Joshua Berger’s Post

🌍 A New Map for Nature: Satellite-Derived GPP Unlocks Global Biodiversity Insights Journal of Remote Sensing is excited to highlight its most downloaded article of 2025 “Bridging Satellite Productivity and Global Biodiversity: Unveiling Insights through Dynamic Habitat Indices” (https://lnkd.in/gWGR3YFT) This groundbreaking study, led by Xuanlong Ma and colleagues Kedi Liu, Chunyan Cao, Sicong Gao, and Wei Yang, from Lanzhou University, CSIRO, 千葉大学 Chiba University, andCBAS, introduces a satellite-based method to predict global biodiversity patterns using Dynamic Habitat Indices (DHIs) derived from Gross Primary Productivity (GPP). 🌍 Key Findings GPP-derived DHIs explained up to 84% of global amphibian richness and 82% across all vertebrates, outperforming traditional metrics like NDVI. Validated with data from 124 FLUXNET eddy covariance towers, ensuring accuracy and robustness. Revealed that protected areas exhibit higher cumulative productivity and lower variability – key indicators of habitat quality. 🌍 Why It Matters Biodiversity is under growing pressure from habitat loss and climate change. This study provides a scalable, cost-effective tool for conservation planning, ecological monitoring, and habitat quality assessment – especially in data-limited regions. “By linking satellite productivity data with biodiversity science, we can support global conservation efforts with unprecedented precision,” said Xuanlong Ma, Lanzhou University.   #RemoteSensing #Biodiversity #GPP #Conservation #SatelliteScience #JournalOfRemoteSensing    

🌍 A New Map for Nature: Satellite-Derived GPP Unlocks Global Biodiversity Insights Journal of Remote Sensing is excited to highlight its most downloaded article of 2025 “Bridging Satellite Productivity and Global Biodiversity: Unveiling Insights through Dynamic Habitat Indices” (https://lnkd.in/gtKkhexg) This groundbreaking study, led by Xuanlong Ma and colleagues Kedi Liu, Chunyan Cao, Sicong Gao, and Wei Yang, from Lanzhou University, CSIRO, 千葉大学 Chiba University, andCBAS, introduces a satellite-based method to predict global biodiversity patterns using Dynamic Habitat Indices (DHIs) derived from Gross Primary Productivity (GPP). 🌍 Key Findings GPP-derived DHIs explained up to 84% of global amphibian richness and 82% across all vertebrates, outperforming traditional metrics like NDVI. Validated with data from 124 FLUXNET eddy covariance towers, ensuring accuracy and robustness. Revealed that protected areas exhibit higher cumulative productivity and lower variability – key indicators of habitat quality. 🌍 Why It Matters Biodiversity is under growing pressure from habitat loss and climate change. This study provides a scalable, cost-effective tool for conservation planning, ecological monitoring, and habitat quality assessment – especially in data-limited regions. “By linking satellite productivity data with biodiversity science, we can support global conservation efforts with unprecedented precision,” said Xuanlong Ma, Lanzhou University.   #RemoteSensing #Biodiversity #GPP #Conservation #SatelliteScience #JournalOfRemoteSensing    

🌍 A new interactive tool maps Europe’s biodiversity monitoring community in real time, revealing key connections, data flows, and collaboration opportunities. 📊

This not-yet-peer-reviewed text offers an insight into how to tackle biodiversity monitoring challenges in Europe: 🔹 A European Biodiversity Observation Coordination Centre (EBOCC) is being proposed to oversee this effort—envisioning a scalable, transnational model that could guide global biodiversity monitoring strategies. 🔹 Smarter spatial design—like stratified random sampling, co-location, and gap-filling modeling—ensures more accurate, representative biodiversity data and better-informed policy decisions. 🔹 To support long-term data access and interoperability, the push for open-access, standards-based digital infrastructure is critical. 📖 Full article: https://lnkd.in/ez4U7rDn What do you think about this? #eDNA #Biodiversity #OpenData #DigitalEcology #EBVs #Conservation #Monitoring #Innovation

New paper published 📣 📰 Researchers Alison Hutchinson, Anthony Zito and Philip McGowan explore the Global Biodiversity Framework and how it can move toward meaningful action in biodiversity governance 🌏

𝘼 𝘿𝙖𝙩𝙖-𝘿𝙧𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙁𝙧𝙖𝙢𝙚𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙠 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙋𝙧𝙞𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙯𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙚𝙧𝙫𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙀𝙛𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙨 A study from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) presents a novel framework for ranking Natural Resource Rich Regions (NRRZs) to inform policy. Using Karnataka as a case study, the researchers employed spatial integration of multi-thematic data—including ecological, geo-climatic, and social parameters—on a 9x9 km grid. By calculating a composite metric based on weighted factors, the framework categorizes regions to guide evidence-based action. This robust methodology provides a scientific basis for implementing targeted conservation measures and sustainable land-use planning, addressing critical issues like deforestation and biodiversity loss in a systematic way. Read: https://lnkd.in/g7FBcMcd to deep-dive! #research #science #news #ecology #conservation #naturalresources #forests #WesternGhats #karnataka

Soils and Biodiversity The vast majority of terrestrial species are soil dependent. Most terrestrial biodiversity (DNA/biological functions/species numbers) is not within our sensory scales (grams to tonnes or millimetres to kilometers) being many orders of magnitude smaller than what we can detect without equipment. As a diversion check out the 2013 sizes of life paper by Tekwa et al 2023 10.1371/journal.pone.0283020 Anyway, it is no surprise that the subterranean world of most invertebrates, fungi and bacteria is mostly undescribed, unknown and understudied. What little we do know is that interrelationships between myriad species can be incredibly complex (K selection?) and that the activities of tiny critters underpin many ecosystem services on which we (and other species) depend. So it's a fair guess, given highly specialised relationships and functions, that many microscopic species are confined to specific habitats. To me this means preserving biodiversity through development of a comprehensive reserve system based on protecting areas with soil types which have not been disturbed or degraded. Some soil types have very little remaining native vegetation because they are useful for producing food/fibre/minerals/living space etc for humans. Undisturbed, good condition, areas on these soil types would be high priority targets for biodiversity conservation. Here is a NSW map I analysed for proportion of land in public reserves by extended great soil groups back in 2013. Blue is poorly preserved and red is highly preserved. The artefact soil mapping project boundary issue has hopefully been addressed by now. The rest is solid. I assumed that all public reserves are not degraded... Anyway it is an interesting concept....and developed further could have big implications for those who are interested in managing natural capital.

Citizen Science Revolution: Why Your Nature Snap Could Save a Species: By Abdullah Topraksoy A frog, a phone and a global dataset A couple of weeks ago I was on a walking trail just outside Manchester when I heard an unfamiliar croak. I did what many of us do these days: I took out my phone, snapped a photo and uploaded it to iNaturalist. I didn’t think much of it at the time, just a small act of curiosity. But according to a new study from the University of Florida, that single upload may be part of a much bigger story. Researchers found that every time someone shares a wildlife photo on iNaturalist, they are feeding into a growing global dataset that scientists use to map shifting species ranges, detect invasive threats and even rediscover lost species. The scientific use of iNaturalist has grown tenfold in just five years, and the data now spans 128 countries and 638 groups of species. In other words, your casual snapshot could become a crucial datapoint in the fight against biodiversity loss. A crowd‑sourced tool becomes a cornerstone of research Launched in 2008, iNaturalist is a non‑profit platform that lets users upload photographs or audio recordings of plants, animals and fungi along with the time and location. A community of contributors helps verify observations, and those marked as “Research Grade” are shared with the Global Biodiversity Information Facility, a clearinghouse for biodiversity records. Until recently, most stories about iNaturalist’s impact were isolated anecdotes: a user rediscovered a century‑lost Vietnamese snail or helped map the spread of an invasive plant. The new study, published in BioScience, systematically assessed how the platform’s data is used in research. The team discovered three dominant trends: * Species distribution modeling and range mapping: Scientists are using iNaturalist data to track how organisms are distributed across the planet. This is especially valuable in under‑sampled regions where traditional fieldwork is scarce. * Behavioral and ecological insights: The rise in research using iNaturalist images is yielding new information about species behavior, coloration and habitat preferences. * Rapid growth in scholarly use: The exponential increase in papers citing iNaturalist data suggests that as participation grows, so too will its scientific impact. Brittany Mason, the lead author, notes that increasing observations in less‑documented geographic areas and lesser‑studied species groups could further expand the platform’s research applications. Corey Callaghan, a senior author, adds that millions of people are now directly shaping how we understand and conserve biodiversity. Why citizen science matters now We are living through a biodiversity crisis. Species are disappearing faster than scientists can document them, and conservation budgets are stretched thin. Traditional field surveys are… #genai #generativeai #ai

🌿 What are biodiversity credits and why do they matter? Following Savimbo’s groundbreaking achievement earlier this week, let's dive into what exactly a biodiversity credit is - and how it compares to a carbon credit. The Biodiversity Credit Alliance proposes the following definition: "A biodiversity credit is a certificate that represents a measured and evidence-based unit of positive biodiversity outcome that is durable and additional to what would have otherwise occurred." Unlike carbon credits (which are standardised around 1 tonne of CO₂ avoided or removed), biodiversity credits are inherently more context-dependent because biodiversity is place-based and multi-dimensional. What a biodiversity credit measures depends on: 🔹Ecosystem type 🔹Indicator species chosen 🔹Local conservation priorities 🔹Methodology applied Savimbo’s credits, for example, are issued through their Indigenous-led Indicator Species Biodiversity Methodology (ISBM). Instead of measuring tonnes of carbon, they measure the health of ecosystems through indicator species – rare, endangered, or keystone species that reflect the balance of nature. Biodiversity credits therefore are locally grounded. The challenge (and innovation) is finding ways to standardise them enough for markets while respecting local ecological uniqueness. Biodiversity credits are still new – but they may be one of the most important innovations to protect our ecosystems and thus our global economy. #NaturePositive #BiodiversityCredits #IndigenousLeadership #RegenerativeEconomy

Biodiversity is reorganising at a planetary scale. A landmark Nature study by François Keck and colleagues synthesised 2,133 studies, covering nearly 98,000 impacted and reference sites across land, freshwater, and marine ecosystems. They measured three dimensions of change: local diversity, composition shifts, and homogenisation, across the five main human pressures: land use change, resource exploitation, pollution, climate change, and invasive species. The global picture is clear. Community composition changes strongly and consistently under human pressure, and local diversity declines across all biomes. Pollution and habitat change are among the most potent drivers. The long-assumed universal trend towards homogenisation is not supported; instead, its direction depends on spatial scale. Larger scales tend to show more homogenisation, while smaller scales often reveal differentiation. The authors’ findings have direct relevance for implementing the Kunming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Targets that fail to account for spatial scale risk masking real changes. Monitoring systems should track composition shifts alongside richness, and include microbial and fungal communities, which often respond earliest to pressures or restoration. In freshwater systems, this matters for places like the beautiful Shkodër Lake, walking distance from where I live, with its many endemic and threatened molluscs, fish, and water birds. Regional and local distinctiveness must be maintained alongside global targets. From my perspective, four imperatives follow. First, direct finance, procurement, and regulation toward cutting pollution and safeguarding habitat integrity. These offer the fastest ecological gains while supporting broader recovery. Second, make biodiversity monitoring scale explicit in all GBF implementation plans, financing frameworks, and corporate disclosures. Third, invest in the capacity to monitor microbial and fungal communities as early warning indicators alongside plants and animals. Fourth, include shifts in species composition, not just measures of species richness, to indicate degradation or restoration, as the total number of species at different points in time can mask significant changes in what species are present. These steps, taken together, create a pathway for policy, finance, and restoration to work with the living patterns of ecosystems, rather than chasing statistical illusions. #Biodiversity #KunmingMontrealGBF #NaturePositive #PollutionControl #EcosystemRestoration