LIFE FOR BIODIVERSITY
LIFE FOR BIODIVERSITY
Evidence of climate change
“Europe’s contrasting summer Summer 2023 was not the warmest on record, but saw conditions that were, at times, extreme. There were contrasts in temperature and precipitation across the continent and from one month to the next. The ‘extended summer’ (June to September) saw heatwaves, wildfires, droughts and flooding. Northwestern Europe saw its warmest June on record, while Mediterranean areas saw well-above-average precipitation for the month. In July, this pattern was almost reversed.
In August, southern Europe saw warmer-than-average temperatures, and September was the warmest on record for Europe as a whole. Both August and September also saw severe flood events (see P12). Much of Europe was impacted by heatwaves during the extended summer, with high temperatures during both the day and night.
At the peak of a heatwave in July, 41% of southern Europe was affected by at least ‘strong heat stress’, with potential for health impacts. By the end of August, large parts of southern Europe, especially the Iberian Peninsula, experienced precipitation deficits that induced drought. By late September, most of the Iberian Peninsula had recovered, but parts of eastern Europe transitioned to extreme drought conditions. Wildfires were also observed across Europe, mostly coinciding with droughts.”
In August, southern Europe saw warmer-than-average temperatures, and September was the warmest on record for Europe as a whole. Both August and September also saw severe flood events (see P12). Much of Europe was impacted by heatwaves during the extended summer, with high temperatures during both the day and night.
At the peak of a heatwave in July, 41% of southern Europe was affected by at least ‘strong heat stress’, with potential for health impacts. By the end of August, large parts of southern Europe, especially the Iberian Peninsula, experienced precipitation deficits that induced drought. By late September, most of the Iberian Peninsula had recovered, but parts of eastern Europe transitioned to extreme drought conditions. Wildfires were also observed across Europe, mostly coinciding with droughts.”
Lemon trees
Lemon trees thrive in mild climates with poor, well-drained soils, but are very sensitive to cold and salinity. Apple trees need distinct seasons and siliceous soils, with cold winters and sunny summers. Quinces prefer mild climates, loose, cool, and humid soils. Loquats are hardy, cold-resistant, and adaptable to various soils. Each species depends on specific environmental conditions such as climate, soil type, water availability, and light exposure.
Fruit trees such as lemon, apple, quince, and loquat rely on important symbiotic relationships with bees, ants, and fungi. Bees are essential pollinators, collecting nectar while fertilising flowers, which enhances both fruit production and crop quality. Lemon and apple trees are especially dependent on bees due to their fragrant, nectar-rich blossoms that attract them.
Ants may defend fruit trees from herbivores in exchange for nectar or sugary substances, but some species farm aphids that harm the plants. Fungi can be beneficial, forming mycorrhizal associations with roots that boost nutrient uptake and resilience. However, some fungi are harmful, causing diseases such as powdery mildew and root rot.
For lemon trees, the primary concerns include extreme sensitivity to cold temperatures and low tolerance for saline soils, with coastal cultivation areas particularly vulnerable to saltwater intrusion. Apple trees face disrupted dormancy cycles from warmer winters and increased vulnerability to late frosts damaging blossoms. Quince and loquat demonstrate greater resilience but still suffer from habitat fragmentation and changing precipitation patterns.
Pollinator population declines
Soil degradation from extreme weather
Water stress during droughts
Genetic erosion of traditional varieties
Climate change has increased the average water temperature of rivers and lakes and reduced the length of ice seasons. These changes, together with the increase in river flows in winter and their reduction in summer, have a major impact on water quality and freshwater ecosystems. Some of the changes triggered by climate change exacerbate other pressures on aquatic habitats, including pollution. For example, a lower river flow, due to less rainfall, results in a higher concentration of pollutants, as there is less dilution of pollution.
Some studies show that the planet's ponds harbour more biodiversity than rivers and lakes, as well as a greater number of rare and threatened species. Many aquatic plants and animals are totally dependent on these habitats to survive or reproduce. These bodies of water also provide food and refuge for numerous terrestrial species.
“There are millions of ponds in Europe, rich in biodiversity and supporting a wide range of rare and endangered plants and animals. They offer a range of ecosystem services, and this is particularly important in the context of climate change. These waterbodies are also important to European culture and history, and provide one of the closest links between people and wildlife.”
https://www.europeanponds.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/EPCN-manifesto_english.pdf
Some studies show that the planet's ponds harbour more biodiversity than rivers and lakes, as well as a greater number of rare and threatened species. Many aquatic plants and animals are totally dependent on these habitats to survive or reproduce. These bodies of water also provide food and refuge for numerous terrestrial species.
“There are millions of ponds in Europe, rich in biodiversity and supporting a wide range of rare and endangered plants and animals. They offer a range of ecosystem services, and this is particularly important in the context of climate change. These waterbodies are also important to European culture and history, and provide one of the closest links between people and wildlife.”
https://www.europeanponds.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/EPCN-manifesto_english.pdf
Habitat dependence refers to the need for certain species to rely on specific habitats in order to survive, feed, reproduce and complete their life cycles. Ponds are crucial habitats for countless species, such as amphibians, aquatic insects and plants adapted to wet environments. The destruction or degradation of these habitats, exacerbated by climate change, directly threatens these species. In the case of salamanders, ponds are essential habitats, providing suitable conditions for their reproduction.
Interspecific relationships are interactions between different species within an ecosystem. In ponds, these include predation, where salamanders hunt aquatic insects such as mosquito larvae and small crustaceans; parasitism, where leeches attach to amphibians and feed on their blood; and mutualism, where bacteria on salamanders' skin protect them from fungal infections.
These interactions help maintain ecological balance, ensuring food availability and population control. However, habitat degradation and climate change can disrupt these delicate relationships, reducing biodiversity and threatening species that rely on pond ecosystems for survival.
CONSERVATION STATUS
Ponds are habitats of high biodiversity, crucial for countless species, especially amphibians, insects, and aquatic plants. In Europe, these ecosystems are disappearing at an alarming rate. Studies estimate that up to 50% of small wetlands have been lost in the last century due to urbanization, agricultural expansion, and climate change. Urbanization is particularly harmful as it leads to habitat fragmentation, pollution from wastewater and chemicals, and destruction of breeding sites. For amphibians, such as salamanders, the loss of ponds disrupts their reproductive cycles, reducing populations. In Portugal, many ponds are temporary and highly vulnerable to decreasing rainfall and rising temperatures, both intensified by climate change. Agricultural intensification further threatens these habitats through pesticide runoff, excessive water extraction, and soil erosion, degrading water quality and reducing suitable breeding grounds. Despite their ecological importance, ponds often do not receive the same level of protection as other ecosystems. However, some are safeguarded under the Natura 2000 Network, which includes areas of Community importance, such as Mediterranean temporary ponds. These habitats are classified as priorities in the European Union's Habitats Directive due to their rarity, fragility, and significance for endemic species.
Ponds are habitats of high biodiversity, crucial for countless species, especially amphibians, insects, and aquatic plants. In Europe, these ecosystems are disappearing at an alarming rate. Studies estimate that up to 50% of small wetlands have been lost in the last century due to urbanization, agricultural expansion, and climate change. Urbanization is particularly harmful as it leads to habitat fragmentation, pollution from wastewater and chemicals, and destruction of breeding sites. For amphibians, such as salamanders, the loss of ponds disrupts their reproductive cycles, reducing populations. In Portugal, many ponds are temporary and highly vulnerable to decreasing rainfall and rising temperatures, both intensified by climate change. Agricultural intensification further threatens these habitats through pesticide runoff, excessive water extraction, and soil erosion, degrading water quality and reducing suitable breeding grounds. Despite their ecological importance, ponds often do not receive the same level of protection as other ecosystems. However, some are safeguarded under the Natura 2000 Network, which includes areas of Community importance, such as Mediterranean temporary ponds. These habitats are classified as priorities in the European Union's Habitats Directive due to their rarity, fragility, and significance for endemic species.