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  • CAPERMed06042017_F

    Rights statement: This is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Environmental Pollution. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Environmental Pollution, 227, 2017 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2017.04.062

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Ecological impacts of atmospheric pollution and interactions with climate change in terrestrial ecosystems of the Mediterranean Basin: Current research and future directions

Research output: Contribution to Journal/MagazineJournal articlepeer-review

Published
  • Raúl Ochoa-Hueso
  • Silvana Munzi
  • Rocio Alonso
  • Maria Arroniz-Crespo
  • Anna Avila
  • Victoria Bermejo
  • Roland Bobbink
  • Cristina Branquinho
  • Laura Concostrina-Zubiri
  • Cristina Cruz
  • Ricardo Cruz de Carvalho
  • Alessandra De Marco
  • Teresa Dias
  • David Elustondo
  • Susana Elvira
  • Belen Estebanez
  • Lina Fusaro
  • Giacomo Gerosa
  • Sheila Izquieta-Rojano
  • Mauro Lo Cascio
  • Riccardo Marzuoli
  • Paula Matos
  • Simone Mereu
  • Jose Merino
  • Lourdes Morillas
  • Alice Nunes
  • Elena Paoletti
  • Luca Paoli
  • Pedro Pinho
  • Arthur Santos
  • Pierre Sicard
  • Mark R. Theobald
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<mark>Journal publication date</mark>08/2017
<mark>Journal</mark>Environmental Pollution
Volume227
Number of pages13
Pages (from-to)194-206
Publication StatusPublished
Early online date29/04/17
<mark>Original language</mark>English

Abstract

Mediterranean Basin ecosystems, their unique biodiversity, and the key services they provide are currently at risk due to air pollution and climate change, yet only a limited number of isolated and geographically-restricted studies have addressed this topic, often with contrasting results. Particularities of air pollution in this region include high O3 levels due to high air temperatures and solar radiation, the stability of air masses, and dominance of dry over wet nitrogen deposition. Moreover, the unique abiotic and biotic factors (e.g., climate, vegetation type, relevance of Saharan dust inputs) modulating the response of Mediterranean ecosystems at various spatiotemporal scales make it difficult to understand, and thus predict, the consequences of human activities that cause air pollution in the Mediterranean Basin. Therefore, there is an urgent need to implement coordinated research and experimental platforms along with wider environmental monitoring networks in the region. In particular, a robust deposition monitoring network in conjunction with modelling estimates is crucial, possibly including a set of common biomonitors (ideally cryptogams, an important component of the Mediterranean vegetation), to help refine pollutant deposition maps. Additionally, increased attention must be paid to functional diversity measures in future air pollution and climate change studies to establish the necessary link between biodiversity and the provision of ecosystem services in Mediterranean ecosystems. Through a coordinated effort, the Mediterranean scientific community can fill the above-mentioned gaps and reach a greater understanding of the mechanisms underlying the combined effects of air pollution and climate change in the Mediterranean Basin.

Bibliographic note

This is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Environmental Pollution. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Environmental Pollution, 227, 2017 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2017.04.062