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Biology subjects

Stucchi, D.

Publications and source records attributed to Stucchi, D..

2 recordsLinked to original sources

Do urban ecosystem service assessments account for ecosystem condition and biodiversity?

Urban ecosystems provide essential ecosystem services (ES), a supply that is dependent on ecosystem condition (EC). Statistical frameworks like the UN SEEA-EA explicitly link ES flows to the extent and condition of ecosystem assets. Yet, the concrete role of EC in shaping ES supply remains only partially understood, as their relationship is complex and varies across services. Consequently, the operational integration of EC into urban ES assessments remains fragmented. Through a systematic review of 110 studies (2005-2024), we evaluated how and to what extent EC has been incorporated into urban ES assessments. For each study, we examined ES assessment methods, types of condition variables, spatial and temporal explicitness, flow types (potential vs. actual), and sustainability considerations. We find that integration is decisively underway, with most studies (87%) using EC variables as inputs, predominantly for regulating services. However, this integration is narrow: it relies on static methods, focuses on potential over actual flows, and favors easily measurable abiotic and structural state variables over functional, compositional, or landscape ones. While spatial explicitness is common (45%), dynamic models are rare (20%), and assessments seldom leverage EC to evaluate ES flow sustainability. Addressing these gaps, by broadening types of EC variables, increasing temporal dynamism, and linking condition to both actual flows and sustainability, will enhance the capacity of urban ES assessments to support the planning and adaptive management of urban greening. It will also help advance the development of urban ecosystem condition and service accounts, thereby increasing the relevance of urban ES assessment knowledge.

ecology↗

An individual, mechanistic and dynamical model to simulate urban tree growth and ecosystem services supply under future scenarios

Urban trees represent a key nature-based solution and an essential component of green infrastructures, providing multiple ecosystem services but increasingly subjected to environmental stressors. Here we present a dynamic, mechanistic, and individual-based model designed to simulate growth of urban trees and the associated provision of ecosystem services under varying climate conditions. The model is modular, runs at daily time steps and incorporates key biological processes such as photosynthesis, water limitation and biomass allocation. It simulates single-tree growth and quntifies ecosystem services, such as carbon sequestration, air filtration, and local climate regulation using species-specific parameters and local climate forcing. The model was calibrated and tested in a pilot application in Milan, simulating the long-term growth of three of three common broadleaved species (Platanus x acerifolia, Populus nigra and Robinia pseudoacacia) across different planting ages and climate scenarios. A multi-objective calibration was used to fit stem diameter and crown width, and sensitivity analyses were conducted to assess parameter robustness and uncertainty propagation. Results show realistic growth trajectories with clear species-age contrasts. Tree growth declines under stronger climate forcing, and ecosystem service provision scales non-linearly with age, with mature trees delivering far greater benefits. Carbon sequestration and air filtration decrease under more extreme scenarios, whereas local climate regulation exhibits a compensatory response: lower productivity is offset by higher evaporative demand, yielding stable or slightly increased evapotranspiration-based cooling. The model offers a promising tool for supporting urban forestry decisions related to planning, species selection, and long-term ecosystem service provision.

ecology↗