Biodiversity and threats in non-protected areas: A multidisciplinary and multi-taxa approach focused on the Atlantic Forest

Abstract

Along many decades, protected environments were targeted by the scientific community for ecological research and for the collection of scientific information related to environmental aspects and biodiversity. However, most of the territory in hotspot regions with weak or even non legal protection has been left aside. These non-protected areas (NPA) could host high biodiversity values. This paper addresses how scientific effort on a NPA (CIAR) of 700 ha from the Atlantic Rain Forest, generates new information and tools for large-scale environmental and biodiversity management in NPAs. Information published during the last decade was summarized and complemented with subsequent novel data about biodiversity (new species, first records, DNA and chemical analyses, etc.). The results showed: 1 new genus (arachnid), 6 new species and several putative new species (fish and arthropod), 6 vulnerable species (bird and mammal) and 36 first records for Argentina (fish, arthropod, platyhelminth and fungi). When compared with protected natural areas of the same biome, the CIAR showed highly valuable aspects for fauna and environment conservation, positioning this NPA as a worldwide hotspot for some taxa. Indeed, when compared to international hotspots in a coordinated Malaise trap program, the CIAR showed 8,651 different barcode index numbers (~species) of arthropods, 80% of which had not been previously barcoded. Molecules like Inoscavin A, with antifungal activity against phytopathogens, was isolated for the first time in Phellinus merrillii fungi. The study of major threats derived from anthropic activities measured 20 trace elements, 18 pesticides (i.e. endosulfans, chlorpyrifos, DDTs, HCHs) and 27 pharmaceuticals and drugs (i.e. benzoylecgonine and norfluoxetine) in different biotic and abiotic matrices (water, sediment, fish and air biomonitors). This integrated data analysis shows that biodiversity research in NPA is being undervalued and how multidisciplinary and multitaxa surveys creates a new arena for research and a pathway towards sustainable development in emerging countries with biodiversity hotspots.

A biogeographical study of red listed lichen species at temporal and spatial scales within protected and non-protected areas

“…Protected areas are important for worldwide biodiversity conservation and they involve serious efforts to conserve habitats and their associated species 1 – 3 . In contrast, non-protected areas (NPAs) are subjected to a major impact of anthropogenic activities, and researchers do not pay much attention to them 1 , 2 , 4 – 6 . Socioeconomic development has destroyed important areas for biodiversity 7 and will continue to affect both biodiversity and habitats on a large spatial scale 8 – 10 .…”

Importance of Air Quality Networks in Controlling Exposure to Air Pollution

“…Major methodological limitations were appointed to input data availability (9 answers), expert or local knowledge (1), modeling domain (1), modeling uncertainties (6), input data uncertainties (10), temporal-spatial resolution (7), directive metrics (1), computational resources (4), pollutants (2), definition of parameters of methodology (3), coverage of station network (1) and no limitation (2). Within this study, a relevant conclusion was the possibility for examining if the similarities or discrepancies between the representativeness estimates are more or less significant according to the concentration levels measured by target station.…”

“…Environmental emissions play a key role in the release of pollutants on air, water and soil matrix, which is relevant because drives a decline of biodiversity [1]. In this sense, deforestation, water pollution, acid rain or endangered animals are factors linked to likely environmental repercussions [2,3].…”

Non-protected areas demanding equitable conservation strategies as of protected areas in the Central Himalayan region

“…A number of studies have therefore highlighted the imperatives of PA in preventing threatened species from extinction risk [ 18 , 19 ]. However, forested habitats outside of these PAs are not given importance, because of the misnomer that these areas are not rich in biodiversity and are therefore subject to insufficient monitoring and management policies [ 20 , 21 ]. In India, PAs are monitored on timescale basis to understand their effectiveness in conserving biodiversity [ 22 ] but the non-protected (Non-PA) forests or the territorial forests are managed under the working plans with the main objective of production forestry [ 23 ].…”