Improving the knowledge of plant potential biodiversity-ecosystem services links using maps at the regional level in Southern Patagonia

ROSAS, YAMINA MICAELA; PERI, PABLO L.; LENCINAS, MARÍA VANESSA; LASAGNO, ROMINA; MARTÍNEZ PASTUR, GUILLERMO J.

Ecological Processes

Springer

Lugar: Asterdam; Año: 2021 vol. 10

Background: Biodiversity supports multiple ecosystem services, whereas species loss endangers the provision ofmany services and affects ecosystem resilience and resistance capacity. The increase of remote sensing techniquesallows to estimate biodiversity and ecosystem services supply at the landscape level in areas with low available data(e.g. Southern Patagonia). This paper evaluates the potential biodiversity and how it links with ecosystem services,based on vascular plant species across eight ecological areas. We also evaluated the habitat plant requirements andtheir relation with natural gradients. A total of 977 plots were used to develop habitat suitability maps based on anenvironmental niche factor analysis of 15 more important indicator species for each ecological area (n = 53 species)using 40 explanatory variables. Finally, these maps were combined into a single potential biodiversity map, whichwas linked with environmental variables and ecosystem services supply. For comparisons, data were extracted andcompared through analyses of variance.Results: The plant habitat requirements varied greatly among the different ecological areas, and it was possible todefine groups according to its specialization and marginality indexes. The potential biodiversity map allowed us todetect coldspots in the western mountains and hotspots in southern and eastern areas. Higher biodiversity wasassociated to higher temperatures and normalized difference vegetation index, while lower biodiversity was relatedto elevation and rainfall. Potential biodiversity was closely associated with supporting and provisioning ecosystemservices in shrublands and grasslands in the humid steppe, while the lowest values were related to culturalecosystem services in Nothofagus forests.Conclusions: The present study showed that plant species present remarkable differences in spatial distributionsand ecological requirements, being a useful proxy for potential biodiversity modelling. Potential biodiversity valueschange across ecological areas allowing to identify hotspots and coldspots, a useful tool for landscapemanagement and conservation strategies. In addition, links with ecosystem services detect potential synergies andtrade-offs, where areas with the lowest potential biodiversity are related to cultural ecosystem services (e.g.aesthetic values) and areas with the greatest potential biodiversity showed threats related to productive activities(e.g. livestock).