About
Within this pilot, OBSGESSION members aim to explore how biodiversity respond to environmental changes in alpine ecosystems. The main focus is placed on examining spatial and temporal patterns of biodiversity (plants and below-ground diversity) and ecosystem functioning, blending hands-on field observations with cutting-edge remote sensing and environmental DNA technologies. The research takes place in alpine locations across Switzerland and France, including the Swiss National Park, the Chamonix and Lautaret regions of the French Alps, and the Laegern forest in Switzerland. The main ecosystems the pilot focuses on include alpine grasslands and mountain forests, which are especially vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and other environmental pressures.
Current progress
To date, we have concluded the field and airborne sampling campaigns across all selected sites and are currently analyzing the data. A set of preliminary outcomes of the pilot include: presentations at Living planet symposium and at the BioSpace conference where data sets and analyses were presented in several posters and oral presentations. In this work, we showed how the in situ and airborne data collected can be used to understanding alpine grassland ecosystems but also how Earth Observation models can be mobilized to predict soil food webs. Beyond these outcomes, we are currently working on developing models after a data processing phase, which included processing the airborne data, processing the field data, conducting lab analyses of traits, and developing the analytical tool box to calculate and incorporate uncertainty in our modeling process. On-going work also focuses on testing and optimizing the ideal climatic time-window to analyze and predict soil biodiversity through space and time.
Scope & background
Global change across the European Alps affects two types of ecosystems characteristic of this region: temperate forests and alpine grasslands. Monitoring, understanding and predicting the effects of changing environmental conditions in regions that are already exposed to stark gradients, is fundamental to ensure the conservation and restoration of their unique biodiversity. State-of-the-art methods for data collection and analyses are needed to meet these goals, including in situ measurements, airborne imaging spectroscopy, robust uncertainty estimates, detection and attribution framework and machine learning prediction tools. In this pilot we combine all of these to understand the biodiversity and functioning of these important ecosystems.
OBSGESSION's contribution
Within the OBSGESSION project, this pilot integrates multiple biodiversity data sources to develop advanced monitoring approaches. The project combines long-term in-situ biodiversity observations (e.g., the Orchamp monitoring program that combines plant botanical observations with soil environmental DNA metabarcoding) with airborne imaging spectroscopy collected with the AVIRIS-4 sensor. These datasets are used to develop artificial intelligence pipelines that link field measurements of biodiversity with remotely sensed indicators of ecosystem structure and function. The pilot also applies the Detection-Attribution-Modelling framework developed in the project to identify the drivers of biodiversity change and assess how environmental variables influence biodiversity patterns. An important component of the work is testing the scalability and transferability of biodiversity models by applying approaches developed at Swiss sites to comparable locations in the French Alps, and vice-versa. Through these activities, the pilot contributes to developing operational biodiversity monitoring and predictive methods based on the integration of remote sensing and ecological observations.
Expected results
Within the scope of this pilot, OBSGESSION is expected to produce several scientific and operational outputs. These include biodiversity indicators that capture ecosystem structure, community composition, and genetic diversity across alpine and forest ecosystems. These indicators come from a combination of remote-sensing products and novel biodiversity observation technologies (eDNA, but also acoustic recorders). Project members will also develop AI-based modelling pipelines capable of linking airborne/satellite spectral data and other environmental features with field observations. Another important outcome is the evaluation of the ability to transfer models between regions, demonstrating whether approaches developed in one alpine area can be applied to others. The pilot will further generate spatial maps showing how environmental drivers such as climate variability influence biodiversity patterns, accompanied by uncertainty assessments to support robust decision-making.
Stakeholders
The results of this pilot are relevant to conservation authorities and protected area managers responsible for alpine and mountain ecosystems, including national parks and biodiversity monitoring networks. This is particularly relevant in respect to the Soil Monitoring law and Restauration regulation. They also support policymakers implementing the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 and other international biodiversity monitoring frameworks. Scientific institutions and environmental monitoring organisations interested in remote sensing–based biodiversity monitoring also represent key stakeholders.
