Objectives and themes

The research programme Biodiversity in disturbed ecosystems has ended in 2008. All information about this theme will stay available by this web site.

Problem definition
The world’s population puts a great strain on biodiversity and this becomes most evident in the extinction of species. Apart from the ethical function (intrinsic value), biodiversity has practical values (indirect functions on e.g. cultural, recreational, scientific and educational levels, as well as direct functions on an economic level), and life-supporting values (including physico-chemical and biological properties). All these lead to fertile land, clean air and clean water.
Biodiversity is important, however, there is little knowledge about biodiversity on the species level, particularly in the tropics, and still less on the intra-specific level. A proper management of the tropical environment in a social context requires knowledge about the effects of disruption of the ecosystem in terms of species richness and genetic diversity, the ability to quantify and qualify, as well as the capability to estimate the (potential) recovery of disturbed ecosystems.

Objective
The Priority Programme Biodiversity in Disturbed Ecosystems aims to formulate specific recommendations for environmental management, conservation, restoration and sustainable use of disturbed ecosystems.
The programme aims to achieve this by encouraging research that provides insight into changes in species diversity and genetic diversity, as a function of disturbance, as well as by supporting research that increases knowledge of the functioning of (disturbed) ecosystems.

Three research themes
The priority program has three themes:

• I Comparative surveys of species composition at different trophic levels of pioneer and disturbed habitats (systematics, identification and monitoring of habitats with different degrees of disturbance);
• II Organisation, distribution and significance of genetic variation and population structure in relation to survival of key species;
• III Identification of key species and their interactions, and the relationship between size and stability of biodiversity / ecosystem functioning.

Duration
1994 to 2004

Funding
This priority program is funded by NWO-central, the department of Earth and Life Sciences (ALW) and Science Division for Global Development (WOTRO).

Budget
4 M €