SECURING FRESHWATER SUPPORTING SERVICES FOR BIODIVERSITY THREATENED BY HARMFUL CYANOBACTERIA ACROSS ECOSYSTEM BOUNDARIES

CyaNoServices addresses the growing threat of harmful cyanobacterial blooms on freshwater ecosystems, exacerbated by eutrophication and climate change.

These blooms endanger vital ecosystem services such as drinking water supply and irrigation, essential for human and wildlife well-being, including crucial services provided by insects like pollination and pest control.

The project aims to secure freshwater services for biodiversity threatened by these blooms, focusing on cross-ecosystem impacts and the role of insect biodiversity.

Utilizing an interdisciplinary approach, the consortium, comprising ecologists, water managers, and entrepreneurs from Europe and South America, is organized into four Work Packages.

These include studying the interaction between cyanobacterial blooms and insect biodiversity, identifying mechanisms of these interactions, quantifying threats to broader ecosystem services, and integrating stakeholder involvement in management strategies.

Field surveys and experiments will be conducted across diverse bioregions to generalize findings and predict future scenarios, supporting the development of management solutions and indicators for freshwater ecosystem service delivery.

This knowledge will enhance the integration of ecosystem services into water resource management, crucial for sustaining biodiversity and ecosystem functionality under changing environmental conditions.