A global integrative research initiative to preserve Mediterranean climate regions

The Mediterranean regions, known for their unique climatic conditions and rich biodiversity, face serious threats from climate change and anthropogenic activities. Despite the efforts in the search and conservation of Mediterranean ecosystems to prevent the consequences of these activities, there is still no global consensus on how to effectively conserve and manage these marine and terrestrial freshwater ecosystems.

Researchers from the Biodiversity Research Institute of the University of Barcelona (IRBio-UB) have participated in a recent scientific article, co-written by Ignasi Arranz, Enric Batllori (IRBio-UB), William J. Ripple, Cristina Linares (IRBio -UB ) and Núria Bonada (IRBio-UB), who calls for action to address the urgency of integrative research in the Mediterranean regions (Med-regions). In this work, integrative research is defined as the interdisciplinary approach from multiple fields of study with common concepts and metrics to allow a better understanding of the general mechanisms existing in ecosystems. The importance of exploring generalities between ecosystems and common resilience mechanisms to develop more effective conservation strategies is emphasized.

In order to predict the future conditions of Mediterranean regions, it is essential to establish clear ecological baselines and recognize significant changes in ecosystem states and thus understand the dynamics of ecosystem responses to changing environmental conditions.

The work proposes three types of comprehensive studies at different spatial scales, from local to global, including: (1) integrative research across ecosystems; (2) integrative research in Mediterranean regions; and (3) integrative research across political boundaries.

The availability of large spatial and temporal biodiversity data sets in the Mediterranean regions offers interesting perspectives and challenges for documenting and predicting changes in the biological diversity and resilience of the region's ecosystems. By studying connectivity between different types of ecosystems and integrating knowledge from various disciplines, ecological baselines could be established, key resilience factors identified, and management objectives for conservation supported. In this sense, the authors highlight the need for collaborative efforts between researchers, stakeholders and political decision makers to address the challenges facing Mediterranean regions. They advocate for the implementation of area-based conservation measures and the development of effective conservation strategies that transcend political boundaries.

The promotion of integrative research in the Mediterranean regions would enable and facilitate the roadmap towards a better understanding of the responses of the ecosystems of the Mediterranean region to natural and anthropogenic disturbances and the identification of ecological baselines.