‘Biodiversity time machine’ provides insights into a century of loss. – University of Birmingham

‘Biodiversity time machine’ provides insights into a century of loss.  University of Birmingham

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Nov 7, 2023 - 05:00
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‘Biodiversity time machine’ provides insights into a century of loss. – University of Birmingham




AI Analysis Reveals Devastating Impact of Pollution and Climate Change on Freshwater Biodiversity

Introduction

Scientists have conducted a groundbreaking study using AI analysis to examine the effects of pollution, extreme weather events, and rising temperatures on freshwater lakes. This research highlights the potential irreversible loss of biodiversity in these ecosystems.

Research Methodology

A team of researchers from the University of Birmingham and Goethe University in Frankfurt utilized sediment samples from a lake in Denmark to reconstruct a 100-year history of biodiversity, chemical pollution, and climate change. This lake was chosen due to its well-documented shifts in water quality, making it an ideal natural experiment for studying the impacts of environmental changes.

Findings

The study, published in eLife, revealed that the sediment samples provided a continuous record of biological and environmental signals over time. By analyzing this data alongside climate change and pollution levels, the researchers were able to identify the factors with the greatest impact on biodiversity.

  1. Pollutants such as insecticides and fungicides
  2. Increases in minimum temperature (1.2-1.5 degrees)

Furthermore, the researchers discovered that over the past 20 years, the lake had shown signs of recovery. This improvement was attributed to a decline in agricultural land use in the surrounding area, leading to improved water quality. However, while overall biodiversity increased, the composition of the communities differed from the original pristine state. This poses a concern as different species provide different ecosystem services, and the absence of certain species prevents the full restoration of these services.

Implications and Recommendations

The study emphasizes the need to protect biodiversity in order to preserve the ecosystem services it provides. Using AI, researchers can prioritize the conservation of species that contribute to these services. Additionally, identifying the top pollutants can guide regulations to mitigate their adverse effects.

Lead author Niamh Eastwood stated that the biodiversity loss caused by pollution and rising temperatures may be irreversible. The inability of certain species to return to their original habitats prevents the complete restoration of the lake’s biodiversity. This research underscores the importance of protecting biodiversity to prevent its permanent loss.

Future Research

The researchers plan to expand their study to other lakes in England and Wales to determine if the patterns observed in the initial study are replicable. This will provide further insights into the impacts of pollution and climate change on lake biodiversity.

Notes for Editors

  • For media inquiries, please contact Ellie Hail, Communications Officer, University of Birmingham, at e.hail@bham.ac.uk or +44 (0)7966 311 409. For out-of-hours inquiries, please call +44 (0) 121 414 2772.
  • The University of Birmingham is ranked among the world’s top 100 institutions and attracts researchers, teachers, and over 8,000 international students from more than 150 countries.


SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

  1. SDG 14: Life Below Water

    • Target 14.1: By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution.
    • Target 14.2: By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, and take action for their restoration in order to achieve healthy and productive oceans.
    • Indicator 14.1.1: Index of coastal eutrophication and floating plastic debris density.
    • Indicator 14.2.1: Proportion of national exclusive economic zones managed using ecosystem-based approaches.

  2. SDG 15: Life on Land

    • Target 15.1: By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services, in particular forests, wetlands, mountains, and drylands, in line with obligations under international agreements.
    • Target 15.5: Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity, and, by 2020, protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species.
    • Indicator 15.1.1: Forest area as a proportion of total land area.
    • Indicator 15.5.1: Red List Index.

Analysis

  1. SDG 14: Life Below Water

    The issues highlighted in the article, such as pollution levels and the loss of biodiversity in freshwater lakes, are connected to SDG 14, which aims to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas, and marine resources. The targets under this SDG that can be identified based on the article’s content are Target 14.1 and Target 14.2.

  2. SDG 15: Life on Land

    The article also addresses the issues related to SDG 15, which focuses on protecting, restoring, and promoting sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems. The specific target under this SDG that can be identified is Target 15.5.

  3. Indicators

    The article mentions or implies several indicators that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets:

    • Indicator 14.1.1: The article discusses pollution levels in freshwater lakes, which can be used to measure the index of coastal eutrophication and floating plastic debris density.
    • Indicator 14.2.1: The article mentions the need to manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems, which can be measured by the proportion of national exclusive economic zones managed using ecosystem-based approaches.
    • Indicator 15.1.1: The article talks about the restoration of biodiversity in the lake, which can be measured by the forest area as a proportion of total land area.
    • Indicator 15.5.1: The article discusses the loss of species and the need to prevent their extinction, which can be measured by the Red List Index.

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

SDGs Targets Indicators
SDG 14: Life Below Water
  • Target 14.1: By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution.
  • Target 14.2: By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, and take action for their restoration in order to achieve healthy and productive oceans.
  • Indicator 14.1.1: Index of coastal eutrophication and floating plastic debris density.
  • Indicator 14.2.1: Proportion of national exclusive economic zones managed using ecosystem-based approaches.
SDG 15: Life on Land
  • Target 15.1: By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services, in particular forests, wetlands, mountains, and drylands, in line with obligations under international agreements.
  • Target 15.5: Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity, and, by 2020, protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species.
  • Indicator 15.1.1: Forest area as a proportion of total land area.
  • Indicator 15.5.1: Red List Index.

Behold! This splendid article springs forth from the wellspring of knowledge, shaped by a wondrous proprietary AI technology that delved into a vast ocean of data, illuminating the path towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Remember that all rights are reserved by SDG Investors LLC, empowering us to champion progress together.

Source: birmingham.ac.uk

 

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