O controle biológico de pragas agrícolas é um dos serviços ecossistêmicos mais valorizados, dada sua importância para a produção agrícola. Embora vários estudos tenham demonstrado que a abundância e riqueza de predadores aumentam com a quantidade de floresta nativa, os mecanismos subjacentes que modulam a relação entre a cobertura florestal e provisão de controle biológico em diferentes escalas espaciais são ainda pouco conhecidos. Neste trabalho, utilizamos experimentos de exclusão de vertebrados voadores em oito paisagens cafeeiras na Mata Atlântica, num gradiente de cobertura florestal, e quantificamos as consequências para a perda foliar e para a frutificação. A perda foliar mostrou uma relação negativa com a cobertura florestal em paisagens com 2 km de raio, indicando que a herbivoria é melhor controlada em paisagens com alta cobertura florestal, especialmente na presença de aves e morcegos. No entanto, no nível local, 300 m ao redor das plantas de café, a perda foliar e a frutificação responderam diferentemente à cobertura florestal. Em unidades com baixa cobertura florestal local, a exclusão de aves e morcegos aumentou a perda foliar e diminuiu a frutificação em uma média de 13%. Por outro lado, em unidades com alta cobertura florestal local, a exclusão de aves e morcegos não teve efeitos significativos nem na perda foliar, nem na frutificação. Concluímos que os efeitos da exclusão de aves e morcegos na perda foliar e frutificação são modulados por diferentes processos que ocorrem no nível local e da paisagem. Sugerimos que quando a cobertura florestal local é alta (geralmente perto de fragmentos florestais), as aves e os morcegos não se alimentam apenas de herbívoros, mas também de mesopredadores. No entanto, quando a cobertura florestal local é baixa (e.g. longe de fragmentos florestais), os mesopredadores não ocorrem e aves e morcegos passam a prover serviço de controle biológico de pragas, alimentando-se principalmente de herbívoros. Destacamos a importância de empregar uma análise multiescalar em sistemas onde espécies com diferentes capacidades de dispersão proveem um serviço ecossistêmico. / Biological control of agricultural pests is one of the most important ecosystem services given its key role for agricultural production. Although several studies have shown that the abundance and richness of predators increase with the amount of native forest in the landscape, the underlying mechanisms relating forest cover at different spatial scales with the provision of biological control are still poorly understood. We experimentally excluded flying vertebrates (birds and bats) in eight coffee landscapes in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, encompassing a gradient of forest cover and quantified the consequences for coffee leaf loss and fruit set. Leaf loss showed a negative relation with forest cover at landscape level, in landscapes with 2 km radius, indicating that herbivory is better controlled in landscapes with high forest cover, especially in the presence of birds and bats. However, at local level, 300 m around coffee plants, leaf loss and fruit set responded to forest cover differently. In units with low local forest cover exclusion of birds and bats increased leaf loss and reduced fruit set by 13% in mean. However, in units with high local forest cover, exclusion of birds and bats had no significant effect neither on leaf loss nor in fruit set. We concluded that the effects of birds and bats exclusion on leaf loss and fruit set are modulated by different processes occurring at landscape and local levels. We hypothesized that when local forest cover is high (usually near remnant forest fragments) birds and bats are not only controlling herbivores but may also be reducing mesopredators, while when local forest cover is low (e.g. far from forest fragments), mesopredators do not occur and birds and bats start providing biological pest control by feeding mainly on herbivores. We highlight the importance of employing a multiscale analysis in systems where species with different dispersal abilities are providing an ecosystem service.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-28T14:57:32Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Vera Lucia da Silva Santos.pdf: 1652786 bytes, checksum: f376195c3f2ec51d7704f2b7c52ab468 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010-03-08 / Coordena??o de Aperfei?oamento de Pessoal de N?vel Superior / This study was conducted in State Park Dry forest in the city of Manga in the North of Minas Gerais, Brazil and aimed to evaluate the occurrence and diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and the protein related to soil glomalin and biomass of external mycelium in Dry Forest ecosystems in the North of Minas Gerais. To collect the soil samples in each area were delimited plots of 1000 m2 with three replications for each study area. The bags were made in February 2008 in areas with different stages of succession is: area of initial eight years in the process of regeneration, intermediate with 17 years without human intervention and late registration without human intervention and an area of pasture five years without human interference, making the grass (Panicum maximum) in State Park Dry forest. Sampling was at random, taking nine composite samples consist of 27 single samples were taken at a depth of 0 - 10 cm in each study area to assess the diversity of AMF, six composite samples formed from 18 single samples of each study area for extraction and quantification of glomalin and three composite samples from nine single samples of each area of external mycelium. Were recovered 19 AMF species, belonging to the genera: Acaulospora (7), Glomus (7), Scutellospora (3), Gigaspora (1) and Archaeospora (1). The number of spores ranged from 37 to 640/50 cm3 of soil. The biomass of external mycelium is not statistically different between the four areas studied, but there is a growing trend in the pasture area toward the area of late succession. For the protein related to soil glomalin, the area of pasture had a higher amount of easily extractable glomalin, while the total glomalin was statistically equal between the four areas. The area with the initial sequence showed the greatest number of species (12). Were found in all areas A. scrobiculata, G. macrocarpum and G. tortuosum. The genus Glomus showed a higher percentage of occurrence in all areas studied. The area of intermediate succession, and the late without anthropogenic interference had lower densities and number of spores compared to the other areas studied indicating systems are more stable than other areas. / Esta pesquisa foi realizada no Parque Estadual Mata Seca (PEMS) no Munic?pio de Manga (MG), e teve como objetivo avaliar a ocorr?ncia e a diversidade de fungos micorr?zicos arbusculares (FMA), bem como a prote?na do solo relacionada ? glomalina (PSRG) e a biomassa de mic?lio externo em ecossistemas de Mata Seca no Norte de Minas Gerais. Para coleta das amostras de solo, em cada ?rea foram delimitadas parcelas de 1000 m2 com tr?s repeti??es para cada ?rea estudada. As coletadas foram feitas no m?s de fevereiro de 2008, em ?reas com diferentes est?gios de sucess?o, sendo: ?rea inicial com oito anos em processo de regenera??o, intermedi?ria com 17 anos sem interven??o antr?pica e tardia sem registro de interven??o antr?pica e uma ?rea de pasto com cinco anos sem interfer?ncia humana, tomada por capim coloni?o (Panicum maximum) no PEMS. A amostragem foi inteiramente ao acaso, tomando-se nove amostras compostas formadas por 27 amostras simples que foram retiradas na profundidade de 0 10 cm em cada ?rea estudada para avalia??o da diversidade de FMA, seis amostras compostas formadas a partir de 18 amostras simples de cada ?rea estudada para extra??o e quantifica??o da glomalina e, tr?s amostras compostas a partir de nove amostras simples de cada ?rea para mic?lio externo. Foram recuperadas 19 esp?cies de FMA, pertencentes aos g?neros: Acaulospora (7), Glomus (7), Scutellospora (3), Gigaspora (1) e Archaeospora (1). O n?mero de esporos variou de 37 a 640/50 cm3 de solo. A biomassa de mic?lio externo embora n?o tenha apresentado diferen?a estat?stica entre as quatro ?reas estudadas, pode-se notar uma tend?ncia crescente da ?rea de pasto em dire??o ? ?rea de sucess?o tardia. Em rela??o ? PSRG, a ?rea de pasto apresentou maior quantidade de glomalina facilmente extra?vel, enquanto que a glomalina total foi estatisticamente igual entre as quatro ?reas. A ?rea com sucess?o inicial foi a que apresentou maior n?mero de esp?cies (12). Foram encontradas em todas as ?reas A. scrobiculata, G. macrocarpum e G. tortuosum. O g?nero Glomus apresentou maior percentual de ocorr?ncia em todas as ?reas estudadas. A ?rea de sucess?o intermedi?ria e a tardia sem interfer?ncia antr?pica, apresentaram menores densidades e quantidade de esporos de FMA, em compara??o ?s demais ?reas estudadas, indicando serem sistemas mais est?veis que as demais ?reas.

Submitted by Sandra Pereira (srpereira@ufrrj.br) on 2016-09-14T14:46:35Z No. of bitstreams: 1 2011 - Jurema Schinz Diniz.pdf: 1784426 bytes, checksum: ef765e40d98144beee9ab74d12aff5f8 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-09-14T14:46:35Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2011 - Jurema Schinz Diniz.pdf: 1784426 bytes, checksum: ef765e40d98144beee9ab74d12aff5f8 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-06-02 / Coordena??o de Aperfei?oamento de Pessoal de N?vel Superior - CAPES / This study contributes to understanding the relationship between tropical dry forests regeneration and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi activity. The specific objective of this study is to extract and quantify glomalin, glomerospores and humic substances in different sucessional stages of a dry forest. The main objective is to study the activity of AMFs in different stages of a dry forest and to colabore to the projects: ?Functional links between aboveground changes and belowground activity with land use in the Americas: Soil biodiversity and food security? e ?Human, Ecological and Biophysical Dimensions of Tropical Dry Forest?. Total Glomalin (TG) and carbon levels were higher in inicial and late stage of dry forest, indicating the carbon storage contribution to glomalin in soil. In addition, the higher number of glomerospores in this sucessional stage shows the more activity of AMF and its potential to regeneration of disturbed dry forests. The different chemical and physical properties of soil in intermediate stage possibly contributed to low glomalin and carbon levels. The higher levels of humic substances in this stage possibly contribute to the lower activity of AMF and can be explained by the higher diversity of plants in this area. It is important to study the influence of physical and chemical properties, humic substances and plant diversity in AMF activity, in different sucessional stages of dry forests. / Este trabalho contribui para o entendimento da rela??o da regenera??o de florestas tropicais secas, com a atividade dos fungos micorr?zicos arbusculares (FMAs). Tem como objetivos espec?ficos: a extra??o e a quantifica??o de glomalina, de glomerosporos e de subst?ncias h?micas em diferentes sucess?es de floresta seca. O objetivo ? avaliar a atividade dos FMAs em diferentes est?gios sucessionais de floresta seca, acrescentando e colaborando assim para o desenvolvimento dos projetos: ?Functional links between aboveground changes and belowground activity with land use in the Americas: Soil biodiversity and food security? e ?Human, Ecological and Biophysical Dimensions of Tropical Dry Forest?. Os teores de glomalina total e de carbono org?nico foram maiores na ?rea de sucess?o inicial e tardia de floresta seca, indicando maior influ?ncia do estoque de carbono na glomalina do solo. O maior n?mero de esporos e glomalina, na ?rea de sucess?o inicial, mostrou a maior atividade dos fungos micorr?zicos arbusculares em ?rea perturbada que est? se regenerando, sugerindo a contribui??o dos FMAs para essa recupera??o do ecossistema de florestas secas. As propriedades f?sicas e qu?micas diferentes do solo na ?rea de sucess?o intermedi?ria provavelmente contribu?ram para a baixa concentra??o de glomalina e carbono. Os maiores teores de ?cidos h?micos e f?lvicos no solo de sucess?o intermedi?ria podem ter contribu?do tamb?m para a baixa atividade dos FMAs e podem ser devidos ? maior diversidade de esp?cies vegetais nesta ?rea. ? importante desenvolver estudos que comparem as propriedades qu?micas e f?sicas do solo com a atividade desses microorganismos simbiontes em diferentes sucess?es vegetais; que analisem a influ?ncia das subst?ncias h?micas na atividade dos FMAs em campo; e da influ?ncia da diversidade de esp?cies vegetais na atividade dos FMAs.

As cidades industriais ainda mantêm estruturas para uma dinâmica de produção e consumo em massa, que resultam em vários problemas, como desemprego, falta de moradia, engarrafamentos, poluição, doenças, violência e entre outros. Esta configuração industrial urbana já não está mais condizente com os princípios de criação de valor do novo paradigma do século XXI. A dinâmica do novo paradigma técnico-econômico exige que as cidades resgatem sua própria essência, que é a de aproximar pessoas para interagirem e compartilhar ideias e conhecimentos de modo que seja possível iniciar um novo ciclo de criação de riqueza. Para superar essa crise e entrar nesta nova dinâmica, as cidades do futuro devem encontrar trajetórias adequadas para se tornarem cidades inteligentes. No entanto, não há consenso sobre o que realmente torna uma cidade mais inteligente. O que é uma cidade inteligente? Quais são os elementos que podem aumentar a inteligência de uma cidade? O objetivo deste estudo é propor uma estrutura integrada para entender o processo de tornar as cidades mais inteligentes Para atingir este objetivo, foi realizado uma revisão sistemática da literatura para definição do conceito e também um estudo de casos múltiplos de projetos de cidades inteligentes em quatro cidades europeias (Amsterdã, Barcelona, Lisboa, Viena) onde alguns especialistas foram entrevistados. Os resultados mostraram que as cidades para se tornarem mais inteligentes devem integrar suas dimensões e elementos, a fim de oferecer alta qualidade de vida e um ambiente próspero para inovação e criatividade da maneira mais sustentável. Se uma cidade deseja iniciar esse processo de transformação, deve desenvolver projetos específicos que utilizem e melhorem sua configuração ambiental urbana, sua dinâmica tecno-econômica e sua estrutura sócio institucional, a fim de criar riqueza através de um abrangente processo de inovação. Portanto, o desafio de tornar uma cidade mais inteligente está em definir como articular adequadamente esses elementos direcionadores de cada dimensão, a fim de construir seu próprio ecossistema urbano de inovação. / Industrial cities still maintain structures for a mass production and consumption dynamics, which result in several issues such as unemployment, homeless, traffic jams, pollution, diseases, violence and so on. This urban industrial configuration no longer fits with the value creation principles of the new techno-economic paradigm. The dynamics of the new techno-economic paradigm demand that cities redeem their very essence in order to start a new cycle of wealth creation. In order to overcome this crisis and encompass this new dynamics, cities of the future must find suitable trajectories to become smart cities. However, there is no consensus about what really makes a city smarter. What is a smart city? What are the driving elements that can enhance the smartness of a city? The objective of this study is to propose an integrated framework in order to understand the process to make cities smarter To achieve this objective, it was realized a systematic literature review and a multiple case studies from smart cities projects in four European cities (Amsterdam, Barcelona, Lisbon, Vienna) where some experts were interviewed. Results show that cities to become smarter should integrate their dimensions and elements in order to offer high quality of life and a prosperous environment for innovation and creativity in the most sustainable way. If a city wants to start this process of transformation, it should develop some specific projects that that use and improve its enviro-urban configuration, its techno-economic dynamics and its socio-institutional structure in order to create wealth through a comprehensive innovation process. Therefore, the challenge to make a city smarter lies on defining how to articulate those driving elements in each dimension properly in order to build up its own urban innovation ecosystem.

Made available in DSpace on 2017-07-10T14:38:32Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Viviane.pdf: 1096565 bytes, checksum: ec42f8d4ada3c729ecc7c6a1a12400fd (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-02-16 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / This work aimed to analyze the composition variation and structure of phytoplankton community upstream and downstream of the Iguaçu Falls, Iguaçu River, investigating the influence of these waterfalls and environmental variables on this community. Samples of phytoplankton material were carried out in two sampling stations in Iguaçu River (25° 35' S; 54° 23' W e 25° 38' S; 54° 27' W), from May 2010 to May 2011 (except November). A total of 408 taxa were identified, and Bacillariophyceae was the best represented group. There was a large difference in phytoplankton composition between the sampled stations. The total richness and density of phytoplankton groups were very low in both collection sites, and it was represented by the classes Bacillariophyceae, Chlorophyceae and Cyanobacteria. The Shannon diversity was classified as very low. The equitability, in general, was high. The Multivariate Analysis of Variance showed no significant spatial or seasonal difference for total density, total richness, equitability and Shannon diversity. However, when measured densities and richness classes (Bacillariophyceae, Chlorophyceae, Cyanobacteria) separately, significant seasonal differences were observed. The heterogeneity of the characteristics of the Iguaçu River between the sampling sites did not cause a longitudinal compartmentalization of the river regarding to the attributes of the phytoplankton community, while the seasonal variation of weather conditions influenced in a significant way the composition and structure of this community in the studied environment. / Este trabalho objetivou analisar a variação da composição e estrutura da comunidade fitoplanctônica a montante e a jusante das Cataratas do Iguaçu, rio Iguaçu, observando a influência destas quedas d água e das variáveis ambientais sobre esta comunidade. As coletas do material fitoplanctônico foram realizadas em duas estações de amostragem no rio Iguaçu (25° 35' S; 54° 23' W e 25° 38' S; 54° 27' W), entre maio de 2010 e maio de 2011 (exceto novembro). Um total de 408 táxons foram identificados, sendo Bacillariophyceae o grupo melhor representado. Observou-se uma grande diferenciação na composição do fitoplâncton entre as estações amostradas. A riqueza total e densidade dos grupos fitoplanctônicos foram muito baixas em ambos os locais de coleta, estando representadas pelas classes Bacillariophyceae, Chlorophyceae e Cyanobacteria. A diversidade de Shannon foi classificada como muito baixa à média. A equitabilidade, de uma maneira geral, foi alta. A Análise Multivariada de Variância mostrou que não houve diferença sazonal nem espacial significativa para densidade total, riqueza total, equitabilidade e diversidade de Shannon. No entanto, quando avaliadas as densidades e riquezas das classes (Bacillariophyceae, Chlorophyceae, Cyanobacteria) separadamente, diferenças sazonais significativas foram observadas. A heterogeneidade das características do rio Iguaçu entre os locais amostrados não causaram uma compartimentalização longitudinal do rio no que diz respeito aos atributos da comunidade fitoplanctônica, enquanto que a variação sazonal das condições climáticas influenciou significativamente a composição e estrutura dessa comunidade no ambiente estudado.

Dans le contexte des changements globaux, la biodiversité en Méditerranée est menacée, notamment par une sécheresse plus intense, avec des modifications probables du fonctionnement des écosystèmes. Cette thèse étudie l’effet de la sécheresse accrue sur la végétation et la modulation des effets par la diversité végétale, par une expérimentation d’exclusion de pluie dans une garrigue au nord de Marseille avec un gradient naturel de diversité. Les performances des 4 arbustes dominants, la diversité spécifique et fonctionnelle, les relations interspécifiques et la relation diversité-productivité de la garrigue ont été étudiés sous deux niveaux de pluieAprès 2,5 années, les effets de la sécheresse accrue sur la performance des 4 arbustes dépendent de l’espèce et du paramètre évalués et peuvent être modulés par la diversité des co-dominantes. Q.coccifera parait plus résistante et résiliente, suivie de R.officinalis et finalement de C.albidus et U.parviflorus. Ceci s’explique en partie par leurs différentes stratégies d’acquisition, utilisation et conservation du carbone et de l’eau. Les traits foliaires et la diversité fonctionnelle et spécifique ne sont pas affectés significativement par la réduction des pluies, mais dépendent du nombre, l’identité et le recouvrement des dominantes. Au vu de l’effet différentiel de la sécheresse accrue sur les espèces dominantes, on peut s’attendre à un effet négatif indirect de la sécheresse sur la biodiversité et donc sur le fonctionnement de la garrigue. On confirme l’importance d’intégrer les facteurs biotiques dans les modèles visant à prévoir le fonctionnement et les services des écosystèmes dans le cadre du changement climatique. / In the global change context, the biodiversity in the Mediterranean is under threat, mainly due to the more intense drought, which could lead to modification of ecosystem functioning. This thesis focuses on the effects of higher drought on the aboveground vegetation and the modulation of these effects by plant diversity thanks to a precipitation exclusion experiment in a shrubland in the south of France whith a natural diversity gradient. The 4 dominant shrub species performances, the specific and functional diversity, the interspecific interaction, and the biodiversity-productivity relationship were studied under 2 rain levelsAfter 2,5 years the effects of increased drought on the 4 dominant shrub performances was species- and parameter-dependant and can be modulated by the diversity of the co-dominant species. Q. coccifera seems the most resistant and resilient, followed by R. officinalis and finally by C. albidus and U. parviflorus. This is partly explained by the different strategies of acquisition, utilization and conservation of carbon and water of the four species. The leaf traits, the functional and specific diversity are not significantly affected by the precipitation decrease, but they depend on the number, the identity and the cover of the dominant shrubs. Given the differential effect of higher drought on the dominant species performances, we could expect an indirect negative effect of drought on the shrubland diversity and so on ecosystem functioning. We confirm the importance of taking into account the biotic factors in models aiming to predict the ecosystem functioning and environmental risks and services under future in the climate change context

The terrestrial CO2 exchange in the Arctic plays an important role in the global carbon (C) cycle. The Arctic ecosystems, containing a large amount of organic carbon (C), are experiencing ongoing warming in recent decades, which is affecting the C cycling and the feedback interactions between its different components. To improve our understanding of the atmosphere-ecosystem interactions, the Greenland Ecosystem Monitoring (GEM) program measures ecosystem CO2 exchange and links it to biogeochemical processes. However, this task remains challenging in northern latitudes due to an insufficient number of measurement sites, particularly covering full annual cycles, but also the frequent gaps in data affected by extreme conditions and remoteness. Combining ecosystem models and field observations we are able to study the underlying processes of Arctic CO2 exchange in changing environments. The overall aim of the research is to use data-model approaches to analyse the patterns of C exchange and their links to biological processes in Arctic ecosystems, studied in detail both from a measurement and a modelling perspective, but also from a local to a pan-arctic scale. In Paper I we found a compensatory response of photosynthesis (GPP) and ecosystem respiration (Reco), both highly sensitive to the meteorological drivers (i.e. temperatures and radiation) in Kobbefjord, West Greenland tundra. This tight relationship led to a relatively insensitive net ecosystem exchange (NEE) to the meteorology, despite the large variability in temperature and precipitations across growing seasons. This tundra ecosystem acted as a consistent sink of C (-30 g C m-2), except in 2011 (41 g C m-2), which was associated with a major pest outbreak. In Paper II we estimated this decrease of C sink strength of 118-144 g C m-2 in the anomalous year (2011), corresponding to 1210-1470 tonnes C at the Kobbefjord catchment scale. We concluded that the meteorological sensitivity of photosynthesis and respiration were similar, and hence compensatory, but we could not explain the causes. Therefore, in Paper III we used a calibrated and validated version of the Soil-Plant-Atmosphere model to explore full annual C cycles and detail the coupling between GPP and Reco. From this study we found two key results. First, similar metrological buffering to growing season reduced the full annual C sink strength by 60%. Second, plant traits control the compensatory effect observed (and estimated) between gross primary production and ecosystem respiration. Because a site-specific location is not representative of the entire Arctic, we further evaluated the pan-Arctic terrestrial C cycling using the CARDAMOM data assimilation system in Paper IV. Our estimates of C fluxes, pools and transit times are in good agreement with different sources of assimilated and independent data, both at pan-Arctic and local scale. Our benchmarking analysis with extensively used Global Vegetation Models (GVM) highlights that GVM modellers need to focus on the vegetation C dynamics, but also the respiratory losses, to improve our understanding of internal C cycle dynamics in the Arctic. Data-model approaches generate novel outputs, allowing us to explore C cycling mechanisms and controls that otherwise would not have been possible to address individually. Also, discrepancies between data and models can provide information about knowledge gaps and ecological indicators not previously detected from field observations, emphasizing the unique synergy that models and data are capable of bringing together.

At the Rio Conference in 1992, the sustainable development agenda promised a new era for natural resource management, where the wellbeing of human society would be enhanced through a more sustainable use of natural resources. Several decades on, economic growth continues unabated at the expense of natural capital – as evidenced by natural resource depletion, biodiversity loss, climate change and further environmental issues. Why is this happening and what can be done about it? This research examines what socio-economic and governance factors affect sustainability in complex coupled social-ecological systems. Furthermore, it analyses the role of power relations and imbalances between economic and conservation forces with regard to sustainable development. The original contribution to knowledge of this thesis is based on one conceptual and two empirical (Agent-Based) models. These explore, through several case-studies, the potential of different future scenarios in fostering synergies and win-win contexts of ecosystem services and socio-economic indicators. Overall, the research showed the complex and interconnected relationship between the economy and natural systems, and between economic and conservation forces, in coupled social-ecological systems. Addressing complex sustainability issues requires the use of integrative, holistic and interdisciplinary approaches, in addition to considering the particular socio-economic, cultural, political and environmental contexts of the social-ecological system being analysed. The models demonstrated that the current economic system requires an ever-increasing use of natural resources, and that the economy does not protect the natural capital on which it depends. This is based on a disjunction of the economic and conservation elements upon which the sustainable development paradigm is founded. Furthermore, several socio-economic and governance factors appeared to be key for diminishing sustainability in coupled social-ecological systems; namely, the type of economic and production systems, the particular use of monetary debt, technological development, and weak conservation forces (both top-down and bottom-up). However, results also showed alternative scenarios where these same factors could be redirected to enhance social-ecological sustainability. This dual role supports the argument that the current economic system is not inherently (i.e. by definition, per se) unsustainable. Rather, the specific use of economic mechanisms and behaviour of economic entities, as well as their decisions and relationships with the environment, show a tendency to increase unsustainability. Hence, short- and medium-term sustainability can be enhanced by developing mechanisms that start shifting capitalist forces to support environmental conservation; here, the role of Payments for Ecosystem Services will be essential. Enhancing long-term sustainability, however, may require a further paradigm change – where economic and production systems integrate, and fully account for, externalities and the value of natural capital, thus human society is embedded within the wider, and more important, natural environmental system.

For centuries, river catchments and their constituent habitats have been altered and modified through various human activities to maximise provision of tangible benefits like food and water, while impacting on their capacity to provide other less obvious but equally important benefits for human survival. However, in the last few decades, perceptions on the role of catchments as mere providers of tangible benefits have been changing, as recognition has been given to other human beneficial services like regulation of floods. This recognition has drawn increased interest in both science and policy, towards understanding human-nature relations and how approaches like the ecosystem services concept can inform sustainable management of catchments. Although, the multiple and differently weighted relationships existing between habitats and ecosystem services have been acknowledged, the relationship between spatio-temporal change in habitats and spatio-temporal change in ecosystem services delivery, has not received as much attention in the research literature. In this thesis, it is argued that this is an important omission as spatio-temporal habitat change could have broader consequences for ecosystem services provided by a catchment. On this basis, this study maps and assesses the influence of habitat changes across space and time on ecosystem services delivery at a local catchment scale. Approaches to assessing ecosystem service delivery across landscapes and catchments draw on habitat mapping data for those landscapes or catchments. Such data are in turn used as proxies for estimating different ecosystem services delivered by the landscape or catchment based on their integration with other spatial or non-spatial data. To date this approach has been applied to assess contemporary delivery of different ecosystem services. The basis of the approach taken in this study involved comparing a pre-existing contemporary ecosystem service assessment of two chosen sub catchments of the Tweed catchment in Scotland, with a similar assessment based on a set of older “historic” habitat maps for the mid-20th century period. Derivation of the digital map base for the latter was a major focus of the present study. Aerial photography taken during the Royal Air Force surveys in the 1940s archived in the Royal Commission on Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland were obtained and first scanned digitally, arranged into a mosaic of adjacent images and ortho-rectified to remove camera distortion. These photo mosaics were then visually interpreted and, aided with ancillary data, the current (2009) habitat maps were edited and backdated to derive the historic habitat maps for the study catchments. The Spatial Evidence for Natural Capital Evaluation (SENCE) ecosystem services mapping approach was then used to translate generated habitat maps into ecosystem service supply maps. Findings show that the study catchments changed from multifunctional to intensively managed landscapes by 2009, with a higher capacity for supplying provisioning ecosystem services, while their capacity to supply regulating and supporting ecosystem services was reduced. Findings also show that a change in one habitat type results in changes in multiple ecosystem services, while changes in the spatial configuration of habitats reduces areas with high supply capacity for regulating and supporting ecosystem services. This study concludes that ecosystem service delivery is not only affected by changes in gross area of constituent habitats but also by spatial changes in the configuration and distribution of these habitats. In this regard, it is argued that recognising and understanding changes in ecosystem services adds an important strand in catchment management. It is therefore suggested that planning for future ecosystem services in catchment management needs to be informed by historic baselines.

abstract: Dissolved organic matter (DOM) is an important part of aquatic foodwebs because it contains carbon, nitrogen, and other elements required by heterotrophic organisms. It has many sources that determine its molecular composition, nutrient content, and biological lability and in turn, influence whether it is retained and processed in the stream reach or exported downstream. I examined the composition of DOM from vascular wetland plants, filamentous algae, and riparian tree leaf litter in Sonoran Desert streams and its decomposition by stream microbes. I used a combination of field observations, in-situ experiments, and a manipulative laboratory incubation to test (1) how dominant primary producers influence DOM chemical composition and ecosystem metabolism at the reach scale and (2) how DOM composition and nitrogen (N) content control microbial decomposition and stream uptake of DOM. I found that differences in streamwater DOM composition between two distinct reaches of Sycamore Creek did not affect in-situ stream respiration and gross primary production rates. Stream sediment microbial respiration rates did not differ significantly when incubated in the laboratory with DOM from wetland plants, algae, and leaf litter, thus all sources were similarly labile. However, whole-stream uptake of DOM increased from leaf to algal to wetland plant leachate. Desert streams have the potential to process DOM from leaf, wetland, and algal sources, though algal and wetland DOM, due to their more labile composition, can be more readily retained and mineralized. / Dissertation/Thesis / Masters Thesis Biology 2018