Biodiversity conservation at the landscape level: climate change and anthropogenic disturbances

Studies on biological conservation in recent decades have identified a global crisis, synthesized by the loss of biodiversity and ecological functions, with impacts on the quality of life of populations and on the economy (Hoekstra et al. 2005). The solution to this crisis depends, in addition to the diagnosis of anthropic impacts on natural systems, the detection of biodiversity patterns and the understanding of the mechanisms for their generation and maintenance, which allow the development of technologies for the sustainable management of biodiversity at different spatial scales .The conservation units areas to be studied are covered, in general, by native vegetation types at different levels of conservation. The characteristics of the adjacent landscapes may favor gene flows between conserved populations or form insurmountable barriers and exert harmful influences on the intended conservation. In general, reserves were created in remote, unproductive areas of no economic interest to society Since the first debates on conservation actions, it was known that the reserves alone would not to guarantee the preservation of biodiversity (Margules and Pressey, 2000) and, as the environment is not stable in geological time, it is necessary to understand how different species respond to climatic variations, to ensure conservation. Landscape ecology deals with the study of structure, the product of the spatial relationship between different ecosystems, the function or interactions between the present elements and patterns of change, resulting from alterations in the structure and function of the mosaic of ecosystems in a heterogeneous region. In the areas of the UCs selected late secondary vegetation predominates, while the surrounding areas are composed of patches of natural vegetation altered at different levels, and patches formed by different agricultural practices. The characteristics of the adjacent landscapes may favor gene flows between conserved populations or form barriers and exert harmful influences on the intended conservation. The maintenance of biodiversity in Conservation Units, in Brazil, is ruled by the National System of Conservation Units (SNUC, 2011), which in its article 5 brings the IV guideline, which indicates that the support and cooperation of organizations should be sought non-governmental organizations, private organizations and individuals for the development of studies, scientific research, environmental education practices, leisure activities and ecological tourism, monitoring, maintenance and other management activities of conservation. In addition, it regulates, in its article 25, that the conservation units, except the Environmental Protection Area and the Private Natural Heritage Reserve, must have a Buffer Zone (ZA) where human activities are subject to specific rules and restrictions, with the aim of minimizing negative impacts on the unit. The Buffer Zones, play an important role in the effectiveness of biodiversity conservation in the UCs. Education actions may contribute to the reduction of deforestation, related to the degradation of soils and water resources, the loss of diversity and, as a consequence, of the various environmental services promoted by conserved ecosystems.This project aims to 1) indicate how climate change may affect the biodiversity contained in ecosystem services in 3 caatinga conservation units (Ecological Station of Aiuaba, National Park of Seven City and National Park of Ubajara) ; 2) to know the effects of climate on the mortality and extinction of species in the Brazilian semi-arid region; 3) value the ecosystem services offered by the biodiversity ; 4) identify functional adaptations of species to different conditions of resource availability; 5) identify the characteristics of the surroundings and the humidity gradient to discuss their relationships with biodiversity conservation and; 6) assess the conservation status of threatened species groups.