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Highlights • Leaf decomposition rates are affected by forest biomass removal. • Conventional logging is more detrimental than the logging residue removal practise. • Fungi:Bacterial ratio, a generally overlooked predictor, is crucial for leaf decomposition. Abstract The complexity and multidimensionality of freshwater processes require multiple metrics to assess their responses to disturbances. However, studies have historically relied on structural attributes, while functional attributes have received much less attention. The relative ease of implementing functional attributes, like leaf decomposition assays, make them an attractive choice to complement structural attributes (e.g. species diversity and community composition). However, the congruence of these disparate attributes is still debatable, as studies have reported results to be strongly context-dependent. The concept of using forest biomass as a source of alternative energy instead of fossil fuel has led to rapid changes in forestry practices. One of these practices involves removal of logging residues that would have otherwise been left on site (logging residue removal, LRR), potentially leaving the landscape prone to high erosion, run-off and sedimentation. This study investigated the decomposition rates of alder leaves in sites affected by LRR compared with conventionally logged (CL) and near-natural, non-harvested sites. Our results revealed CL as having the strongest effects, while LRR had an intermediate response, both in terms of decomposition rates (k total , k microbial and k shredders) and microbial biomass. These results match those for structural attributes reported previously at the same sites, thus providing multiple lines of evidence for the ecosystem-level impacts of forestry activities. Bacterial biomass on decomposing leaves was consistently several orders of magnitude greater than that of fungi in all study streams and treatments. Most previous research on the relative contributions of shredders, fungi and bacteria to leaf decomposition has focused on fast-flowing riffles and more research is needed to clarify their relative roles in other types of running waters, such as the slow-flowing, strongly allochthonous and humic forest streams studied by here. In conclusion, this study points to further need to revise the current practice of forestry activities in light of its negative impact on biodiversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The accelerated loss of biodiversity, impaired ecosystem services, and lack of policy action pose a major threat to human welfare. The installation of an Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), as decided upon at the UN general assembly in December 2010, will provide a much needed framework to better coordinate global response to biodiversity loss. The Busan Outcome laid out the foundation of the structure, function and governance of the IPBES. However, the main goal is to make IPBES credible and effective. Here we discuss three main challenges for IPBES: (1) How to identify topics for the agenda and the assessments, (2) how to organise the assessment process, and (3) how to make findings more policy relevant. In this contribution we recommend that scientists actively act as “early warners”, identify pertinent topics that unify different stakeholders, and reflect the characteristics of the different regions and scales. Science has to be independent and improve its communication e.g. through the elaboration of different models and policy scenarios. A short reflection on fairness and effectivity leads to the conclusion that trust due to transparency will be one of the main factors that determines the success of IPBES. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]