Researchers from the National University of Córdoba (UNC) and the National Scientific and Technical Research Council (Conicet) participated in an international study published in the journal Nature, where the concept of “dark biodiversity” was analyzed.
The study, which included sampling in Córdoba and Santa Cruz, concluded that the human impact in Córdoba is comparable to that of European countries, but it occurred in a much shorter period.
What is dark biodiversity?
The research analyzed 119 regions around the world, including sites in Brazil and Ecuador.
The objective was to determine how many plant species should be present in an ecosystem, but are not due to evolutionary, climatic factors, and human action.
According to the report:
- The greater the human intervention, the lower the species diversity.
- A significant loss of flora in Córdoba was confirmed due to urban and agricultural expansion.
Surveys in Córdoba: alarming results
The survey in Córdoba was conducted at 50 locations between Ascochinga and Río Ceballos, where researchers compared the existing diversity with what should be present.
Lucas Enrico, a professor at the Faculty of Exact, Physical and Natural Sciences (FCEFyN) of UNC, explained in a statement: “We seek to know what diversity exists at each site in relation to human impact. This allows us to understand dark biodiversity, that is, the species that should potentially be present.”
The data revealed that:
- Córdoba has a greater human impact than Santa Cruz.
- It has fewer species than expected, reflecting a severe environmental impact.
- Its level of impact is similar to Europe, although in Argentina, intervention began 200 years ago, while in Europe it began over a thousand years ago.
Implications and urgent environmental policies
Melisa Giorgis, a professor and researcher at Imbiv, emphasized that the study demonstrates the loss of diversity due to human activity: “More impact, less diversity, fewer opportunities, and less sustainability.”
According to experts, these results should drive public policies aimed at an integrated ecosystem management to protect biodiversity and the well-being of the population.
Dark biodiversity as a scientific tool
For researchers, this concept allows:
- Measuring the lost biodiversity in the last 150 years.
- Updating vegetation maps, used to monitor vegetation cover loss.
- Linking data with climate change and other environmental phenomena.
The study was developed within the framework of DarkDivNet, a collaborative network that brought together more than 200 scientists from different countries and recorded plant species in 5,500 sites distributed in 119 regions around the world.
Conclusion: a call to action
“The main lesson from our study is that biodiversity decreases in proportion to the level of anthropogenic disturbance”, Enrico concluded.
The environmental impact in Córdoba is profound and accelerating, reinforcing the need to manage ecosystems responsibly to ensure their long-term conservation.
Cover photo: courtesy of Lucas Enrico
