CH-3.3 :: Impact of stress factors on ecosystems

Relevance of the issue and justification of the need for research:
A better understanding of the connections and dynamics between soil, sediment and water is needed to manage ecosystems in a sustainable manner. Further, more biological tests must be developed to measure the impact of contaminants on ecosystems. But not only chemical stress factors are a problem to ecosystems. Also physical factors like the effects of climate change (e.g. temperature, insolation, rainfall rates, sedimentation rates) affect the Soil-Sediment-Water-System.
Specific research topics and knowledge gaps:
Natural capital
• Dynamics and connections in the Soil-Sediment-Water-System: Gain a better understanding of the dynamics and connections in the Soil-Sediment-Water-System.
• Material flow of pesticides and antibiotics: Gain a better understanding of the material flow of pesticides and antibiotics in ecosystems across all environmental compartments.
• Methods for measuring contaminants in ecosystems: Improve and supplement the methods for measuring contaminants in ecosystems through biological indicators (biological tests). Study the effect of pesticide components (e.g. neonicotinoids) on ecosystems.
• Effect of climate change on the Soil-Sediment-Water-System: Study the effect of climate change on Swiss agriculture and its impact on the Soil-Sediment-Water-System.
Impacts
• Material flow of pesticides and antibiotics: Gain a better understanding of the material flow of pesticides and antibiotics in ecosystems across all environmental compartments.
• Methods for measuring contaminants in ecosystems: Improve and supplement the methods for measuring contaminants in ecosystems through biological indicators (biological tests). Study the effect of pesticide components (e.g. neonicotinoids) on ecosystems.
• Effect of climate change on the Soil-Sediment-Water-System: Study the effect of climate change on Swiss agriculture and its impact on the Soil-Sediment-Water-System.

Documents:
• Bedarfsabklärung eines Aktionsplans zur Risikoreduktion und nachhaltigen Anwendung von Pflanzenschutzmitteln. Bericht des Bundesrates in Erfüllung des Postulates Moser vom 16. März 2012 (12.3299): (Eidgenössisches Departement für Wirtschaft Bildung und Forschung WBF, 2014)

Stakeholders:
• University/research institute, workshop participants