation promotes geodiversity by improving habitat and soil conditions for the bioturbators as well as for other species.
In this thesis, I performed a meta-analysis with 90 studies from 51 publications investigating the relationship and determinants of the link between geo- and biodiversity. To complement my research on the positive link between geo- and biodiversity, I additionally investigated the drivers of bioturbation patterns along a climate gradient in Chile. Therefore, I installed 80 plots distributed in four research sites (in arid, semi-arid, Mediterranean, and humid climates). In addition, I analyzed the effects of bioturbators on the ecosystem processes soil formation and nutrient availability incorporating data from the arid, semi-arid and Mediterranean research sites.
My thesis shows that (i) geodiversity is positively associated with biodiversity. However, this relationship is influenced by many complex features such as spatial scale, climate zone, or taxa which should be considered to adequately predict biodiversity with geodiversity. In terms of bioturbation patterns, (ii) climate, vegetation and the abundance of vertebrates are the significant drivers. Here, (iii) the magnitude of bioturbation varies along the climate gradient with the strongest effect in arid regions, where it produces a macronutrient enrichment and improves soil fertility.
This thesis expands our understanding of geodiversity and biodiversity positive links while raising awareness of the intricate relationships among them. Further, I provide bioturbation patterns and effects in different environments by covering a broad climatic gradient. Thereby, this study highlights especially the role of bioturbation as an important mechanism enhancing chemical soil properties via macronutrient input. Thus, this thesis supports the role of bioturbation as a potential driver of local geodiversity. |
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| DOI: | 10.17192/z2023.0494 |