ITS4.5/GM1.3 | Employing eco-engineering and biogeomorphology for Nature-based Solutions
Employing eco-engineering and biogeomorphology for Nature-based Solutions
Convener: Annegret Larsen | Co-conveners: Jana Eichel, David C. Finger, Paulina Grigusova, Ranka Junge, Wietse van de Lageweg, Alexandros Stefanakis
Orals
| Wed, 17 Apr, 08:30–12:30 (CEST)
 
Room N2
Posters on site
| Attendance Wed, 17 Apr, 16:15–18:00 (CEST) | Display Wed, 17 Apr, 14:00–18:00
 
Hall X3
Posters virtual
| Attendance Wed, 17 Apr, 14:00–15:45 (CEST) | Display Wed, 17 Apr, 08:30–18:00
 
vHall X3
Orals |
Wed, 08:30
Wed, 16:15
Wed, 14:00
Nature based solution(NbS) and eco-engineering have become key concepts in ecosystem restoration and natural hazard protection. Both concepts often build on fundamental biogeomorphic knowledge of two-way abiotic-biotic environmental interactions and feedbacks, which shape landscapes at various spatiotemporal scales. Thus, nature based solutions and eco-engineering can only work through integrating concepts from ecology, (evolutionary) biology, hydraulics, engineering, geomorphology, geology and quaternary science (amongst other disciplines).

This session combines fundamental biogeomorphic studies with applied studies on nature based solutions and eco-engineering. In the biogeomorphic studies, there is a focus on studies coming from a soil, hydrological and geomorphic perspective, which includes biogeomorphic processes, rates and feedbacks, organism-habitat interaction, biota as ecosystem engineers, biogeomorphology as a driver of nutrient and pollutant transport, and biogeomorphology as a tool to sustainably manage natural systems and hazards.

The NbS studies provide examples covering a large range of cases and possibilities, ranging from, but not limited to, sponge cities and green construction material to carbon accounting and biochar. One focus lies ‘ecosystem services’, another on ‘ecological engineering’, the latter being an established discipline that focuses on the design that exploits ecological elements and ecosystems for the benefit of both humans and nature. In a new, holistic approach to problem-solving, it focuses on the adoption of systems thinking and of circularity in problem-solving methodology towards re-establishing material cycles to deal with resource scarcity and expanding the nature-based toolbox using ecosystem services and renewable resources. This session discusses and analyzes these key concepts, benefits, and applications of modern ecological engineering.

Overall, this session includes innovative methods such as artificial intelligence, field and laboratory tests, remote sensing, numerical modelling etc. The NbS approach has proven its usefulness for addressing complex challenges while promoting the conservation and restoration of natural systems and cycles. As the global community strives to find holistic solutions to pressing ecological and societal issues, NbS has the potential to provide valuable pathways to re-balance the relationship between human activities and the environment.

Sponsered by: IEES: https://iees.ch/

Orals: Wed, 17 Apr | Room N2

Chairpersons: Annegret Larsen, Paulina Grigusova, Wietse van de Lageweg
08:30–08:35
Biogeomorphology across scales
08:35–08:45
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EGU24-2096
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Virtual presentation
Joris Cromsigt, Annegret Larsen, and Jasper Griffioen

Ecohydrology describes the effects of hydrological processes on ecosystem structure and functioning and the effects of biotic processes on hydrological processes. Recently, there is an increasing emphasis on the role of megafauna, large mammals and birds, on earth system processes, such as nutrient cycling, energy flows and vegetation patterns. Ecohydrology as a field, however, has not yet considered megafauna as central drivers of hydrological processes but focused strongly on the interactions between hydrological processes and plants and soils. Here, we introduce zoohydrology to emphasize the importance of considering the interactions between wild animals and hydrological processes. This includes both the effects of hydrological processes on the occurrence, behavior and life history of animals as well as the effects animals have on hydrology. In this introductory talk, we will outline different pathways through which hydrology affects megafauna and through which megafauna affect hydrological processes using a systems approach. We will illustrate these pathways with concrete examples from different parts of the world and on different species. For example, the importance of hydrological processes and hydromorpho-dynamics for shaping habitats of endangered species, such as the Ganges freshwater dolphin and Bengal tigers in northern India and Nepal, but also for structuring megafauna community dynamics, such as the example of Gorongosa National Park in Mozambique. We will also exemplify how wild animals can affect central hydrological processes in diverse ways; directly (e.g., species such as beaver and hippo as ecosystem engineers of aquatic systems) and indirectly (e.g., elephants that reduce woody cover at large scales, affecting evapotranspiration). Many effects of animals on hydrological processes remain understudied and are often lacking from hydrological models. By introducing the concept of zoohydrology, we stress the potentially pivotal interactions between central hydrological processes, wild animals and their habitats. To unravel the full complexity of these interactions and assess their true importance, zoohydrology must be advocated among scientists, policy makers and practitioners in order to better address biodiversity conservation and restoration, make the concept of environmental flow needs more concrete, and investigate the consequences of biodiversity restoration on hydrological systems.

How to cite: Cromsigt, J., Larsen, A., and Griffioen, J.: An introduction to the concept of Zoohydrology – the interactions between hydrological processes and wild animals, EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-2096, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-2096, 2024.

08:45–08:55
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EGU24-16062
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On-site presentation
Vicky Stratigaki, Jelle Evenepoel, Mathieu Wille, Emile Lemey, Ignace Stols, Dominic De Prins, Andrea Sofia Reyes Chejin, Julia Peláez Ávila, Marlies Kimpe, Julie Nieto Wigby, Bernd Herremans, Maria Ibanez, Renaat De Sutter, Boris Bohorquez, Stijn Temmerman, and Farid Dahdouh-Guebas

Jan De Nul Group has a long-standing presence in Ecuador, particularly since 2018, when a 25-year concession contract began for performing maintenance dredging for the Access Channel to the port of Guayaquil. This area is part of the Guayas river delta and is covered by mangrove forests that provide important ecosystem services. However, in the last few decades there has been significant loss of mangroves in the area, which intensifies coastal safety problems, as the land around the Guayas river delta becomes more exposed to floods and coastal erosion.

In response to this, the AquaForest innovation project was introduced in 2023. Dredged material from the Access Channel of Guayaquil will be reused for the first time in a circular and sustainable way to create a new mangrove habitat on a new intertidal flat created in the Guayas river delta, located 15km NE of Posorja. AquaForest will become a ‘Nature-based-Solutions’ (NbS) Living lab where important mangrove ecosystem services will be demonstrated and monitored such as protection against floods, biodiversity gain, carbon sequestration and socio-economic benefits for the local communities.

The AquaForest project concept is based on the development of “green-grey infrastructure”. This approach combines conventional engineering techniques for land reclamation with the circular reuse of dredged material to create mangroves through assisted afforestation. At the same time, the initial conditions will be created (e.g. sediment characteristics, hydraulic and hydrodynamic conditions) that are ideal for the growth of mangrove propagules, the proliferation of new accompanying tree seeds and the colonization process of associated biodiversity (micro and macro fauna), though suitable eco-engineering of the project site. Part of the project also focuses on the study of upscaling of this type of Nature-based-Solutions. As such, knowledge obtained from this pilot project regarding the implementation and monitoring of mangrove NbS will be employed in the upscaling of the AquaForest concept in future projects across the region and around the world, particularly in areas where mangrove forests serve as vital components of local ecosystems.

AquaForest demonstrates co-creation between private companies, public institutions, international organisations, local communities and citizens, NGOs, universities and researchers. The project is a collaboration between Jan De Nul Group, Mantis Consulting, HAEDES, Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral, Free University of Brussels, University of Antwerp, South Pole, and the Calisur Foundation. The project furthermore has the full support of the Ecuadorian Ministry of Environment, Water and Ecological Transition (MAATE) and all other important local stakeholders.

Acknowledgements: AquaForest is supported by the Government of Flanders (NL: “Departement Omgeving”) through the G-STIC Climate Action Programme 2022, and The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) through the ‘Blue Natural Capital Financing Facility’.

How to cite: Stratigaki, V., Evenepoel, J., Wille, M., Lemey, E., Stols, I., De Prins, D., Reyes Chejin, A. S., Peláez Ávila, J., Kimpe, M., Nieto Wigby, J., Herremans, B., Ibanez, M., De Sutter, R., Bohorquez, B., Temmerman, S., and Dahdouh-Guebas, F.: Nature-based-Solutions for restoring and developing new mangrove habitats through eco-engineering, EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-16062, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-16062, 2024.

08:55–09:05
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EGU24-4650
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On-site presentation
Alan Puttock, Holly Barclay, Matt Holden, Peter Burgess, and Richard Brazier

Our landscapes and watercourses face intense pressures from climate extremes, land use change, declining biodiversity and increased demand for water resources. It is increasingly proposed that by working with natural processes, Nature-based Solutions (NbS) can increase resilience to these pressures, providing multiple environmental and societal benefits.

Beavers are the archetypal ecosystem engineers and keystone species, which can profoundly alter ecosystem structure and function, creating complex wetland environments (Brazier et al., 2021). Research has shown the return of the Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber) to European landscapes can provide multiple benefits including for biodiversity and water resource management (Puttock et al., 2021). However, beaver activity such as damming and tree-felling within our intensively managed and populated landscapes can also conflict with existing land use (Auster et al., 2019). Therefore, management and policy frameworks are required which mitigate conflicts and maximise the NbS benefits beavers can bring.

The Making Space for Water Programme (Barclay et al., 2023) will be introduced, which aims to support land managers to build a network of nature rich wetlands across South West England. This project led by Devon Wildlife Trust, in partnership with the University of Exeter and local landowners is the first of its kind in the UK, aiming to work with wild beavers to deliver natural solutions to address societal challenges.  Case studies will be presented discussing how geospatial mapping and modelling, stakeholder engagement and green finance approaches are being implemented to make catchments ‘beaver ready’, target financial support and enable NbS to deliver significant and lasting benefits. It is hoped that the approach adopted in this project alongside discussion of challenges and benefits can contribute towards progress in the mainstreaming of nature-led NbS approaches.

References

Auster, R. E., Puttock, A., & Brazier, R. (2019). Unravelling perceptions of Eurasian beaver reintroduction in Great Britain. Area, area.12576. https://doi.org/10.1111/area.12576

Barclay, H., Holden, M., Puttock, A., & Burgess, P. (2023) Making Space for Water: Investing in nature-based solutions with beavers. https://www.flipsnack.com/devonwildlifetrust/dwt-beaver-green-finance-programme/full-view.html

Brazier, R. E., Puttock, A., Graham, H. A., Auster, R. E., Davies, K. H. & Brown, C. M. . (2021). Beaver: Nature’s ecosystem engineers. WIREs Water. DOI:10.1002/wat2.1494

Puttock, A., Graham, H. A., Ashe, J., Luscombe, D. J. & Brazier, R. E. (2021). Beaver dams attenuate flow: A multi‐site study. Hydrological Processes, 35(2), e14017. DOI:10.1002/hyp.14017

How to cite: Puttock, A., Barclay, H., Holden, M., Burgess, P., and Brazier, R.: Making Space for Water: Investing in Nature-based Solutions with Beavers, EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-4650, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-4650, 2024.

09:05–09:15
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EGU24-11619
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On-site presentation
Christophe Besacier, Carolina Gallo Granizo, and Andrea Romero Montoya

The UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021-2030) was declared by the UN General Assembly driven by the global need to support and scale up efforts to prevent, halt and reverse the degradation of ecosystems worldwide. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), as leaders of the Decade, are working together with other relevant stakeholders to achieve the Decade’s mission. To do so, focus is given to the development of capacities to empower professionals and institutions involved in the field of restoration to design, implement, monitor and sustain effective restoration initiatives. In the framework of the Best Practices Task Force (TF) of the Decade, partners have jointly developed a Capacity, Knowledge and Learning Action Plan, based on the findings of a global capacity needs assessment, a stocktake of knowledge products and capacity-development activities, and multiple targeted consultations. The plan identifies the gaps where knowledge products or capacity-development initiatives are required across different stakeholder groups, and provides terms of reference for capacity and knowledge development initiatives tailored for those different stakeholder groups. The TF has published the Standards of Practice to guide ecosystem restoration, providing key recommendations in an effort to facilitate the application of the principles for ecosystem restoration. In addition, the TF has created the Framework for the Dissemination of Good Restoration Practices to help practitioners share and consult information about restoration. This framework is in turn part of the UN Decade’s Framework for Ecosystem Restoration Monitoring (FERM), and allows for the collection and documentation of good practices. It also features a common search engine to connect and facilitate retrieving best practices from different relevant platforms, besides the FERM. These resources provide any restoration actor with an essential base for an effective planning, implementation and monitoring of global and local restoration efforts.

How to cite: Besacier, C., Gallo Granizo, C., and Romero Montoya, A.: Fostering forest and landscape restoration under the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-11619, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-11619, 2024.

09:15–09:25
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EGU24-11821
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Highlight
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On-site presentation
Stuart Grieve, Harry Owen, Paloma Ruiz-Benito, and Emily Lines

Forests and landscapes are fundamentally interconnected, with geomorphic process being modulated by vegetation dynamics, which in turn is influenced by landscape form. Trees play a critical role in shaping landscapes by redistributing sediment across the Earth's surface via gradual processes including tree throw and root growth, and catastrophic processes such as landsliding and debris flows, where spatially variable root cohesion contributes to slope failure likelihood. Conversely, landscape morphology controls the availability of light, water and nutrients for trees and has been observed to dive significant variability in the structure and composition of forests at both local and regional scales. Until recently, our ability to disentangle these processes at broad spatial scales has been limited due to a lack of high resolution data on tree morphology. Advances in Terrestrial Laser Scanning and UAV-LiDAR systems now allow forest plots to be scanned rapidly, capturing the morphology of hundreds of trees alongside the terrain they grow on.

Working across a range of European forest ecosystems, representing a range of climates, we have constructed an unprecedented 3D dataset of European forest-landscape dynamics. From plot-level scans, individual trees are segmented from the digital forest and classified by species. State of the art structural metrics are then computed at an individual, species, and regional level across each distinct climate zone. This pan-European dataset is then coupled with high resolution topographic data, to explore the fundamental linkages between landscapes and vegetation.

How to cite: Grieve, S., Owen, H., Ruiz-Benito, P., and Lines, E.: Forest-landscape dynamics across a climate gradient, EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-11821, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-11821, 2024.

09:25–09:35
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EGU24-20606
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ECS
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On-site presentation
Pedro Krainovic, João Paulo Romanelli, Laura Helena Porcari Simões, Lukas Rodrigues Souza, Rens Brower, Ana Flávia Boeni, Klécia G. Massi, Cássio A. P. Toledo, Ricardo R. Rodrigues, Vinicius C. Souza, Rafael B. Chaves, Sergio de-Miguel8, and Pedro H. S. Brancalion

Forest restoration faces persistent challenges for its financial viability due to high land opportunity costs and insufficient financial returns from restored areas, such as through payments for ecosystem services and timber production. A potential financial pathway is to develop non-timber forest products with bioeconomic potential. Here, we explore the bioeconomic potential of native tree species growing in different types of new wooded lands in Atlantic forests. First, we established 25 30 𝚡 30 m plots in natural regeneration, degraded forest remnants, and actively managed areas (eucalyptus monoculture and active restoration) in the Paraíba Valley, southeastern Brazil, where we sampled all woody individuals with dbh ≥ 5 cm, totaling 284 native tree species. Then, we conducted a literature review and patent survey on the biotechnological potential of the species sampled. Based on this review and survey, we calculated the proportion of sampled species with patents and assessed the species used and general characteristics of patents registered among prominent companies in the market. We found 168 (70%) species with a biotechnological potential based on the presence/absence of articles reporting uses for medicine, cosmetics, food, and other market segments, such as bioinsecticides, bio fertilization, construction, and manufacturing. In the sampled areas, species offer varied potential for use, with higher potential in spontaneous environments. Araucaria angustifolia was the most extensively studied species, with 246 research papers, followed by Euterpe edulis (205), Baccharis dracunculifolia (188), Dodonaea viscosa (170), Cedrela odorata (158), Copaifera langsdorffii (139) and Hymenaea courbaril (132). We found patents worldwide, distributed across more than 20 countries, for the sampled species. The medicinal use of leaf chemicals accounts for the largest use in our survey. Despite these numbers, we found that less than 5% of the investigated articles reported evaluations of final products, while most provided results from in vitro, in vivo, or chemical analytics descriptions. Most patents registered by companies are related to exotic and non-tree species, many associated with existing commodity chains, reinforcing the need to integrate bioeconomy and forest restoration agendas better.

How to cite: Krainovic, P., Paulo Romanelli, J., Helena Porcari Simões, L., Rodrigues Souza, L., Brower, R., Flávia Boeni, A., G. Massi, K., A. P. Toledo, C., R. Rodrigues, R., C. Souza, V., B. Chaves, R., de-Miguel8, S., and H. S. Brancalion, P.: Bioeconomy gaps and opportunities in restored Atlantic forests, EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-20606, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-20606, 2024.

09:35–09:45
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EGU24-20879
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On-site presentation
Stella Tsoka, Vasiliki Pappa, Nikos Markos, and Demetri Bouris

This study presents the preliminary results of the ongoing research project “Re.Nature Cities”, in which  the ability of street trees to act as an effective measure against increased urban air temperatures is evaluated via experimental and simulation means. In the existing literature, numerous studies highlight that the addition of street trees inside the canyons of urban areas may result in a significant reduction of the peak ambient summer Tair, having also a prominent effect on outdoor thermal comfort regulation. Yet, street trees also impact urban ventilation as they act as barriers, disturbing the wind flow and affecting buildings’ energy needs and thermal comfort; the positive effect of wind sheltering during the cold winter period, can be thus significantly counterbalanced during the warmer periods of the year. The existing evidence reveals that the green elements’ implementation in the built environment without holistically accounting for all the vegetation-air-buildings interactions, can even exacerbate human discomfort and deteriorate indoor natural ventilation.

Based on the above, this study evaluates the mitigation potential of a tree type that is commonly encountered in Greek cities – the citrus- since it has low irrigation needs and high drought tolerance. An integrated experimental campaign, employing wind tunnel measurements, albedo and Leaf Area Index/Leaf Area Density (LAI/LAD) measurements is conducted so as to define of the aerodynamic, thermal and foliage characteristics of real trees.  Wind tunnel measurements of total drag are carried out in a wind tunnel section of 3.5m width and 2.5m height, while LAI measurements are conducted using a plant canopy analyzer, with the LAD of each layer (1 m/layer) then calculated from LAI by empirical equations. The obtained values are then used as input parameters in the vegetation model of the ENVI-met microclimate model, which is employed for the evaluation of the thermal environment of typical building blocks in Greece, considering different planting patterns and vegetation coverage scenarios.

The experimental database of foliage, thermal and aerodynamic characteristics of common urban tree species, along with the detailed microclimatic simulations of typical urban districts provide a valuable tool for decision-making regarding the optimal vegetation coverage and the planting pattern for urban areas.

 

How to cite: Tsoka, S., Pappa, V., Markos, N., and Bouris, D.: Assessing the effect of citrus plant on the improvement of the outdoor thermal environment using wind tunnel and ground-based Leaf Area Index measurements, EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-20879, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-20879, 2024.

09:45–09:55
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EGU24-19044
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On-site presentation
Andrea Funk, Damiano Baldan, Paul Meulenbroek, Didier Pont, Sonia Recinos Brizuela, Elisabeth Bondar-Kunze, and Thomas Hein

Connectivity is a crucial property of the riverine landscape. Reduction of connectivity, i.e. habitat fragmentation and isolation effects, impacting ecological functions and biotic communities, is one of the most critical threats to river-floodplain systems. Using a graph theoretical approach for analyzing possible transport pathways in the system (directed, undirected, overland, seepage), we could show that essential ecological functions related to sediment composition and quality, hydrochemical conditions, and macrophyte coverage can be predicted and importance of waterbodies in the network and their main connectivity deficits can be identified. In a second step we are now integrating biotic communities in the predictive framework. Dependent on dispersal model and habitat preferences the different taxonomic groups show clear pattern i.e. drifting invertebrate organisms are highly driven on directed transport whereas fish as active swimmers are more dependent on connectivity in the waterbody network or organism with terrestrial or flying dispersal (amphibia or flying insects) are dependent on overland connectivity. Further they interact with the ecological functions in the system. Using a temporal dataset based on eDNA (environmental DNA) we can further show that ecosystem conditions and distributions of biotic communities are dependent on different transport/movement pathways changing with hydrological conditions (flood to low flow conditions). The dynamic graph theoretic approach can, therefore, be used as an essential tool for prioritizing water bodies for nature-based solutions.

How to cite: Funk, A., Baldan, D., Meulenbroek, P., Pont, D., Recinos Brizuela, S., Bondar-Kunze, E., and Hein, T.: Connectivity as a driver of biodiversity and functioning in riverine landscapes: A dynamic, graph theoretic approach., EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-19044, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-19044, 2024.

09:55–10:05
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EGU24-15884
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ECS
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On-site presentation
Catherine Sanders

Zebra mussels (Dreissena bugensis) and quagga mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) are invasive throughout much of the northern hemisphere. Whilst much attention has been paid to their role in altering aquatic systems via their filter feeding, little attention has been given to their role as geomorphic agents, or the relationships between geomorphology and their ecosystem engineering. We aimed to understand the controls and feedbacks between fluvial geomorphology and Dreissenid mussel invasion, utilising field, laboratory, and numerical modelling approaches. We found important consequences for both geomorphology and ecosystems, with mussel invasion significantly impacting annual sediment transport rates, and positively facilitating the invasion of further priority invasive species.

Quagga mussels attach to benthic sediments using byssal threads, which affects sediment stability and thereby broader river geomorphology. At an invaded gravel bed river, quagga mussels attached >500 g m-2 of mineral sediments together. In ex situ flume experiments, this process increased critical shear stress by 40%. Numerical modelling of flow at the study river was used to upscale these stresses to estimate changes to sediment transport over a recorded five-year flow period, which indicated that typical densities of quagga mussels may reduce the occurrence of a geomorphically active flood event from Q30 to Q2, and reduce sediment transport by 74%. Thus, substantial alterations to bedload sediment transport may occur following quagga mussel invasion.

Dreissenid mussels are also ecosystem engineers, where their shells provide a unique stable habitat in fine-grained rivers. Field surveys found that mussel shells positively facilitate macroinvertebrate communities, but preferentially facilitate co-evolved, high-priority invasive amphipods. The construction of a spatial model of riverbed grainsize across England and Wales, combined with an analysis of Environment Agency nationwide presence/absence records, identified that ecosystem engineering by zebra mussels was particularly powerful in fine-grained river systems to other invasive taxa. Supporting mechanistic aquarium experiments indicated that the ecosystem engineering of zebra mussels may support the invasions of high-profile amphipod species into otherwise unfavourable habitats, which could not be invaded without mussel engineering. Channelisation and dredging, which simplify river channels, may benefit Dreissenid mussel ecosystem engineering and the facilitation of other invasive species. Instead, Nature-based Solutions could be employed to restore the geomorphic functioning of systems, which may improve resilience against high-priority invasive species.

How to cite: Sanders, C.: Geomorphic invaders: Geomorphic potential and landscape controls on the biogeomorphology and ecosystem engineering of Dreissenid mussels, EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-15884, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-15884, 2024.

10:05–10:15
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EGU24-21127
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On-site presentation
Jiangyu Dai, Xiufeng Wu, and Shiqiang Wu

Cyanobacterial bloom induced by water eutrophication is one of the most serious ecological problems in freshwater lakes. Water diversion, transferring external freshwater into lakes, is proved to be the eco-hydraulic engineering measure rapidly relieving cyanobacterial blooms in eutrophic lakes. To explore the response of phytoplankton community to the changed aquatic habitat influenced by water diversion, we constructed the microcosm experiment modeling water diversion from Yangtze River to Lake Taihu in the laboratory, with one control group and three flow discharges groups of external freshwater from Wangyu River diversion channel during the summer water diversion period. Each modeling microcosm ecosystem had a volume of 5 L and was studied for a period of 20 days (10 days for the water diversion period and 10 days for the stop period). The results showed that the responses of physicochemical parameters in lake microcosms were sensitive, reflecting by the variations in contents of aquatic dissolved oxygen, total nitrogen, total phosphorus and dissolved silicate positively correlated with the flow discharges. During the period of water diversion, the cell abundances of Cyanophyta in all treat groups decreased significantly, while the abundances of Bacillariophyta increased, especially in the group with the highest flow discharge. The diversity and dominant species in phyla of Cyanophyta and Bacillariophyta were changed by water diversion and evidently in the highest flow discharge group. On the 20th day of the stop period, the relative proportion of Microcystis spp. recovered, and Pseudanabaena spp. became one of dominant cyanobacterial species in treat groups, which was related to the dominance of Pseudanabaena spp. in the external river water. The redundancy analysis between aquatic physicochemical parameters and phytoplankton communities revealed that variations in contents of aquatic dissolved oxygen, total nitrogen and dissolved silicate were the dominant environmental factors influencing lacustrine phytoplankton community in addition to the allochthonous inputs from external freshwater. However, the recovery of Microcystis spp. during the stop period of water diversion demonstrated that water diversion from Yangtze River to Lake Taihu has no sustainable effect on changing the dominance of Microcystis spp. in lakes in short time, although the diversity and phytoplankton community composition shifted during water diversion.

How to cite: Dai, J., Wu, X., and Wu, S.: Resilience of lacustrine phytoplankton community to the short-term river-to-lake water diversion, EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-21127, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-21127, 2024.

Coffee break
Chairpersons: David C. Finger, Ranka Junge, Alexandros Stefanakis
10:45–10:50
Nature-based solutions
10:50–11:00
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EGU24-3786
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On-site presentation
Loc Ho, Minh Nguyen, Mukand Singh Babel, and Edward Park

Nature-based solutions (NBSs) have been promoted as a holistic way to solve a variety of societal issues while benefiting biodiversity at the same time. To date, applications of NBS approaches that help ensure food security have yet been systematically reviewed. In this paper, we critically review the specific NBSs for food security, highlighting their limitations, to provide recommendations that promote their applications for improving global food security. Our systematic review of nearly 700 peer-reviewed articles indicated that many NBS approaches can be applied to enhance food security dimensions individually or together. However, there is a strong bias towards food availability and not enough research has been done to link NBSs with
improvements in food access and utilization. Over 80% of the reviewed papers were of short-term studies or without specific timeframes, and 25% offered no information on economic effectiveness of NBSs. Environmental benefits of NBSs were explicitly described in about 60% of these papers, and biodiversity enhancement was measured in only about 10%. We, therefore, recommend future applications of NBSs to safeguard food security be shifted to food access and utilization with careful consultation with local communities to address their specific context, using indicators that are easily measured and managed. Systematic monitoring regime and robust and diversified financial support system are also equally important in efforts to successfully implement NBSs. Moreover, environmental and societal benefits, especially water productivity and biodiversity, must be incorporated into the planning and design of NBSs.

How to cite: Ho, L., Nguyen, M., Babel, M. S., and Park, E.: Nature-based solutions for improving food security: A systematic globalreview, EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-3786, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-3786, 2024.

11:00–11:10
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EGU24-6592
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ECS
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On-site presentation
Heba Marey, Gábor Kozma, and György Szabó

The rapid population growth rate is associated with an increased number of residential buildings worldwide; thereby, the massive consumption of building materials causes negative environmental consequences such as the depletion of natural resources and rising non-renewable energy use. To address the environmental, societal, and economic challenges, using Nature-based Solutions (NbS) in residential building materials became essential and considered a catalyst tool for realizing sustainable development goals (SDGs) of the UN 2030 agenda. Consequently, using green building materials (GBM) based on NbS as a long-term strategy should be considered during the whole building life cycle for applying sustainability. This research aims to investigate the potential role of using NbS in residential building materials to achieve SDG and develop a framework for assessing and identifying the direct and indirect inner relationships that affect resource efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and building occupants' comfort level. The research attempts to answer how using NbS in residential building materials can contribute to achieving SDG. The eco-friendly approach was used based on a comprehensive literature review to identify the sustainability indicators for using the GBM. The system dynamics (SD) is also used for estimating and quantifying the selected materials through the building life span, starting from the early design stage until demolition and disposal to landfill. The causal loop diagram (CLD) was created based on the data collected from the residential building case study in New Capital Administrative in Egypt after applying the sustainability indicators, followed by critical analysis to identify the realization of the SDGs. The results showed the framework promotes the potential benefits of using NbS in residential building materials. GBM has significantly contributed to achieving several SDG goals and their targets. The study recommended that the selection of alternative materials and the occupant's comfort level deserve more attention from the early design stage and need more consideration.

Keywords, Green Building Materials, Nature-based Solutions, System Dynamic, Sustainable Development Goals, Egypt

How to cite: Marey, H., Kozma, G., and Szabó, G.: The Role of Using Natural-Based Solutions in Residential Building Materials for Achieving Sustainable Development Goals, EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-6592, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-6592, 2024.

11:10–11:20
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EGU24-4763
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ECS
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On-site presentation
Diego Costa, Jukka Heinonen, David Finger, Sigríður Bjarnadóttir, Ólafur Ögmundarson, Börge Wigum, Björn Þorsteinsson, and Helga Adolfsdóttir

The concentration of atmospheric carbon has overpassed 420ppm calling for urgent action to mitigate climate change and remain below the 1.5-degree warming agreed in the Paris climate agreement. The construction industry, with energy consumption included, is with about 40% a significant contributor to the global carbon emissions. Within concrete production, cement accounts for 90% of the emissions. Notably, cement production alone accounts for 8% of global carbon emissions.

Fly ash is amongst the most used of all Supplementary Cementitious Material (SCM). However, its availability is becoming an issue since many coal power plants are shutting down in Europe. Moreover, its environmental profile is questionable. Fly ash is a side product of a carbon intensive industry. Nonetheless, no environmental load has been allocated to it until now.

This study investigates how Volcanic Pozzolan from Iceland (VPI) in concrete compares to traditional concrete and VPI to fly ash, as well as the potential of reducing carbon emissions in concrete production by using VPI as SCM and substitute for cement.

To assess the environmental impacts of VPI and fly ash in cement production, we conducted a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). For this purpose, we used the GaBi software and relied on primary data from the developers, Heidelberg Materials, and secondary data from the Ecoinvent database.

Our preliminary results reveal that the utilization of VPI as SCM yields an important reduction in carbon emissions compared to Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) concrete. This notable decrease in carbon footprint positions VPI as a compelling alternative for sustainable concrete production. Two primary factors support this assertion: i) preliminary tests affirm the comparable properties of VPI concrete to OPC, and ii) the diminishing availability of fly ash in Europe necessitates alternative sources, often located at considerable distances, thereby escalating transportation-related emissions.

In conclusion, the integration of VPI emerges as a viable strategy to combat climate change and curtail the carbon footprint of the concrete and construction industry. This initiative aligns with global environmental objectives outlined in the Paris Agreement, United Nations Climate Change Conference, and the Nordic commitment to carbon neutrality by 2040. Embracing VPI as a sustainable alternative in concrete production reflects a positive stride towards achieving these critical environmental milestones.

How to cite: Costa, D., Heinonen, J., Finger, D., Bjarnadóttir, S., Ögmundarson, Ó., Wigum, B., Þorsteinsson, B., and Adolfsdóttir, H.: The potential of Volcanic Pozzolan from Iceland (VPI) in concrete production to reduce the carbon footprint, EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-4763, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-4763, 2024.

11:20–11:30
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EGU24-6788
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ECS
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On-site presentation
Panagiotis Regkouzas, Ioannis Asimakoulas, Eirini Athanasiadou, Elisavet Koukouraki, and Alexandros Stefanakis

Biochar is a sustainable carbonaceous solid material derived from biomass pyrolysis, which abides to circular economy principles in several ways that concern both its production and its several application fields. Biochar is produced by valorizing different organic waste biomass, such as agricultural waste, municipal solid waste, sewage sludge and industrial biowaste, to create a beneficial and valuable product that can then be used in many fields. Thus, biochar production serves perfectly the circularity paradigm as it renders a previously considered waste material to a valuable input material for a new production process. The grounds for the increasing use of and interest in biochars is their favourable physicochemical characteristics, such as the high carbon, macro- and micro- nutrient content, the high porosity and specific surface area, and the abundance of surface functional groups.

Biochar can be effectively used as soil amendment providing fertilizing properties to the applied soil that leads to higher crop production and increased crop nutrient content and quality. At the same time, it provides a stable source of carbon to the soil for several years after its application, contributing this way to CO2 mitigation. Biochar can also be used as an adsorbent due to its carbonaceous porous structure to remediate polluted soil, water and wastewater from either organic or/and inorganic pollutants, even in low pollutant concentrations.

Τhis abstract will present a comprehensive range of studies on biochar production from different sources and its use in different sectors. One of the latest applications is its use as a substrate in Constructed Wetlands for sustainable wastewater treatment, in order to enhance the various pollutant removal/transformation processes. Three different research studies will be presented where biochar was produced from green waste (e.g., olive tree branches) and used as substrate in various Constructed Wetland pilot units that treat domestic wastewater, landfill leachate and olive mill wastewater as an ecological treatment technology.

Furthermore, an agronomic application of biochar as soil amendment in a pot experiment for the cultivation of lettuce will be shown. Finally, the environmental application of biochar produced from sewage sludge as adsorbent will be presented towards the decontamination of water and wastewater from organic emerging micro-contaminants.

How to cite: Regkouzas, P., Asimakoulas, I., Athanasiadou, E., Koukouraki, E., and Stefanakis, A.: The role of biochar in a circular economy: from agriculture to water and wastewater treatment applications, EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-6788, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-6788, 2024.

11:30–11:40
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EGU24-7697
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ECS
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On-site presentation
Ioannis Asimakoulas, Panagiotis Regouzas, Elisavet Koukouraki, and Alexandros Stefanakis

Wastewater treatment generates a by-product material known as sewage sludge. In many countries, most of the produced sludge is disposed in landfills, following a linear management strategy that is based on mechanical and chemical methods for limited dewatering and daily transportation to landfills. This strategy is rather expensive and unsustainable and possesses several environmental risks such as groundwater pollution, insufficient sludge drying and stabilization, high carbon footprint etc. Ecological engineering concepts and technologies can provide a circular sludge management strategy that focuses on the utilization of this valuable by-product with the smallest possible environmental impact.

This work will present an ongoing large research study that investigates different technologies and methods towards transforming this organic by-product to a beneficial material with the minimum environmental impact. Specific tasks of the project are:

  • A setup of 16 pilot-scale units of the sustainable technology of Sludge Treatment Wetlands for sewage sludge treatment. The pilot units have different operation and construction properties, such as planted/unplanted, presence of earthworms, different substrate thickness, different loading rates, in order to eventually result in a highly efficient and optimized design configuration.
  • Composting of sewage sludge along with the reed biomass from the constructed wetlands
  • Production of biochar using sewage sludge and reed biomass as raw materials

 

The experimental results of the first operational year of this project will be presented.

The studied circular model for sludge management will be evaluated regarding the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions due to the non-use of mechanical dewatering methods, avoidance of high energy and chemicals consumption, and cessation of daily transport and disposal in landfills. The various organic materials that are produced will be assessed based on their quality properties and will further be tested by application to tomato crops for the estimation of yield improvement. Ultimately, an assessment of the economic, technical, environmental and social parameters of all methods and material cycles and studied management scenarios, will be carried out in order to determine the optimal circular management strategy.

How to cite: Asimakoulas, I., Regouzas, P., Koukouraki, E., and Stefanakis, A.: Circular management of sewage sludge for the sustainable dewatering and reuse of biosolids: an experimental study, EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-7697, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-7697, 2024.

11:40–11:50
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EGU24-7812
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ECS
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On-site presentation
Styliani Biliani and Ioannis Manariotis

Raceway open systems are a highly promising, eco-friendly methodology for wastewater treatment. To assess how effectively nutrients and organic matter were removed from primary and secondary treated wastewater, two laboratory-scale open-raceway algal-bacteria ponds were used. The reactors were operated at organic loading rates (OLR) ranging from 29 to 95 and 9 to 38 g sCOD m3/d, for primary and secondary effluent, respectively. The hydraulic retention time (HRT) of both reactors dropped progressively from 5.5 to 2.2 d, and they thereafter ran at a HRT of 1.1 d. After 130 days, a high biomass concentration of around 2.2 g/ L was maintained with both substrates. Reactors were shown to be functional even at lower HRT levels by the quick removal of organic matter and nutrients. In less than 12 hours, the highly active biomass that was produced with both substrates resulted in the almost complete removal of organic matter and nutrients.
With its exceptional settling capabilities, the algal-bacteria biomass may settle in less than ten minutes. The algal-bacteria content of biomass was 18.3 to 16.5% for lipids, 72.5 to 72.6% for proteins, and 2.6 to 3.2% for carbohydrates. The findings of the present work show that syntrophic algal-bacteria biomass is effective for the high-rate treatment of municipal wastewater. The low operational cost as well as the potential nutrient recovery and biomass valorization make the algal-bacteria process a circular-green model for wastewater management .

How to cite: Biliani, S. and Manariotis, I.: Algal-bacteria raceway ponds for circular wastewater treatment, EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-7812, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-7812, 2024.

11:50–12:00
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EGU24-11118
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ECS
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Highlight
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On-site presentation
Leonardo Bertassello, Nandita Basu, and Luc Feyen

Over the past century, the nitrogen pollution problem has grown concomitantly with population growth, intensified agricultural practices, and a warming climate. In Europe, the presence of excess nitrogen in the environment has already exceeded safe planetary boundaries, posing a threat to Earth’s water supply and biodiversity.

While considerable efforts are now focused toward mitigating this problem through increased regulatory measures on wastewater treatment plants and implementation of better agricultural management practices, there is a growing interest in the use of wetlands as nature-based solutions (NBS) to improve water quality and, in particular, to reduce nitrogen loading to downstream water.

Despite these benefits, wetlands are among the most degraded ecosystem in Europe, having experienced significant shrinkage over the past centuries, now constituting only one-third of their 1700 extent. This decline is largely attributed to agricultural expansion on drained productive wetland soils, while also contributing to increased nitrogen pollution from excess use of fertilizers.

To address these issues, starting from nitrogen surplus data and current wetland extent at European scale we estimate with a physically-based model that current removal potential of wetlands is about 1113 ± 101 kt of N per year (~6.5% of total N surplus in European soil). The significance of wetlands in water quality remediation is underscored by the fact that this nitrogen would otherwise enter the river network and, subsequently, the sea. Given that the current riverine loads in EU watersheds amount to about 2730 kt N per year, the loss of current wetlands would increase this figure by over 40%, with detrimental consequences for the status of surface waters and the eutrophication of coastal areas.

We propose a set of restoration scenarios, along with the associated costs, for the restoration of wetlands that have been drained for agricultural purposes. Our analysis aligns with the objective of the Nature Restoration Law, requiring EU member states to implement effective restoration measures to cover at least 20% of the EU’s land and sea areas by 2030. We show that by restoring 2.6% of EU land (equivalent to 20% of historical wetlands), we could nearly double the current nitrogen uptake (2108 ± 187 kt of N per year), and significantly improve riverine water quality by reducing more than 30% of their loads to the sea. In addition, wetland restoration will offer a wide array of ecosystem co-benefits from flood prevention and carbon sequestration to provision of critical habitat for specialized flora and fauna.

How to cite: Bertassello, L., Basu, N., and Feyen, L.: Enhancing Nitrogen Removal in European River Basins: The Crucial Role of Wetland Conservation and Restoration as Nature-Based Solutions, EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-11118, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-11118, 2024.

12:00–12:10
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EGU24-7509
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On-site presentation
Annett Frick, Nastasja Scholz, Sascha Gey, Damaris Zurell, Levin Wiedenroth, Nika Oman Kadunc, Nejc Vesel, Ine Rosier, Rik Hendrix, Annelies de Meyer, Ruth Sonnenschein, Basil Tufail, Bartolomeo Ventura, Tomas Orlickas, and Martynas Rimgaila

BirdWatch, funded by the Horizon Europe Program, focuses on improving the state of biodiversity of the EU's agricultural landscape, in line with major policy targets of the EU Green Deal, the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, and the Farm to Fork Strategy. A healthy agricutural ecosystem forms the necessary basis for the provision of nature-based solutions and, eventually, for the resilience of our society.

Leveraging Copernicus satellite data, the project assesses agricultural areas to identify their suitability for farmland birds and strategises ways to enhance ecological conditions. As indicator species, birds offer insights into overall biodiversity health, contributing to a broader understanding of ecosystem well-being.

The project employs species distribution modeling to link bird occurrence data with habitat requirements, establishing models that gauge habitat suitability and the likelihood of an area being suitable for specific bird species. Utilising remote sensing data, BirdWatch quantifies essential environmental descriptors such as structural variability, land cover type, crop type, mowing intensity and soil moisture. These parameters are then fed into the habitat models to assess landscape suitability.

Knowing the state of habitat suitability and the habitat requirements, BirdWatch identifies which of the agroecological schemes under the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), have to be applied to improve the farmland conditions. The agri-environmental schemes are selected in such a way to ensure that they are not in conflict with any spatial or ecological requirements.

Here, BirdWatch uses spatial optimisation, taking into account both the ecological requirements and the economic and operational constraints of the farmers who need to implement the agri-environmental measures as part of their obligations under the CAP.

Benefiting from Copernicus program's high temporal resolution, BirdWatch evaluates the success of agri-environmental measures and makes adjustments as needed.

Upon project completion, the service will be accessible through a web-based GIS application in the project regions of Flanders, Germany, Lithuania, and South Tyrol.

How to cite: Frick, A., Scholz, N., Gey, S., Zurell, D., Wiedenroth, L., Kadunc, N. O., Vesel, N., Rosier, I., Hendrix, R., de Meyer, A., Sonnenschein, R., Tufail, B., Ventura, B., Orlickas, T., and Rimgaila, M.: BirdWatch - a Copernicus-based service for the improvement of habitat suitability of farmland birds in the EU, EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-7509, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-7509, 2024.

12:10–12:20
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EGU24-18911
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ECS
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On-site presentation
Mitigating Carbon Loss Risks through Natural Climate Solutions Portfolios
(withdrawn)
Sara Cerasoli and Amilcare Porporato
12:20–12:30
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EGU24-16707
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On-site presentation
Bjoern Kluge and Yannick Dahm

Vertical greenery (VG) provides mutliple ecosystem services and diverse forms of implementation. Benefits are linked to maintenance, irrigation, and appropriate planning. The focus of the Fabikli project was to apply these aspects to educational purposes in three highschools in Berlin. This case study delineates the planning, implementation, maintenance, and educational operation of the project.

Complications arose due to planning errors and the still pending building permit of the systems, demonstrating the cumbersome administrative barriers regarding VG. Three energy-efficient rainwater irrigation systems and and a supporting structure that can be harvested from the ground were developed and implemented. Maintenance of these systems is designed to be infrequent and accessible, with low-tech solutions ensuring easy repairs.

At the center of the educational offer were the multidimensional issues addressed by the implemented VG systems. Examples include urban heat stress, land and water use, and CO2 sequestration. The school personal was directly involved in the participation process. Consequently, teachers incorporated the VG-topic creatively into their classes. Here we present the harvest of the VG as an exemplary illustrative showcase.

In addition, the project aimed at a multiplication and propagation of similar systems, which did occur, but with serious design flaws. This demonstrates the importance of appropriate planning, implementation, and continuous attendance, even for low-tech solutions.

In conclusion, schools offer an influential societal overlap between generations and functions such as teachers, parents, or administration. VG can convey several key aspects of environmental education about the ecology with cities.

How to cite: Kluge, B. and Dahm, Y.: Climate adaptation through educational vertical greenery in high schools: key lessons from the city of Berlin, EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-16707, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-16707, 2024.

Posters on site: Wed, 17 Apr, 16:15–18:00 | Hall X3

Display time: Wed, 17 Apr, 14:00–Wed, 17 Apr, 18:00
Chairpersons: Paulina Grigusova, Wietse van de Lageweg, Annegret Larsen
X3.37
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EGU24-1492
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ECS
Stefan Haselberger, Robert R. Junker, Lisa-Maria Ohler, Jan-Christoph Otto, and Sabine Kraushaar

The complex interrelation between plants and geomorphic processes is described in the concept of biogeomorphic succession. While ecological research on succession and community assembly has transitioned towards functional approaches, studies on functional diversity in biogeomorphic settings, particularly in glacier forelands, remain limited.

In this study, we investigated abundance of vascular plant species and functional traits in an alpine glacier foreland using data from 199 plots. Our objective was to unravel the development of functional diversity during biogeomorphic succession. Specifically, the study determined whether structural shifts in functional diversity are associated with stability thresholds related to plant cover, geomorphic activity, and examined trait spectra for stages of biogeomorphic succession.

Our findings revealed a non-linear trajectory of functional diversity along the plant cover gradient, marked by two distinct structural shifts at 30% and 74% cover, corresponding to established stability thresholds. Along the gradient of geomorphic influence, we observed an increase in functional diversity until 54% of the plot area was affected, beyond which functional diversity declined below the initial level. The analysis of community-weighted means of traits across four stages of biogeomorphic succession determined by plant cover and absence and presence of geomorphic influence revealed significant differences in trait values.

In the transition to the biogeomorphic stage, associated with the identified initial structural shift, there is a shift from a prevalence of above-ground adaptation and reproductive traits, such as leaf longevity, structure, growth form, and mixed reproductive strategies, to an increased dominance of competitor species and traits related to below-ground structures, including root type and structures, as well as vegetative reproduction.

Our results contribute to understanding the relationship between vegetation succession and geomorphic influence by linking them to plant functional traits. This study advances beyond traditional taxonomic investigations by emphasizing functional approaches to biogeomorphic succession. Moreover, the functional trait data used in this study, easily downloadable from a public repository, can serve as a valuable template for future research in (bio)geomorphology, along with the employed methodologies.

How to cite: Haselberger, S., Junker, R. R., Ohler, L.-M., Otto, J.-C., and Kraushaar, S.: Structural shifts in plant functional diversity during biogeomorphic succession: Moving beyond taxonomic investigations in an alpine glacier foreland, EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-1492, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-1492, 2024.

X3.38
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EGU24-2302
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ECS
Zhou Guo, Xiang Zhang, Ryan Winston, Joseph Smith, Yifan Yang, Shiyong Tao, and Haoyuan Liu

Sponge city is an engineering solution proposed by the Chinese government which aims to deal with urban water issues (e.g., flooding, poor water quality) brought on by climate change and urbanization. Various strategies for sponge city construction are required since environmental constraints differ regionally across the country. To identify regional variations, reveal the inner links between externalities and design elements in sponge city construction, and offer practical suggestions, efforts in two directions are made based on the data of 65 sponge city cases around China, 1) discussing design parameters of four Low Impact Development (LID) facilities, including bioretention cell, permeable pavement, grass swale, and sunken green space, under four regionalization maps of hydrologic, climatic, landform and soil texture factors, and 2) building a holistic Partial Least Squares-Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) model illustrating the relationship between local characteristics, LID system design, and LID system performance in sponge city construction. The results show that: 1) rainfall and landform factor have great impact on LID facilities design, as the depths tend to be higher in water rich areas and coastal areas. 2) LID types and areas are positively influenced (+0.764) by the total area and permeable portion of a project, and the LID system performance (water quantity and quality control) is negatively impacted (-0.417) by the rainfall amount and clay fraction. 3) In the holistic model, there are no significant links between the LID system design and natural characteristics or LID system performance. It is recommended that different design standards and assessment indexing systems be tailored to local environment when constructing sponge city projects.

How to cite: Guo, Z., Zhang, X., Winston, R., Smith, J., Yang, Y., Tao, S., and Liu, H.: A holistic analysis of Chinese sponge city cases by region: Using PLS-SEM models to understand key factors impacting LID performance, EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-2302, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-2302, 2024.

X3.39
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EGU24-3463
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ECS
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Roger Auster, Stewart Barr, and Richard Brazier

The activities of an animal – beavers - are increasingly recognised as a nature-based solution to hydrological extremes; dams and wetlands that beavers create attenuate flows downstream whilst delivering multiple benefits for the environment and for people. There can however also be challenges for people living alongside beavers. Q-Methodology is a technique for eliciting an understanding of human perspectives that exist within a context, enabling a rich understanding of human subjectivity within a context. We used Q-Methodology to elicit an understanding of perspectives that exist about beavers and their role in natural flood management among communities living downstream of three beaver sites in England, where Eurasian beavers (Castor fiber) are currently being reintroduced. Diverse perspectives that exhibited a range of value judgements were identified, including favourable viewpoints which valued multiple benefits beaver activities can provide, as well as less favourable viewpoints with some perceiving a reliance on beaver-led natural flood management to be less predictable and of higher risk than relying upon human-led interventions. In response to our findings, we support a catchment-based approach to beaver management so as to incorporate contextual perspectives in decision-making, and to enable dissemination of knowledge about beaver behaviours within communities. Further, we encourage future research into whether Beaver-Dam Analogues (in-stream structures that mimic beaver dams or their function) could be used as ‘starter dams’ to encourage beaver activities in optimal locations, as this may inspire confidence in beaver-led flood defence by working with the animal to develop a 'right dam in the right place' strategy.

How to cite: Auster, R., Barr, S., and Brazier, R.: Beavers and flood alleviation: Human perspectives from downstream communities, EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-3463, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-3463, 2024.

X3.40
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EGU24-13080
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ECS
Linnaea Cahill, Job Augustijn van der Werf, Alejandro Gonzalez-Ollauri, and Thomas Adrianus Bogaard

Live Pole Drains (LPDs) are a plant-based drainage system used to drain natural slopes and prevent shallow gully erosion. LPDs are a Nature-based Solution built by placing a live fascine in a shallow ditch or gully along the slope direction, allowing moderate fluxes of surface runoff or seepage to infiltrate and high water fluxes to be conveyed along the fascine without further eroding the slope. Despite their practical implementation, the transient and long-term eco-hydrological behaviour of LPDs is not well understood. We aim to better understand the LPD’s water balance, the seasonal and life-span changes in hydrological behaviour, as well as the impact of an LPD on surface runoff water quality. To this end, we built and instrumented an artificial slope with full-scale LPDs in an open-air lab (OAL) at TUD. The design of the setup and the monitoring plan of the LPDs were developed in collaboration with Glasgow Caledonia University with insights from the construction and monitoring of three LPDs at different growth stages in their OAL on the east coast of Scotland. Herein, we present the design and possible research experiments that can be performed over the next 5 years, generating a data set to further develop and validate conceptual hydrological modelling of LPDs. We expect this long-term demonstrative setup to generate interest and facilitate a more comprehensive understanding of LPD functions, ultimately leading to the incorporation of LPD design and maintenance standards in engineering toolboxes for slope and gully stabilization.

How to cite: Cahill, L., van der Werf, J. A., Gonzalez-Ollauri, A., and Bogaard, T. A.: Long-term monitoring of eco-hydrological effects of Live Pole Drains in large open-air test facility at TUDelft campus, EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-13080, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-13080, 2024.

X3.41
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EGU24-16355
Wietse van de Lageweg, Thijs van Steen, Brenda Walles, and Jaco de Smit

Coastal ecosystems such as oyster reefs, salt marshes and mangroves are widely recognised as nature-based solutions reducing coastal erosion. Oyster reefs maintain their own habitat and have the ability to grow at the rate of sea level rise, making them self-sustainable, flexible and cost-effective coastal erosion measures in the face of climate change. By attenuating waves and stabilising sediment as well as facilitating and protecting neighbouring ecosystems, they stimulate coastal resilience. However, effective employment of oyster reefs as a nature-based erosion control measure is not trivial and requires the integration of ecological and engineering parameters. Given the satisfaction of these eco-engineering parameters, recent work demonstrates that oyster reefs lead to a four-fold reduction in erosion in the protected area compared to a non-protected area across a decadal period. Despite this apparent effectiveness across a longer time period, it is still poorly understood how effective oyster reefs are in reducing erosion during individual storm events and how large their morphological footprint during these events is.

We present the findings of a series of detailed morphological field surveys of the Viane oyster reef in the Eastern Scheldt, the Netherlands, during which three storm events (Ciaran, Gerrit and Henk) were captured. These storms led locally to significant wave heights of 1.3-1.5 m, corresponding to the highest percentile of wave events recorded locally. Results show that storm Ciaran resulted in an transect-average erosion of 0.02-0.05 m for the unprotected areas, corresponding to the typical annual erosion for the intertidal flats of this area. In contrast, the reef-protected areas showed a greatly reduced erosion of maximum 0.02 m but typically 0.01 m. It is important to note that the erosion pattern as a result of this storm event is far from homogeneous: erosion is greatest immediately behind the reef (~first 50 m), then reduces up to 150 m behind the reef, followed by a zone of deposition (150-250 m behind the reef) and then transitions into another zone of erosion (250-450 m behind the reef). Complementary numerical modelling with XBeach will be used to obtain additional insights into the role of wave angle, wave period and tidal timing on the flow, sediment transport and morphological changes caused by the Viane reef structure during storm events.

How to cite: van de Lageweg, W., van Steen, T., Walles, B., and de Smit, J.: The effectiveness of oyster reefs as a nature-based erosion control measure under storm events, EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-16355, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-16355, 2024.

X3.42
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EGU24-17900
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ECS
Neeraj Sah, James Blake, Vicky Bell, Jonathan Evans, Ross Morrison, and Alejandro Dussaillant

Conventional agricultural practices often lead to increased soil compaction, a decline in soil organic matter (SOM) and an associated decrease in structural porosity, compromising the water holding capacity and resilience of agricultural soils to hydrological extremes. Regenerative agriculture practices, with their focus on building healthy soil ecosystems, hold promises for enhancing agricultural resilience to extreme weather events like floods and droughts. These practices, such as reduced tillage, reduced trafficking and stocking density, cover cropping, and afforestation, can improve soil organic matter content, reduce compaction, enhance soil structure, and promote microbial activity, leading to increased soil porosity, water infiltration, and retention. However, due to the slow response of soils to changes in agricultural management, a critical research gap exists in the timely quantification of the potential effectiveness of these practices in mitigating flood and drought risks. Although undoubtedly robust and informative, long-term monitoring of soil properties before and after a management intervention may take decadal timescales to reveal any significant impacts.
We have therefore adopted an exploratory approach to investigate the merits of back-analysing existing long-term soil moisture datasets to reveal any changes in inferred soil porosity due to changes in land use and/or management. The following UKCEH long-term datasets, which include soil moisture information, have been considered: Neutron Probe Soil Moisture Database (~50 years range), UK Greenhouse Gases Flux Network (last 15+ years), and COSMOS-UK TDT probe data (last 10 years). In addition, we have land cover information from UKCEH Land Cover Maps from 1990 onwards. For UK conditions, it is anticipated that an annual maximum soil moisture content, representing saturated conditions, is likely to be attained during most winter seasons (excluding any ‘dry’ winters, excluded based on rainfall data). It is then possible to estimate soil porosity in any particular year by equating it to the maximum soil moisture content, in effect using this as a proxy measurement with due regard for potential air entrapment effects. Any identified long-term changes in soil porosity obtained through trend, wavelet, and before-after-control-impact analysis might then be linked to changes in land use and/or management. Land cover changes may be identified using Land Cover Map data and local site knowledge, the latter of which will also provide insights into changes in land management. COSMOS-UK TDT data is particularly interesting in terms of land management impacts as, when installed, the instrumentation at each site was enclosed by a newly erected fence. The resultant compound therefore excluded stock and vehicle trafficking and initiated a change in land use from generally arable or improved grassland to rough grassland. It will therefore be valuable to understand if the proposed exploratory analysis approach can reveal any significant changes in soil porosity over time due to this intervention. Likely challenges to be discussed include disentangling any long-term changes in maximum soil moisture due to changes in soil porosity from background changes in climate. We will also share lessons learned and provide recommendations for future work on the back-analysis of long-term soil moisture datasets.

 

 

How to cite: Sah, N., Blake, J., Bell, V., Evans, J., Morrison, R., and Dussaillant, A.: Exploratory analysis of the long(er) term dynamics of Nature-based Solutions: the case of agricultural soil properties, EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-17900, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-17900, 2024.

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EGU24-19170
Anaé Lemaire, Jean Braun, and Esteban Acevedo-Trejos

Most islands host an endemic biota, i.e., present nowhere else on Earth like it is the case, for instance, of Madagascar. It has been shown that different populations of lemurs, endemic to the island, are mostly distributed along the watersheds surrounding the central plateau of Madagascar, creating a so-called micro-endemism, while the populations living on the central high-elevated watersheds are not showing this micro-endemism. Here we wish to address the question whether there exists a correlation between the evolution of the landforms (i.e., the morphology of the island) of Madagascar and the hybrid distribution of lemur populations? More broadly, how does the tectono-geomorphic evolution of an island influence the flourishing of micro-biodiversity?

To answer these questions in a quantitative manner, we combined a Landscape Evolution Model based on the Stream Power Law and taking into account Flexural Isostasy, with a Speciation Model. We first developed a morphometric index to differentiate between Π-islands with a central plateau surrounded by smaller basins, like Madagascar, from conical Λ-islands, like Sri Lanka. We then predicted patterns of biodiversity as a function of the index value and its time evolution. We show that the tectono-geomorphic evolution influences patterns of biodiversity and evaluate the influence of varying the values for model parameters, in particular the ones characterising dispersal and mutation. We finally used phylogenetic observations to constrain some of these parameters.

How to cite: Lemaire, A., Braun, J., and Acevedo-Trejos, E.: Influence of Island Morphology on Micro-Endemic Biodiversity Distribution, EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-19170, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-19170, 2024.

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EGU24-19856
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ECS
Marta Loreggian, Jantiene Baartman, and Annegret Larsen

The presence of burrowing animals is a recognizable characteristic in almost all types of landscapes and climates. Independent of their size, their activity of mounding and digging plays a significant role in landscape evolution, to the point of being addressed as ecosystem engineers. For example, while tunnels facilitate water infiltration, mounds slow down surface runoff and make soil available for erosion. Several models have included animal activity as a bioturbation process, and many studies have quantified the impact of animals’ presence on soil properties. However, how to best include burrowing animals’ role in other soil hydro-physical processes in hydrological, landscape evolution, or soil erosion models is still unclear. Indeed, the significant heterogeneity of animals’ distribution and their impact at different spatio-temporal scales complicates their inclusion into models. Therefore, this study aims to explore numerical methods (equations, coefficients, ratios) used to quantify the impact of burrowing animals on soil hydro-physical processes. Furthermore, it explores how these methods can be integrated with the most common equations implemented in hydrological, landscape evolution, or soil erosion models to calculate those processes. We focused on surface runoff, soil lateral transport, soil excavation, soil mixing, water infiltration and subsurface preferential flow. Peer-reviewed studies about burrowing animals’ impact on soil hydro-physical processes were collected. Of those articles, we reviewed studies where numerical methods were used to quantify or discriminate the role of the animals. The articles were classified according to the processes measured, the spatio-temporal scale, whether the animal was vertebrate or invertebrate and smaller or bigger than 2.5 cm.

As a first result, the main processes quantified are soil lateral transport, water infiltration and soil mixing. Most of the studies were conducted with field or laboratory experiments on a yearly scale. Because of this, most equations collected were empirical and used to quantify single processes for a specific environment. Rates were the primary means of quantification for runoff or soil lateral transport, and coefficients for soil mixing. Infiltration was quantified as change in soil moisture or as rate. Overall, hydraulic properties were mainly calculated in relation to the presence/absence of earthworms or insects, while mammals and vertebrates were primarily linked to soil physical properties and soil transport. We can argue that, to better incorporate animals’ influence on soil hydro-physical processes, a more comprehensive investigation of their role in soil hydraulic properties is fundamental. However, this might not be sufficient when considering large spatio-temporal scales (centuries, catchments). For this, the development of an ad hoc faunal-hydro-physical module can be used to explore the impact of animal bioturbation on processes at different scales.

How to cite: Loreggian, M., Baartman, J., and Larsen, A.: Quantification of burrowing animals’ impact on landscapes: a review of numerical methods., EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-19856, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-19856, 2024.

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EGU24-6029
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Highlight
Ecological engineering and circular solutions: constructed wetland case studies for wastewater treatment and reuse
(withdrawn after no-show)
Alexandros Stefanakis
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EGU24-12659
Jimmy O'Keeffe, Jolanta Burke, Branislav Kaleta, Stephen Campbell, and Cathal O'Connell

The natural capital and ecosystem services that we rely on have been severely impacted by changes to our ecological, biogeochemical and climate systems. This has been driven by our lifestyle choices, impacting our water, air and soil quality. Left unchecked, environmental degradation threatens to reverse the benefits created, exacerbating the decline of our critical natural capital resources. Among the many benefits we obtain from the natural environment, human health and wellbeing are among the most important, yet least understood. In Ireland, mental health conditions, including depression and anxiety impact up to 42% of the population. The costs of poor mental health to the economy are estimated to be €11 billion each year. Furthermore, the second leading cause of death in Ireland is circulatory disease, such as heart attack, or stroke. This Science Foundation Ireland funded project VNiC-Health (Valuing Natural Capital in Communities for Health) will focus on providing evidence from both a human health and wellbeing, and a quality natural environment point of view, helping to address two of the most critical challenges affecting society - the climate and environmental emergency, and our health crisis.

How to cite: O'Keeffe, J., Burke, J., Kaleta, B., Campbell, S., and O'Connell, C.: Valuing Natural Capital in Communities for Health, EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-12659, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-12659, 2024.

Posters virtual: Wed, 17 Apr, 14:00–15:45 | vHall X3

Display time: Wed, 17 Apr, 08:30–Wed, 17 Apr, 18:00
Chairpersons: Ranka Junge, Alexandros Stefanakis, David C. Finger
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EGU24-3300
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ECS
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Wenfei Huo, Tasos Temenos, Stanislava Boskovic, and Cedo Maksimovic

    With the growing interest in utilizing Blue-green solutions to mitigate the negative impact of urbanization and climate change, and further enhance human health, it becomes essential to comprehensively understand the extent to which BGS influence human well-being through integrating various indicators. Building upon concepts within the existing framework of the Nature-Based solutions to health theory, this study aims to investigate the changes in heart rate among park users and establish connections between these changes and the benefits brought about by urban green spaces, as well as the potential of integrating wearables to quantify the impact of BGS on human health. The research was conducted at the demo site of the HEART project, the Pedion of Areos Park in Athens. The heart rate data of two participants engaged in walking activities within the park were recorded through wearable devices. By analyzing the associations between factors like the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), air pollutants, temperature with heart rate, as well as the complex interplay of various environmental indicators, this study reveals the positive impact of BGS on human health. The outcomes of quantitative statistical analysis indicate that temperature significantly influences heart rate, while the impact of air pollutants on heart rate is not clearly revealed. The result from spatial analysis further confirms a significant correlation between the increase in NDVI and the reduction in Land Surface Temperature (LST), particularly during the spring season. These research findings demonstrate that heart rate can serve as an effective health indicator to quantify the benefits of BGS. While the generalizability of study results might have limitations, it offers insights into the influence of urban green spaces on human health. In the future, with larger sample sizes, diversified datasets such as GeoHealth data with health status, age, and gender, and long-term observations, we can gain a more comprehensive understanding of these positive impacts, thus providing stronger scientific foundations for urban planning and design. 

How to cite: Huo, W., Temenos, T., Boskovic, S., and Maksimovic, C.: Integration of health indicators and quantification of benefits from BGS urban interventions, EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-3300, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-3300, 2024.

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EGU24-18207
Donatella Termini, Nina Benistati, Ashkan Pilbala Ashkan Pilbala, Vanessa Modesto, Nicoletta Riccardi, Luigi Fraccarollo, Sebastiano Piccolroaz, Dario Manca, and Tommaso Moramarco

Global warming has lead concerns about more frequent high intensity rainfall events and increasing river floods. Changes in the river hydrodynamics affect the biological communities which are controlled by the interplay between physical-chemical and hydraulic processes. Thus, there is increasing interest in identifying the impact of the hydrodynamic stresses, also determined by climate change, on the aquatic environment and, consequently, on the interactions between flow and organisms (Lopez and Vaughn, 2021). To this aim, it is fundamental to use remote sensors to constantly monitor the responses of animals to environmental changes. Among these sensors, bio-indicators have been increasingly used to monitor water quality conditions. Some species, called as “ecosystem engineers”, are especially important in studying the effects of climate changes in rivers (Butler and Sawyer, 2012). The present study considers freshwater mussels which meet the criteria to be considered as typical “ecosystem engineers” and can be considered as sensitive biosensors of environmental disturbance (among others Gerhardt et al. 2006). Monitoring freshwater mussels’ opening and closing valves activities (i.e., valvometric technique) over time has been used to evaluate the behavior of the bivalves in reaction to their environmental exposure. The application of the valvometric technique is not recent and has been mainly applied to analyze the impact of chemical stressors on freshwater mussels. Recent experimental results obtained by the research group of the present work (Modesto et al., 2023; Termini et al., 2023), in sand-bed laboratory flumes with different FMs’ populations, have suggested that the mussels’ behavioural response could be also used as a tool for an early warning system of flow variations in rivers, also in the presence of sediment transport. The present work reports the results both of an experimental investigation conducted in a laboratory flume to analyze the influence of the substrate composition on the freshwater mussels’ response and of an in-situ test conducted in a selected reach of the Paglia river (Italy) to verify the FMs’ response in non-controlled environment. In both cases the FMs’ valvometry data were collected in real-time by using Hall sensors technology. The FMs’ behavioural response was examined in terms of valves’ opening/closure frequency and amplitude. The obtained results have confirmed that FMs’ behavioural response can be used as BEWS for identifying the impacts of hydrodynamic changes in rivers.

References

Butler DR, Sawyer CF, 2012. Introduction to the special issue: zoogeomorphology and ecosystem engineering. Geomorphology 157–158.

Gerhardt A, Ingram MK, Kang IJ, Ulitzur S 2006. In situ on-line toxicity biomonitoring in water: recent developments. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 25: 2263–2271.

Lopez J. W., Vaughn C.C., 2021. A review and evaluation of the effects of hydrodynamic variables on freshwater mussel communities. Freshwater Biology 66 (9): 1665-1679.

Modesto, V. et al. 2023. Mussel behaviour as a tool to measure the impact of hydrodynamic stressors, Hydrobiologia, 850, 807–820.

Termini, D. et al. 2023. Identification of hydrodynamic changes in rivers by means of freshwater mussels’ behavioural response: an experimental investigation, Ecohydrology, e2544.

How to cite: Termini, D., Benistati, N., Ashkan Pilbala, A. P., Modesto, V., Riccardi, N., Fraccarollo, L., Piccolroaz, S., Manca, D., and Moramarco, T.: Freshwater mussels’ valve movement response as early-warning system of river’s ecosystem conditions, EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-18207, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-18207, 2024.