The term biodiversity is defined in the UN Convention on Biodiversity as “the variability among living organisms from all sources including, inter alia, terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are part; this includes diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems”.
Biodiversity is significant at several levels:
- Genetic diversity within a species
- A diversity of species within an ecosystem
- A diversity of ecosystems or habitats
Population growth and urbanisation are two real threats to biodiversity on which, ironically, we depend for our existence. The greatest challenges that humanity is facing are the task to slow down an increasingly rapid extinction of species and the impoverishment of biodiversity and the ability of ecosystems to provide us with ecological services.
However, in the wake of climate change, ecological awareness is increasing. A growing number of decision makers understand the importance of a functioning management system and comprehensive protection of valuable natural environments. It is 200 years since Charles Darwin, perhaps the best known biologist in the world, was born, and this is celebrated with exhibitions and seminars in the whole world. In Sweden, we celebrate the centenary of our oldest national parks, and in the autumn the Kosterhavet national park in Västra Götaland will be inaugurated. This marine national park will be the first of its kind in Sweden and extends over an area of 370 square kilometres which mostly consists of water. Kosterhavet is a unique environment in Sweden, with coral reefs and a species abundance that has no equal in other Swedish marine areas.
Natural resources and environment
Research on sustainable use of natural resources and ecosystems is one of the five key research themes for the future. In the research strategy for 2009-2012, Formas writes “Research is needed to give society the basis for sustainable use of natural resources and ecosystems, in order that renewable natural resources should replace those that are not renewable and in order that the environment should not be adversely affected. Research is also important for the preservation of biodiversity”.
Even though much more additional money is earmarked for this area during 2009-2012, biodiversity is no “newcomer” in a research context. In 2006, Formas made a special call for applications for research projects on Sustainable management of biodiversity.
In its latest research bill, the Government identified management and use of natural resources, ecosystem services and biodiversity, both on land and at sea, as strategically important areas for Sweden. Formas has the principal responsibility for the distribution of funds totalling MSEK 295 to faculties at Swedish universities and university colleges in the areas “Marine research” and “Effects on natural resources, ecosystem services and biodiversity”. Formas is also collaborating with Swedish Agency for Innovation Systems VINNOVA in the distribution of funds (MSEK 200) in the area “Sustainable use of natural resources”. This strategic call terminated on 16 March 2009 and decisions concerning the allocation of funds will be made by the Government in conjunction with the budget bill in the autumn.
Apart from the strategic funds which are given directly to universities and university colleges as faculty funds, Formas has also been charged by the Government to distribute project funds which can be applied for by individual researchers or research teams. A total of MSEK 65 annually between 2009 and 2012 is to be allocated to projects in the areas “Research into the marine environment”, “Effects on natural resources, ecosystem services and biodiversity” and “Sustainable use of natural resources”.
On the initiative of the Government, in 2001 the Riskdag allocated MSEK 440 for research on biodiversity. This special allocation will in 2009 be evaluated jointly by Formas and the Science Council. The aim of this evaluation is to assess, in an international and national perspective, the scientific quality of research and its relevance to sustainable societal development.
Formas has also been charged by the Government this year to evaluate Swedish research into the marine environment. Research projects financed by Formas and the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency will be investigated, as well as certain elements of the research funded by Swedish Foundation for Strategic Environmental Research MISTRA and the Swedish Board of Fisheries.
Research across frontiers
Formas is involved in around ten ERA-nets (European Research Area networks). The ERA-net is a European collaborative project, the overall aim of which is to create contacts and collaboration among research funding agencies. The ERA-nets also create collaboration among different research teams, universities and university colleges all over Europe in connection with calls for applications for transnational research projects. In the field of biodiversity, there are two ERA-nets where Formas is a collaborative partner and funding agent – BiodivERsA and BONUS.
The ERA-net BiodivERsA started in 2005 with the objective to create effective cooperation among research funding agencies and among researchers in the field of biodiversity. BiodivERsA comprises cooperative partners from 15 countries in Europe. Those involved from Sweden are Formas, Swedish Research Council and Swedish Environmental Protection Agency.
In the autumn of 2007, BiodivERsA made its first call for applications for the funding of transnational research projects. During the first half of 2009, research will commence on twelve projects, five of which have Swedish involvement. The Swedish researchers who participate in BiodivERsA projects are at Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences at Alnarp, Uppsala University, Lund University, Linköping University and Swedish Museum of Natural History.
Strictly speaking, BONUS is no longer an ERA-net, but a form of cooperation that is called ERA-net+, where the overriding aim is to call for applications for funds for transnational research projects. BONUS+ also implies that EU will partly finance the projects. The projects funded through BONUS+ officially started in January 2009. In 15 of the 16 projects, Swedish researchers and universities/university colleges are represented. Most of the projects are concerned with the way the environment of the Baltic Sea is managed and how this can be improved.
There are however projects with a greater biological focus. The project “BaltGene – Baltic Sea Genetic Biodiversity” is a collaboration by several Swedish universities and university colleges, and educational establishments in Poland, Finland and Russia. The aim of the project is to chart the threats to biodiversity in the Baltic Sea, for example in the form of fishing, climate changes and the losses of essential habitats. An investigation will also be made of how present management, politics and laws impact on biodiversity and how this knowledge may result in new ways of managing the biodiversity among marine plants, algae and animals.
The project “BAZOOCA - Baltic Zooplankton Cascades” is a collaborative project among several Swedish Universities and institutes and educational establishments in Denmark, Finland and Norway. BAZOOCA will investigate how the introduction of a new species, in this case the little comb jellyfish Mnemiopsis, affects the existing food webs and biodiversity in the Baltic Sea. It is the zooplankton that will be primarily studied, but the effect of the comb jellyfish on the fish community will also be highlighted.
Author
:
Lisa Almesjö
is Senior Research Officer at Formas, with responsibility for the biodiversity of aquatic systems.