Cristina Aponte

Dr. Cristina Aponte

National Institute for Research and Development in Forestry “Marin Dracea”, 128 Blvd. Eroilor, Voluntari 077190, Ilfov, Romania
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Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

18Years (2009-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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11 April 2019 in Biological Reviews
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
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PCPilar Castro-Díez
Pilar Castro-Díez
AVAna Sofia Vaz
Ana Sofia Vaz
Joaquim S. SilvaJoaquim S. Silva
Joaquim S. Silva
MLMarcela van Loo
Marcela van Loo
ÁAÁlvaro Alonso
Álvaro Alonso
OGOscar Godoy
Oscar Godoy
Non‐native tree (NNT) species have been transported worldwide to create or enhance services that are fundamental for human well‐being, such as timber provision, erosion control or ornamental value; yet NNTs can also produce undesired effects, such as fire proneness or pollen allergenicity. Despite the variety of effects that NNTs have on multiple ecosystem services, a global quantitative assessment of their costs and benefits is still lacking. Such information is critical for decision‐making, management and sustainable exploitation of NNTs. We present here a global assessment of NNT effects on the three main categories of ecosystem services, including regulating (RES), provisioning (PES) and cultural services (CES), and on an ecosystem disservice (EDS), i.e. pollen allergenicity. By searching the scientific literature, country forestry reports, and social media, we compiled a global data set of 1683 case studies from over 125 NNT species, covering 44 countries, all continents but Antarctica, and seven biomes. Using different meta‐analysis techniques, we found that, while NNTs increase most RES (e.g. climate regulation, soil erosion control, fertility and formation), they decrease PES (e.g. NNTs contribute less than native trees to global timber provision). Also, they have different effects on CES (e.g. increase aesthetic values but decrease scientific interest), and no effect on the EDS considered. NNT effects on each ecosystem (dis)service showed a strong context dependency, varying across NNT types, biomes and socio‐economic conditions. For instance, some RES are increased more by NNTs able to fix atmospheric nitrogen, and when the ecosystem is located in low‐latitude biomes; some CES are increased more by NNTs in less‐wealthy countries or in countries with higher gross domestic products. The effects of NNTs on several ecosystem (dis)services exhibited some synergies (e.g. among soil fertility, soil formation and climate regulation or between aesthetic values and pollen allergenicity), but also trade‐offs (e.g. between fire regulation and soil erosion control). Our analyses provide a quantitative understanding of the complex synergies, trade‐offs and context dependencies involved for the effects of NNTs that is essential for attaining a sustained provision of ecosystem services.


1 December 2013 in Forest Ecology and Management
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
CACristina Aponte
Cristina Aponte
LGLuis V. García
Luis V. García
TMTeodoro Marañón
Teodoro Marañón


11 February 2020 in Global Ecology and Biogeography
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
PDF file
CACristina Aponte
Cristina Aponte
Sabine KaselSabine Kasel
Sabine Kasel
Craig NitschkeCraig Nitschke
Craig Nitschke
MTMihai Andrei Tanase
Mihai Andrei Tanase
HVHelen Vickers
Helen Vickers
LBLauren Bennett
Lauren Bennett

1 November 2016 in Forest Ecology and Management
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
LBLauren T. Bennett
Lauren T. Bennett
MBMatthew J. Bruce
Matthew J. Bruce
JMJosephine MacHunter
Josephine MacHunter
MKMichele Kohout
Michele Kohout
MTMihai Andrei Tanase
Mihai Andrei Tanase
CACristina Aponte
Cristina Aponte