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Riparian Ecological Infrastructures: Potential for Biodiversity-Related Ecosystem Services in Mediterranean Human-Dominated Landscapes
Publication . Fonseca, André; Zina, Vera; Duarte, Gonçalo; Aguiar, Francisca C.; Rodríguez-González, Patrícia Maria; Ferreira, Teresa; Fernandes, Maria Rosário
Riparian Ecological Infrastructures are networks of natural and semi-natural riparian
areas located in human-dominated landscapes, crucial in supporting processes that directly or
indirectly benefit humans or enhance social welfare. In this study, we developed a novel multimetric
index, termed Habitat Ecological Infrastructure’s Diversity Index (HEIDI), to quantify the potential of
Riparian Ecological Infrastructures in supporting biodiversity, and related ecosystem services, in three
managed landscapes: Intensive Agriculture, Extensive Agriculture, and Forest Production. Metrics
describing the structure, composition, and management of riparian vegetation and associated habitats
were used to derive the potential of Riparian Ecological Infrastructures in supporting three distinct
biological dispersal groups: short-range dispersers (ants), medium-range dispersers (pollinators),
and long-range dispersers (birds, bats, and non-flying small mammals). The composition of floristic
resources, assessed by identifying trees and shrubs at the species and genus level, and herbaceous
plants at the family level, was used as a proxy to evaluate the potential of Riparian Ecological
Infrastructures in promoting seed dispersal and pollination ecosystem services provided by the three
biological communities. Our research evidenced that Riparian Ecological Infrastructures located
in the Forest Production and Intensive Agriculture landscapes exhibited the highest and lowest
potential for biodiversity-related ecosystem services, respectively. The Forest Production landscape
revealed higher suitability of forage resources for short- and medium-range dispersers and a higher
landscape coverage by Riparian Ecological Infrastructures, resulting in more potential to create
ecological corridors and to provide ecosystem services. The Riparian Ecological Infrastructures
located in the Extensive Agriculture landscape seemed to be particularly relevant for supporting
long-ranges dispersers, despite providing less habitat for the biological communities. Land-use
systems in the proximity of Riparian Ecological Infrastructures should be sustainably managed
to promote riparian vegetation composition and structural quality, as well as the riparian width,
safeguarding biodiversity, and the sustainable provision of biodiversity-related ecosystem services
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Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
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3599-PPCDT
Número da atribuição
150961