GLOBIO: cause-effect relationships

The core of GLOBIO is a set of cause-effect relationships. For each of the five drivers included, the model contains a regression equation, linking the intensity of the pressure to the impact on biodiversity. The impact is captured in terms of the biodiversity indicator MSA: the mean abundance of original species, compared to the undisturbed situation.

The GLOBIO regression equations are based on nearly 200 peer reviewed references on the response of species to change in the environment, i.e. the drivers.

As an example the figure shows one of the five cause-effect relationships included in GLOBIO, namely the regression equation linking nitrogen deposition (in terms of exceedence of critical loads) to biodiversity (in terms of the indicator MSA).

The output indicator 'Ecosystem extent' is directly derived from the models providing input for GLOBIO (e.g. IMAGE).