Mediterranean springs : keystone ecosystems and biodiversity refugia threatened by global change

Fernández-Martínez, Marcos; Barquín, José; Bonada, Núria; Cantonati, Marco; Churro, Catarina; Corbera, Jordi; Delgado, Cristina; Dulsat-Masvidal, Maria; Garcia, Guillermo; Margalef, Olga; Pascual, Roger; Peñuelas, Josep; Preece, Catherine; Sabater, Francesco; Seiler, Hallie; Zamora-Marín, Jose M.; Romero, Estela

doi:10.1111/gcb.16997

Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-29289

Publication type:	Article in scientific journal
Type of review:	Peer review (publication)
Title:	Mediterranean springs : keystone ecosystems and biodiversity refugia threatened by global change
Authors:	Fernández-Martínez, Marcos Barquín, José Bonada, Núria Cantonati, Marco Churro, Catarina Corbera, Jordi Delgado, Cristina Dulsat-Masvidal, Maria Garcia, Guillermo Margalef, Olga Pascual, Roger Peñuelas, Josep Preece, Catherine Sabater, Francesco Seiler, Hallie Zamora-Marín, Jose M. Romero, Estela
et. al:	No
DOI:	10.1111/gcb.16997 10.21256/zhaw-29289
Published in:	Global Change Biology
Volume(Issue):	30
Issue:	1
Page(s):	e16997
Issue Date:	8-Nov-2023
Publisher / Ed. Institution:	Wiley
ISSN:	1354-1013 1365-2486
Language:	English
Subjects:	Biodiversity conservation; Freshwater ecosystem; Groundwater; Semiarid region; Source
Subject (DDC):	333: Economics of land and resources
Abstract:	Mediterranean spring ecosystems are unique habitats at the interface between surface water and groundwater. These ecosystems support a remarkable array of biodiversity and provide important ecological functions and ecosystem services. Spring ecosystems are influenced by abiotic, biotic, and anthropogenic factors such as the lithology of their draining aquifers, their climate, and the land use of their recharge area, all of which affect the water chemistry of the aquifer and the spring discharges. One of the most relevant characteristics of spring ecosystems is the temporal stability of environmental conditions, including physicochemical features of the spring water, across seasons and years. This stability allows a wide range of species to benefit from these ecosystems (particularly during dry periods), fostering an unusually high number of endemic species. However, global change poses important threats to these freshwater ecosystems. Changes in temperature, evapotranspiration, and precipitation patterns can alter the water balance and chemistry of spring water. Eutrophication due to agricultural practices and emergent pollutants, such as pharmaceuticals, personal care products, and pesticides, is also a growing concern for the preservation of spring biodiversity. Here, we provide a synthesis of the main characteristics and functioning of Mediterranean spring ecosystems. We then describe their ecological value and biodiversity patterns and highlight the main risks these ecosystems face. Moreover, we identify existing knowledge gaps to guide future research in order to fully uncover the hidden biodiversity within these habitats and understand the main drivers that govern them. Finally, we provide a brief summary of recommended actions that should be taken to effectively manage and preserve Mediterranean spring ecosystems for future generations. Even though studies on Mediterranean spring ecosystems are still scarce, our review shows there are sufficient data to conclude that their future viability as functional ecosystems is under severe threat.
URI:	https://digitalcollection.zhaw.ch/handle/11475/29289
Related research data:	https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.23220998.v1
Fulltext version:	Published version
License (according to publishing contract):	CC BY-NC-ND 4.0: Attribution - Non commercial - No derivatives 4.0 International
Departement:	Life Sciences and Facility Management
Organisational Unit:	Institute of Natural Resource Sciences (IUNR)
Appears in collections:	Publikationen Life Sciences und Facility Management

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Fernández-Martínez, M., Barquín, J., Bonada, N., Cantonati, M., Churro, C., Corbera, J., Delgado, C., Dulsat-Masvidal, M., Garcia, G., Margalef, O., Pascual, R., Peñuelas, J., Preece, C., Sabater, F., Seiler, H., Zamora-Marín, J. M., & Romero, E. (2023). Mediterranean springs : keystone ecosystems and biodiversity refugia threatened by global change. Global Change Biology, 30(1), e16997. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.16997

Fernández-Martínez, M. et al. (2023) ‘Mediterranean springs : keystone ecosystems and biodiversity refugia threatened by global change’, Global Change Biology, 30(1), p. e16997. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.16997.

M. Fernández-Martínez et al., “Mediterranean springs : keystone ecosystems and biodiversity refugia threatened by global change,” Global Change Biology, vol. 30, no. 1, p. e16997, Nov. 2023, doi: 10.1111/gcb.16997.

FERNÁNDEZ-MARTÍNEZ, Marcos, José BARQUÍN, Núria BONADA, Marco CANTONATI, Catarina CHURRO, Jordi CORBERA, Cristina DELGADO, Maria DULSAT-MASVIDAL, Guillermo GARCIA, Olga MARGALEF, Roger PASCUAL, Josep PEÑUELAS, Catherine PREECE, Francesco SABATER, Hallie SEILER, Jose M. ZAMORA-MARÍN und Estela ROMERO, 2023. Mediterranean springs : keystone ecosystems and biodiversity refugia threatened by global change. Global Change Biology. 8 November 2023. Bd. 30, Nr. 1, S. e16997. DOI 10.1111/gcb.16997

Fernández-Martínez, Marcos, José Barquín, Núria Bonada, Marco Cantonati, Catarina Churro, Jordi Corbera, Cristina Delgado, et al. 2023. “Mediterranean Springs : Keystone Ecosystems and Biodiversity Refugia Threatened by Global Change.” Global Change Biology 30 (1): e16997. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.16997.

Fernández-Martínez, Marcos, et al. “Mediterranean Springs : Keystone Ecosystems and Biodiversity Refugia Threatened by Global Change.” Global Change Biology, vol. 30, no. 1, Nov. 2023, p. e16997, https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.16997.