The challenge was to combine two cutting-edge scientific disciplines – we therefore had to innovate new techniques of next-generation satellite remote sensing analysis and eDNA profiling – to generate synoptic terrestrial biodiversity metrics of taxonomy and function at a fine resolution.The integration of advanced hyperspectral and LiDAR remote sensing data with eDNA profiling exponentially increased our ability to capture whole-ecosystem biodiversity metrics, offering insights into the rapid measurement of ecosystem function and ecosystem structure uninhibited by taxonomic or geographical boundaries. This innovative science allowed for the identification and quantification of fundamental ecological strategies and how ecological communities respond to biotic conditions, competition, stress, and environmental change. For example, a significant achievement was showing there is a core microbiome for all forest tree species examined, and that phyllosphere community composition varied with elevation as well as tree diameter, breast height, leaf-specific traits (e.g. chlorophyll and P content) and leaf water content. Our project provides for the first time convincing evidence that the field of biodiversity can further develop through the combination of eDNA profiles and next-generation remote sensing broadening and deepening understanding of ecological function and structure. For example, we combined the Essential Biodiversity Variable class Genetic Composition with Ecosystem Structure and Ecosystem Function – a combination which has not been earlier attempted.
A significant unexpected result showed that phyllosphere (leaf) and soil sphere-specific communities in European temperate forests, are characterized by little connectivity. Another scientific achievement was showing there is a core microbiome for all tree species examined, and that phyllosphere community composition varied with elevation as well as tree diameter, breast height, leaf-specific traits (e.g. chlorophyll and P content) and leaf water content. We further showed that phyllosphere (leaf) and soil sphere-specific communities in European forests, are characterized by little connectivity. In the Netherlands, where the impact of farming on biodiversity has been politically and economically contentious, we demonstrated with our data that the situation was unexpectedly much worse for forest soils in Natura 2000 areas, with forest soil acidity rapidly declining from an average pH of approximately 4.5 to the astonishingly high acidity average of pH = 3.2. Finally, an unplanned outcome of our Action was the emerging importance of biodiversity to EU and European Space Agency policy, and consequently an enthusiastic take up of our technology as well as invitations from organisations to cooperate.
