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A social-ecological perspective on urban biodiversity and its effects on ecosystem services
Publication . Grilo, Ana Filipa; Branquinho, Cristina; Reis, Margarida Santos; McPhearson, Timon
By 2050, more than two-thirds of the global population will live in cities. These areas are continuously subject to environmental impacts, such as climate change, threatening human health and well-being. A crucial strategy to mitigate these impacts is through the implementation of urban green infrastructure. However, the distribution, composition, and benefits of green spaces and green elements are shaped by social and ecological factors that can act as biodiversity filters. To enhance urban livability, assessing these local drivers and modeling ecosystem services at high spatial resolutions is essential for maximizing benefits. The general aim of this thesis was to categorize and model the social and ecological mediators of various biodiversity facets within green infrastructure and provide insights into local factors influencing climate regulation. This is particularly relevant for urban areas in the Mediterranean basin, which are highly vulnerable to climate change. Specifically, this thesis 1) Proposed a conceptual “Socio-Ecological Traits Framework” that explores linkages between species traits, social-ecological filters, and ecosystem services; 2) Analyzed the distribution of neighborhood trees’ abundance and diversity (both taxonomic and functional), and functional groups at multiple scales in Lisbon, Portugal; 3) Modelled the influence of social-ecological factors on these trees; and, 4) Modelled the influence of green infrastructure and local contexts on climate regulation at high spatial resolutions. We categorized the ecological factors into urban abiotic and biotic dimensions and social factors into socio-cultural, economic, and governance dimensions, which affect human interactions with urban nature. Our findings reveal that: i) Social factors significantly influence urban tree abundance, taxonomic and functional diversity, and functional groups’ distribution, while ecological factors affect abundance; ii) Higher values of abundance and diversity are observed in the most urbanized areas, which are dominated by a few species; iii) Urban trees can be categorized into different functional groups with potential contrasting resilience to disturbances and complementary ecosystem services delivery; iv) Tree canopy and urban morphology greatly influence microclimate regulation. These results underscore the importance of considering local factors to understand biodiversity facets and ecosystem services delivery, providing valuable insights for urban planning aimed at creating more livable and sustainable cities.
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Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
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PD/BD/140824/2018