DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e159547

Authors: Marianna Garfí, Kurt Ziegler-Rodriguez, Eva Gonzalez-Flo, Joan García

Abstract: In recent decades, interest in bio-based products has grown significantly due to rising concerns about eco-friendly and sustainable alternatives to synthetic polymers and conventional energy sources. These bio-derived materials have the potential to substitute products obtained from fossil fuels, including plastics, additives, colourants and energy carriers like hydrogen (H₂). Additionally, within the framework of a circular bioeconomy, bio-based products can help decrease waste generation, lessen environmental harm, and enhance the efficient use of resources (Chrispim et al., 2024).The EU Horizon 2020 PROMICON project has developed a Social Life Cycle Assessment (S-LCA) (ISO, 2024; UNEP, 2020) to evaluate the social implications along the life cycle of four bio-based products (additives, bioplastics, pigments, and hydrogen) generated by microbiomes.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e158692

Authors: Minmin Pan, Stamatina Roussou, Peter Lindblad, Jens Krömer

Abstract: Phototrophic microbial communities – groups of tiny organisms whose energy for growth comes from light – play a significant role in global primary production by absorbing carbon dioxide and nitrogen gas. With the growing challenges of energy demands and environmental concerns, researchers are exploring scientifically designed (synthetic) phototrophic communities as a promising alternative to traditional energy generation methods. These consortia can efficiently convert CO₂ and N₂ gases, along with water and solar energy, into bioenergy products, offering a potential solution to today’s energy and sustainability problems.In this context, the development of synthetic phototrophic communities has attracted increased attention due to their ability to divide tasks among different species, allowing them to function more efficiently and remain stable. However, challenges remain, particularly in maintaining balance among strains and ensuring stable performance in environments that do not replicate the complex natural conditions in which these consortia typically thrive.To address these challenges, recent PROMICON studies have focused on how cyanobacteria interact with purple nonsulfur bacteria (PNSB). These bacteria, including Rhodopseudomonas palustris (R. palustris), have shown potential in producing biohydrogen and lipids by capturing nitrogen in oxygen-free environments. Nevertheless, a key limitation is that they need a carbon-based food source (e.g., acetate) to produce energy. A promising approach to overcome this issue involves growing R. palustris with cyanobacteria, which can pull carbon dioxide from the air and turn it into the organic carbon that R. palustris needs to thrive.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e147255

Authors: Joan García, Eva Gonzalez-Flo

Abstract: The widespread use of petrol-based plastics has led to an environmental problem, as these materials are prone to abandonment, breaking down into microplastics and nanoplastics that harm living organisms. While biodegradable plastics are seen as a solution, their global production still remains modest at 1.3 million tons in 2022 (vs. 400 million tons of petrol-based plastics). Moreover, many such plastics fail to biodegrade efficiently under all environmental conditions (marine, soil, rivers, etc.). Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) are a type of bioplastics naturally produced by microorganisms. They are a promising alternative because they degrade completely in soil, water, and marine environments. However, their industrial production is still limited and needs further research and investment to scale up.Commercially produced PHA is nowadays highly energy-intensive and relies heavily on organic raw materials and clean water, which conflicts with the EU’s goals for a circular, sustainable economy. The current production process is far away from the zero emissions neutral carbon strategy. The EU Horizon 2020 PROMICON project has developed an innovative method that uses photosynthetic microorganisms (cyanobacteria) to produce PHA efficiently. This process uses sunlight, absorbs CO2, and requires minimal organic resources, aligning perfectly with EU bioeconomy goals.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e125077

Authors: Franziska Taubert, Tuomas Rossi, Christoph Wohner, Sarah Venier, Tomáš Martinovič, Taimur Khan, Julian Gordillo, Thomas Banitz

Abstract: European grassland management has often favored high production through frequent mowing and heavy fertilization over biodiversity conservation, which is typically supported by less intensive management. Besides management, climate change and extremes are increasingly affecting grassland productivity and biodiversity, requiring timely adaptation of management practices. Here, we describe the development of a prototype Digital Twin (pDT) of grassland biodiversity dynamics intended to support researchers, farmers or regulatory decision-makers in monitoring the current state of selected grassland sites and projecting their future state under various management and climate scenarios.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e118155

Authors: Teodor Metodiev, Gabriela Popova

Abstract: As a foundation of the future communication activities, a set of dissemination and branding tools and materials is crucial to be established within the first months of the project. Accordingly, a project logo and website were developed in the first 4 months of the PROMICON life-cycle, which form the backbone of both project branding and public visibility. In addition, various dissemination materials such as a PROMICON brochure and a poster were produced in high quality print versions for rising awareness at events. All of the materials can be found on the media center section of the website and are available to anyone interested. Document templates were also produced and made available to the consortium, in order to facilitate future dissemination and reporting activities such as letters, milestone and deliverable reports, as well as PowerPoint presentations. Accounts have been also set in two major social media channels, Twitter and Facebook, to ensure the widest possible impact and outreach of PROMICON related results, news and events, and to engage the interested parties in a virtual community. The long‐term impact of the project's results will be secured by maintaining the website for a total of 9 years – 4 years of the project duration and additional 5 years after the end of the PROMICON life-cycle.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e115732

Authors: Todd Prier, Kelly Yale-Suda, Hailey Westover, Ryan Corey

Abstract: The financial margin of rural and critical access hospitals highly depends on their surgical volume. An efficient operating room is necessary to maximize profit and minimize financial loss. OR utilization is a crucial OR efficiency metric requiring accurate case duration estimates. The patient's age, ASA, BMI, Malampati score, previous surgery, the planned surgery, the surgeon, the assistant's level of experience, and the severity of the patient's disease are also associated with operative duration. Although complex machine learning models are accurate in operative prediction, they are not always available in resource-limited hospitals. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is one of the most common surgical procedures performed and is one of the few procedures performed at critical access and rural hospitals. The accurate estimation of the operative duration of LC is essential for efficient OR utilization. We hypothesize that a multivariate linear regression prediction model can be constructed from a set of preoperatively known, easily collected variables to maximize OR utilization and improve operative scheduling accuracy for LC. We further hypothesize that this model can be implemented in resource-limited environments, such as critical access hospitals.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e104881

Authors: David Kleijn, Ignasi Bartomeus, Vincent Bretagnolle, Kati Häfner, Felix Herzog, Jochen Kantelhardt, Erik Öckinger, Simon Potts, Giulia Riedo, Anna Sapundzhieva, Lena Luise Schaller, Nikol Yovcheva

Abstract: Agricultural expansion and intensification are key drivers of biodiversity decline. There is mounting evidence that modern farming impacts the effectiveness of protected areas as one of the key instruments of biodiversity conservation through, for example, eutrophication, pesticide emissions or increasing access to remote areas [1]. This is increasingly acknowledged and in many countries conservation efforts now include farmed lands and engage farmers to enhance biodiversity on their lands. This benefits farmland biodiversity which, especially in Eurasia, supports some highly threatened species groups [2]. However, farmland biodiversity is also functionally important as it provides a wide range of ecosystem services. Examples are natural pest regulation, pollination, carbon sequestration, human well-being, water purification and cultural services. Agricultural management influences the provision of a wide range of ecosystem services and therefore, contributes to food security and mankind’s ability to sustain itself in the mid to long term. There is clear evidence that enhancing farmland biodiversity promotes the delivery of specific ecosystem services [3]. For example, enhancing wild pollinators and natural enemies through the provision of semi-natural habitat enhances productivity of many crops [4, 5]. However, only a few ecosystem services, such as pollination, pest control and nutrient cycling, may provide private benefits to farmers. Other services, such as carbon sequestration, biodiversity conservation, health benefits and water purification, are public goods which are poorly captured by markets [6].

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e99679

Authors: Elena Velado-Alonso, Ignasi Bartomeus, Kira Keini, Suresh Chithathur, Anna Sapundzhieva, Alexandra Korcheva, David Kleijn

Abstract: Communication and dissemination are key elements to maximise SHOWCASE project impact and ensure long‐term effects. For that, an effective communication strategy is essential to convey the principles and best practices to integrate biodiversity in farm management to favour farmers’ livelihoods while promoting conservation in agricultural landscapes. Current discourses around biodiversity, nature conservation and farming are contradictory with each other and not always engaging for SHOWCASE stakeholders. Thus, an inspirational narrative has been developed in the first months of the project by WP4 “Communicating the benefits of agrobiodiversity through multistakeholder knowledge exchange”, task 4.1. SHOWCASE narrative explains in an effective manner 1) why people care about biodiversity; 2) what we can do, and; 3) how we can do it better.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e95037

Authors: Michellie Hernandez, Deb Bose

Abstract: This is a research proposal that describes a method that attempts to use computational models to reverse engineer antibodies of recovered patients without the use of its genes found in effector B cells or the use of memory B cells samples of recovered patients. Most effector B cells are found in bone marrow and not in the serum, thus making it difficult to sample effector B cells from donors. If we concentrate on COVID19 treatments, even though current development of monoclonal antibodies specific for SARSCOV2 has been fortunate to find effector B cells and memory B cells specific for SARSCOV2 in the serum, there is a possibility that potent antibodies found in serum whose effector B cells or memory B cells specific for SARSCOV2 are not detected in samples of COVID19 survivors for the development of COVID19 monoclonal antibodies specific against SARSCOV2. Thus potentially missing an opportunity for the development of potent monoclonal antibodies specific for SARSCOV2.The following is a method, the authors have named the HOPE method, for the development of genetically engineered monoclonal antibodies by studying the neutralizing antibodies (NAb) or broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAb) of recovered patients of any viral infectious disease. "HOPE" is not an acronym, but named "HOPE" as a symbol of hope specifically for immunocompromised patients that may find more benefit from this proposed treatment. The HOPE method develops genetically engineered monoclonal antibodies that is most specific or most tightly bind to its epitopes of antigens of non-viral pathogens from serum samples of recovered patients of non-viral infectious diseases to be evaluated further to determine its efficacy. The HOPE method can also be applied to antibodies of oncology patients specific against tumor neoantigens for the development of personalized precision medicine and diagnostic tests. If we venture out further, certain steps of the HOPE method may also potentially be used in material science for mass production of bioproteins whose genes are unknown.Given the efficacy of monoclonal antibodies specific against SARSCOV2 during the pandemic, one can hypothesize that neutralizing antibodies and broadly neutralizing antibodies of recovered COVID19 patients vary in potency and efficacy based on the antibodies ability to most tightly bind their FAB component to their corresponding epitopes as well as its ability of having an efficient FC region. Thus selecting the neutralizing antibody or broadly neutralizing antibody with these criteria can be used as good guides to try to reverse engineer for the development of potent monoclonal antibodies specific against SARSCOV2. One can hypothesis as well that such method in monoclonal antibody production can also be applied in various diseases that produce an adaptive immune response whose antibodies can be used as guides for monoclonal antibody production. We can also hypothesize that analyzing the epitopes that bind to selected neutralizing antibodies and broadly neutralizing antibodies of recovered patients can assist in identifying potential targets, which vaccine development can be directed to, that is by analyzing the epitope's mRNA sequence that can be added to mRNA vaccine development.The authors would like to keep HOPE Monoclonal Antibodies (HOPE-mAb) as the nomenclature of the genetically engineered recombinant monoclonal antibodies produced via the HOPE method. Although, subsequent steps around the development of HOPE-mAb may appear specific to COVID19, the overall methodology can be broadly applied for other diseases or tumors that produce antibodies in recovered patients. HOPE mAbs specific against SARSCOV2 can be commercialized more rapidly for in vitro rapid diagnostic COVID19 tests and for laboratory research use in COVID19 studies. Rapid tests development and laboratory research use of HOPE mAbs for other diseases may also be possible with HOPE method upon showing its efficacy in binding to their intended epitopes. In viral infectious diseases, the neutralizing antibodies are an important part of the HOPE method by selecting the best neutralizing antibody within a population of recovered patients, whose FAB component are the most specific to the epitope of the antigen in other words the neutralizing antibodies that binds most compactly to its epitope. Detailing the HOPE method of reverse engineering an antibody of a recovered patient of viral infections even further in particular, the HOPE method is performed with the help of mass spectrometer and cryogenic electron microscope (cryo-EM) to obtain 3D protein models of the neutralizing antibodies (NAb) and run de novo peptide sequencing. Mass spectrometry and computational models are used to decode the linear amino acid sequence. The 3D protein models obtained with cryo-EM may help perfect these computational models with image datasets identifying the amino acids within the protein folded structure and its comparison with the analysis of the mass spectrometer. Computational models can be used to reverse the central dogma by predicting the codon sequence from the amino acid sequence and subsequently, the codon is decoded by another computational model or machine learning algorithm to help predict the mRNA sequence. Computational models to decode the RNA codon from the amino acid sequence can be trained with codon chart analysis. These steps would be done for both the FAB component of an effective antibody against a neoantigen of a tumor or epitope of a pathogen (like SARS-COV2 for example, from recovered COVID19 patients) and the constant region of a fully human monoclonal antibody that has proven to be effective in prior studies. This is followed by uniting the two mRNA sequences to form the mRNA of a full monoclonal antibody specific to the pathogen, like SARS-COV2. The predicted mRNA sequence of the full monoclonal antibody can be genetically engineered into plasmids and reproduced in yeast cultures with recombinant DNA technology or other cost effective methods for mass production, as detailed in this paper.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e93911

Authors: Norbert Zanga, Victor Pwema Kianfu, Shango Mutambwe, Dieudonné Musibono Eyul’Anki, Victorine Mbadu Zebe, John Tembeni Makiadi, Nseu Bekeli Mbomba, Jean Micha

Abstract: Background. Clupeidae, Nannothrissa stewarti (Poll & Roberts 1976) endemic to Lake Mai-Ndombe is one of most heavily fished fish groups using practices and nets not allowed by the country's legislation. Objective of this study was to determine some aspects of reproductive biology of N. stewarti in Lake Mai-Ndombe.Materials and methods. Fish were sampled monthly from November 2020 to October 2021 breeding parameters were determined : Gonado-somatic index (GSI), Size at first sexual maturity, Absolute fecundity and the relationship between total weight (WT) and total length.Results. Results obtained showed that the sex ratio was in favor of females (1 : 0.8). Estimated absolute fecundity was between 227 and 4080 oocytes for females of total length between 23 and 35 mm with an average of 923 ± 664 g oocytes and a relative fecundity varying between 25115 and 155457 oocytes kg-1. Average oocyte diameter was 0.20 ± 0.14 mm. Distribution of oocyte diameters observed in the population as well as monthly variations of the Somatic Gonado Index (SGI) indicate that the species has two main clutches during the year. LT50 size at first sexual maturity is 27.6 mm for males and 25.5 mm for females.Conclusion. N. stewarti from Lake Mai-Ndombe has multiple reproduction throughout year with however two maximum peaks at the beginning of peak rainfall (February-March and September-October).

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e93511

Authors: Anna Sapundzhieva, Alexandra Korcheva, Georgi Zhelezov

Abstract: The following report presents the initial project branding and marketing products that showcase the project’s visual identity and overall corporate appearance.As a foundation of the future effective communication activities, a sound set of working dissemination tools and materials is crucial to be established within the first months of the project. A project logo, project promotional materials, overall visual identity package, and a public website (www.showcase-project.eu) were developed in the first 4 months of the project duration in order to form the main tools of project public visibility and internal communication.The project is provided with a logo that has been communicated and coordinated with all project partners. Dissemination materials such as the SHOWCASE brochure and poster were produced for raising awareness and engaging stakeholders at events. A project brand manual was created and circulated among project partners in order to provide a consistent visual representation of the project. A set of corporate templates was also produced and made available to the consortium partners to facilitate future dissemination and reporting activities such as letters, milestones and deliverable reports, PowerPoint presentations, etc. The project website is developed as the main dissemination channel.The longer‐term impact of the project's results will be secured by maintaining the website for a minimum of 5 years after the end of the project.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e93510

Authors: Lena Luise Schaller, Verena Scherfranz, Kati Häfner, Fabian Klebl, Jabier Ruiz, Jochen Kantelhardt, Annette Piorr

Abstract: Regulatory and incentive instruments for biodiversity management on farms (Short summary for practitioners)

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e93509

Authors: Anna Sapundzhieva, Alexandra Korcheva, Nikol Yovcheva

Abstract: Communication, dissemination and exploitation play a vital role within SHOWCASE as the main means of ensuring knowledge transfer and uptake of results during the project lifetime and after the project is concluded. The project’s strategic objectives and target groups, as well as the key messages and narratives that the project aims to communicate serve as an orientation in the project’s actions in the relevant field. The current Plan for Exploitation and Dissemination of Results (PEDR) has been developed to define target-specific objectives and outline concrete implementation actions.The SHOWCASE PEDR represents a document that aims to guide the communication and dissemination efforts to target project-relevant audiences, convey clear, understandable, coordinated and effective messages, and reach out project results to all interested parties within the various stakeholder groups.The plan presents the different communication and dissemination tools, structured in an implementation plan according to the different target groups and different stage of development of the project. It also provides a list of tailored key performance indicators (KPI) for the project’s outreach activities that aim to provide a means to quantitatively monitor the effectiveness of dissemination activities. Indicative time schedule for implementation and updates is provided.In addition, this document will identify key project results, which will be a subject of exploitation.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e93508

Authors: Alexandra Korcheva, Anna Sapundzhieva, Ignasi Bartomeus

Abstract: The SHOWCASE DMP is structured into five sections, which aim to establish the scope and terms of use of research data within the project in accordance with the Horizon 2020 requirements of data management.The first section provides an introduction to the plan, which outlines the main data management practices that SHOWCASE would implement throughout the five-year project duration, as well as aspects of sustainable management of results and data after the conclusion of the project period.The second section of the document provides an overview of the commitments that SHOWCASE has made in relation to handling data in a controlled and transparent way, and ensuring an open access to research data and results in line with the EU’s Open Research Data Pilot and FAIR data management.The third section describes the details of data management within the project, focusing on different aspects of the process - from data collection, through data processing, to storage and access provision. The section features information on personal data protection in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), as well as a break-down of the research data usage into project work packages. Recommendations for relevant data management practices are described in the section.The fourth section includes an overview of the specific data management details for the project work packages. The specific data formats and data management requirements of work packages are described.The fifth section of the DMP features concluding remarks on the data management strategy adopted by the project, and it outlines future updates and additions to the plan, which are going to be presented at a later stage of the project’s development.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e93507

Authors: Andrew Ruck, Erik Öckinger, Rene van der Wal, Alice Mauchline, Amelia Hood, Simon Potts, Michiel Wallis De Vries, Sabrina Gaba, Vincent Bretagnolle

Abstract: This report was researched and written between April and December 2021 by researchers at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), with support from partners at the University of Reading (UK), De Vlinderstichting (Netherlands), and Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS, France). The report consists of a review of existing 'citizen science’ approaches to monitoring biodiversity on farmland, in which we introduce a typology of five different types of approach, and highlight the strengths and weaknesses of these. This forms part of the project “SHOWCASing synergies between agriculture, biodiversity and Ecosystem services to help farmers capitalising on native biodiversity” (SHOWCASE). SHOWCASE aims to encourage the widespread uptake of biodiversity-friendly farming practices across Europe, both through identifying effective incentives for farmers, and gathering further evidence of the ecosystem services provided by increased levels of biodiversity. The project receives funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No.862480. In particular, this report fulfils Deliverable 3.8 within SHOWCASE: “A review of existing citizen science approaches to monitoring farmland biodiversity, including an overview of the different statistical approaches to handling citizen science data”. We at SLU are grateful to all SHOWCASE partners for their contributions.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e93506

Authors: Lena Luise Schaller, Verena Scherfranz, Kati Häfner, Fabian Klebl, Jabier Ruiz, Jochen Kantelhardt, Annette Piorr

Abstract: This document represents Deliverable 2.1 “Overview of regulatory and incentive instruments for biodiversity management on farms” within WP2 „Identifying incentives to promote biodiversity and ecosystem services in agricultural landscapes“ of the EU Horizon 2020 project SHOWCASE. It reports the outcomes of WP2 Task 2.1 “Evaluating regulatory and incentive instruments for biodiversity management on farms”.In the 1st and 2nd chapter, the report gives a short introduction of the deliverable’s objectives, the tasks addressed, the report’s outline and the main focus of the literature review.Chapter 3 gives an overview of the main laws governing biodiversity protection in the European Union. The main elements of the Birds and Habitats directives are presented, alongside other biodiversity laws and policies, with a focus on the obligations and requirements they set on agriculture in order to protect European native wildlife. Chapter 3 also covers the features of the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy that operate as a regulatory baseline for all beneficiaries of farm subsidies, i.e., cross-compliance and greening requirements under the current CAP and the new conditionality in the CAP 2023-2027.Chapter 4 gives an overview of economic and non-economic approaches potentially promoting farmers’ pro-biodiversity behaviour. Whereas economically oriented approaches imply positive or negative monetary flows – compensation payments or rewards vs. penalties – to motivate farmers to implement biodiversity-friendly management practices or to prevent them from harming biodiversity, partnerships and networks steer farmers’ behaviour through agreeing on a common goal and working towards it by sharing resources, skills and risk. With regards to the agricultural focus of SHOWCASE, Chapter 4 looks in more detail at the incentives provided by the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) of the European Union. This covers both the current and future CAP, with an overview of how the novel eco-schemes can provide new incentives for farmers to adopt biodiversity friendly practices.Chapter 5 looks into how the combination of regulatory frameworks and incentives operate in practice for farmers in the EU. To this end, grey literature and European Commission publications related to farming for biodiversity have been reviewed. A specific focus is set on biodiversity-friendly farming in Natura 2000 sites, as central exemplary areas of continuous and long-lasting efforts in biodiversity conservation. This is followed by revising some of the main conclusions from very recent grey literature assessing the successes and failures of the CAP in relation to biodiversity.Chapter 6 provides an overview of approaches that have already been implemented to incentivize farmers’ pro-biodiversity behaviour. Based on grey literature, various types of approaches – i. e. focusing on plot or farm level, land tenure or the entire value chain, building on organic farming or including market-based, value-based or measure-based mechanisms – were identified within the EBA countries, further EU member states and selected western countries outside the EU. In sum, 62 examples of pro-biodiversity schemes were included in the further analysis representing highly divergent incentivizing mechanisms and the most important agricultural systems of the EBAs as well as in consequence serving as an information platform for further EBA scheme design activities.Based on the preceding chapters and their focus on result-based approaches, Chapter 7 casts a critical eye on their suitability with regards to various regulatory, policy, social and administrative contexts also considering potential national differences. On the international level, WTO requirements such as Green Box rules are a limiting factor with regards to result- based payment modalities and thus scheme design. On the national and regional level, issues to be considered include long-term availability of funding, guaranteeing additionality if requested, stakeholders’ and decision-makers’ attitudes towards agri-environment-climate measures in general as well as towards result-oriented approaches specifically, availability of suitable indicators and IT-systems, access to extension services and profound know-how of farmers and public authorities regarding the interlinkages between biodiversity and farming practices. On individual level, farmers’ trust in involved institutions and their willingness to participate are additionally discussed as highly relevant factors affecting the suitability of result- based approaches.In Chapter 8 a structured overview on factors influencing farmers’ willingness to promote biodiversity by implementing voluntary biodiversity measures is presented. Based on the review of scientific literature, the chapter describes several determinants which have been identified along three scales, i.e. 1) society, community and landscape, 2) farm scale, and 3) farmers’ intrinsic factors. The main influencing factors at the first scale range from the design of policies, to economic aspects, to socio-cultural norms. The second scale encompasses relevant farm characteristics, such as farm type and size to field conditions. For the farmers’ intrinsic factors age, education, experience, and self-identity play an important role. However, it is important to make a distinction between farmers’ willingness to participate in schemes and their actual behaviour, because the latter is determined by their ability to do so.Chapter 9 closes the Deliverable by giving an outlook on the further use of the results for scientific analyses within SHOWCASE, supporting mainly the work of designing interventions in WP1 and of developing surveys and model designs in WP2, as well as providing a basis for communication and policy recommendation material for WP4.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e93505

Authors: Vincent Bretagnolle, Sabrina Gaba, Amelia Hood, Simon Potts

Abstract: SHOWCASE’s first step is to create a European network of local Experimental Biodiversity Areas (EBAs), that will be used to co-develop (though to varying degrees) and test successful strategies for better integrating biodiversity into farming. EBAs are located across a wide range of agro-ecosystems and represent farming systems undergoing both intensification as well as agricultural abandonment. Rather than creating new sites for the network, the approach in SHOWCASE was that EBAs would be developed mostly from existing collaborations between scientists and practitioners. The first work Package of SHOWCASE, WP1, has built in the 10 countries an experimental and knowledge exchange network in agricultural landscapes across Europe. Existing collaborations include LTSER platforms from eLTER RI, farmer cooperatives, farming research organisations and conservation organisations. These are well-established multi-actor networks already undertaking knowledge exchange, participatory research and innovation activities. Then, participatory approaches with farmers, administrators and other stakeholders are defining operational biodiversity targets at field/farm/regional level by discussing the types and extents of biodiversity indicators that should be used. WP1 thus is building our EBA network, with each EBA serving both as a local testbed for developing and implementing novel interventions and as a knowledge exchange hub. This is a pan-European network of Experimental Biodiversity Areas. In these EBAs multi-actor communities (growers, extension workers, researchers, NGOs, citizens etc.) work together to co-develop, co-manage, co-monitor and co-evaluate biodiversity innovations to enhance farm production, wildlife protection, livelihood quality and resilience of social-ecological production systems. These multi-actor communities will i) identify and prioritise local or regional challenges of biodiversity-agricultural production trade-offs, and ii) co-formulate and test potential solutions. However, to add value at the European level and allow up- scaling and out-scaling of solutions, it is essential to have a common framework and set of core standardised methodologies and measures used by all EBAs. EBAs are expected to be somewhat representative of Europe, in terms of biogeography, farming system or agricultural intensification/abandonment. However, all EBAs are starting from different points. One main target was to develop the network of EBAs based on a core approach, though place-based, in order to provide local solutions to local challenges. A conceptual representation of an EBA is given below illustrating how each EBA will be the fundamental base and operational platform integrating the various Tasks of WP1.

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DOI: 10.3897/arphapreprints.e81207

Authors: Henrique M. Pereira, Jessi Junker, Néstor Fernández, Joachim Maes, Pedro Beja, Aletta Bonn, Tom Breeze, Lluís Brotons, Helge Bruehlheide, Marcel Buchhorn, César Capinha, Cher Chow, Karolin Dietrich, Maria Dornelas, Grégoire Dubois, Miguel Fernandez, Mark Frenzel, Nikolai Friberg, Steffen Fritz, Ivelina Georgieva, Anne Gobin, Carlos Guerra, Sigrid Haande, Sergi Herrando, Ute Jandt, W. Daniel Kissling, Ingolf Kühn, Christian Langer, Camino Liquete, Anne Lyche Solheim, David Martí, Juliette G. C. Martin, Annett Masur, Ian McCallum, Marit Mjelde, Jannicke Moe, Hannah Moersberger, Alejandra Morán-Ordóñez, Francisco Moreira, Martin Musche, Laetitia M. Navarro, Alberto Orgiazzi, Robert Patchett, Lyubomir Penev, Joan Pino, Gabriela Popova, Simon Potts, Anna Ramon, Leonard Sandin, Joana Santana, Anna Sapundzhieva, Linda See, Judy Shamoun-Baranes, Bruno Smets, Pavel Stoev, Leho Tedersoo, Liis Tiimann, Jose Valdez, Sara Vallecillo, Roy H. A. Van Grunsven, Ruben Van De Kerchove, Dani Villero, Piero Visconti, Claudia Weinhold, Annika M. Zuleger

Abstract: Observations are key to understand the drivers of biodiversity loss, and the impacts on ecosystem services and ultimately on people. Many EU policies and initiatives demand unbiased, integrated and regularly updated biodiversity and ecosystem service data. However, efforts to monitor biodiversity are spatially and temporally fragmented, taxonomically biased, and lack integration in Europe. EuropaBON aims to bridge this gap by designing an EU-wide framework for monitoring biodiversity and ecosystem services. EuropaBON harnesses the power of modelling essential variables to integrate different reporting streams, data sources, and monitoring schemes. These essential variables provide consistent knowledge about multiple dimensions of biodiversity change across space and time. They can then be analyzed and synthesized to support decision-making at different spatial scales, from the sub-national to the European scale, through the production of indicators and scenarios. To develop essential biodiversity and ecosystem variables workflows that are policy relevant, EuropaBON is built around stakeholder engagement and knowledge exchange (WP2). EuropaBON will work with stakeholders to identify user and policy needs for biodiversity monitoring and investigate the feasibility of setting up a center to coordinate monitoring activities across Europe (WP2). Together with stakeholders, EuropaBON will assess current monitoring efforts to identify gaps, data and workflow bottlenecks, and analyse cost-effectiveness of different schemes (WP3). This will be used to co-design improved monitoring schemes using novel technologies to become more representative temporally, spatially and taxonomically, delivering multiple benefits to users and society (WP4). Finally, EuropaBON will demonstrate in a set of showcases how workflows tailored to the Birds Directive, Habitats Directive, Water Framework Directive, Climate and Restoration Policy, and the Bioeconomy Strategy, can be implemented (WP5).

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