LIFE: A metric for mapping the impact of land-cover change on global extinctions

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 380(1917)

Published: Jan. 9, 2025

Human-driven habitat loss is recognized as the greatest cause of biodiversity crisis, yet to date we lack robust, spatially explicit metrics quantifying impacts anthropogenic changes in extent on species’ extinctions. Existing either fail consider species identity or focus solely recent losses. The persistence score approach developed by Durán et al . (Durán al. 2020 Methods Ecol. Evol 11 , 910–921 (doi:10.1111/2041-210X.13427) represented an important development combining ecologies and land-cover data while considering cumulative non-linear impact past probability extinction. However, it computationally demanding, limiting its global use application. Here couple with high-performance computing generate maps what term LIFE (Land-cover change Impacts Future Extinctions) metric for 30 875 terrestrial vertebrates at 1 arc-min resolution (3.4 km 2 equator). These provide quantitative estimates, first time, marginal expected number extinctions (both increases decreases) caused converting remaining natural vegetation agriculture, restoring farmland habitat. We demonstrate statistically that this integrates information richness, endemism loss. Our resulting can be used scales from 0.5–1000 offer unprecedented opportunities estimate diverse actions affect land cover, individual dietary choices through protected area development. This article part discussion meeting issue ‘Bending curve towards nature recovery: building Georgina Mace's legacy a biodiverse future’.

Language: Английский

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Overcoming confusion and stigma in habitat fragmentation research

Biological reviews/Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 99(4), P. 1411 - 1424

Published: March 13, 2024

ABSTRACT Anthropogenic habitat loss is widely recognized as a primary environmental concern. By contrast, debates on the effects of fragmentation persist. To facilitate overcoming these debates, here we: ( i ) review state literature fragmentation, finding widespread confusion and stigma; ii identify consequences this for biodiversity conservation ecosystem management; iii suggest ways in which research can move forward to resolve problems. Confusion evident from 25 most‐cited articles published between 2017 2021. These use five distinct concepts only one clearly distinguishes area other factors (‘fragmentation per se ’). Stigmatization our new findings that papers are more charged with negative sentiments when compared subfields sciences, cited more. While most empirical studies find neutral or positive species outcomes, implies small patches have high cumulative value, stigma reporting discussing such results led suboptimal protection policy. For example, government agencies, organizations, land trusts impose minimum patch sizes protection. Given value patches, policies mean many opportunities being missed. Our highlights importance reducing research. end, we propose implementing study designs multiple sample landscapes selected across independent gradients amount measured density. We show possible forest Earth's biomes. As adopted, language becomes precise, expect will dissipate. also important breakthroughs understanding situations where neutral, positive, negative, reasons differences. Ultimately improve efficacy area‐based policies, benefit people.

Language: Английский

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Fragmented micro-growth habitats present opportunities for alternative competitive outcomes

Nature Communications, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 15(1)

Published: Aug. 31, 2024

Abstract Bacteria in nature often thrive fragmented environments, like soil pores, plant roots or leaves, leading to smaller isolated habitats, shared with fewer species. This spatial fragmentation can significantly influence bacterial interactions, affecting overall community diversity. To investigate this, we contrast paired growth tiny picoliter droplets (1–3 cells per 35 pL up 3–8 species 268 pL) larger, uniform liquid cultures (about 2 million 140 µl). We test four interaction scenarios using different strains: substrate competition, independence, inhibition, and cell killing. In outcomes are more variable sometimes even reverse compared larger cultures. Both experiments simulations show that these differences stem mostly from variation initial population phenotypes their sizes. These effects most significant the smallest starting populations lessen as size increases. Simulations suggest slower-growing might survive competition by increasing variability. Our findings reveal how microhabitat promotes diverse outcomes, contributing greater diversity under competitive conditions.

Language: Английский

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Fragmented micro-growth habitats present opportunities for alternative competitive outcomes

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Jan. 26, 2024

Abstract Bacteria in nature often proliferate highly patchy environments, such as soil pores, particles, plant roots or leaves. The resulting spatial fragmentation leads to cells being constrained smaller habitats, shared with potentially fewer other species. effects of microhabitats on the emergence bacterial interspecific interactions are poorly understood, but important for maintenance diversity at a larger scale. To study this more in-depth, we contrasted paired species-growth picoliter droplets low population census that large ( macro ) liquid suspended cultures. Four interaction scenarios were imposed by using different strain combinations and media: substrate competition, independence, growth inhibition, cell killing tailocins. In contrast macro-level culturing, observed fragmented all cases yielded variable outcomes, even reversing assumed type small proportion droplet habitats. Timelapse imaging mathematical simulations indicated alternative outcomes consequence founder phenotypic variation sizes. Simulations further suggested increased kinetic may be crucial selectable property slower-growing species survive competition. Our results thus demonstrate how microhabitat enables proliferation trajectories contributes higher under

Language: Английский

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LIFE: A metric for quantitively mapping the impact of land-cover change on global extinctions

Published: April 8, 2024

Human-driven habitat loss is recognised as the greatest cause of biodiversity yet to date we lack robust, spatially explicit metrics quantifying impacts anthropogenic changes in extent on species’ extinctions. Existing either fail consider species identity or focus solely recent losses. The persistence score approach developed by Durán et al. (2020) (1) represented an important development combining ecologies and land-cover data whilst considering cumulative non-linear impact past probability extinction. However, it computationally demanding, limiting its global use application. Here couple with high-performance computing generate maps what term LIFE (Land-cover change Impacts Future Extinctions) metric for 29772 terrestrial vertebrates at 1 arc-minute resolution (3.4km2 equator). These provide quantitative estimates, first time, marginal expected number extinctions (both increases decreases) caused converting remaining natural vegetation agriculture, (2) restoring farmland habitat. We demonstrate statistically that this integrates information richness, endemism, loss. Our resulting can be used 10% certainty scales from 0.5-1000km2, offer unprecedented opportunities estimate diverse actions land cover, individual dietary choices through protected area development.

Language: Английский

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The Continuity‐Contiguity Problem in Fragmentation‐Biodiversity Research

Journal of Biogeography, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Jan. 1, 2025

ABSTRACT A primary question for researchers in the field of conservation science concerns fragmentation biodiversity‐supporting habitat. Key debates revolve around relevance habitat composition and configuration outcomes. Central to this debate is measurement delineation patch, which informs fragmentation‐related metrics their evaluation. Despite need quantify model fragmentation, patch concept itself has been subject criticism concerning its ability adequately reflect heterogeneity resource distributions complex landscapes. In paper, we present continuity‐contiguity problem, one fundamental challenges related space, discuss implications fragmentation‐biodiversity research. We outline potential contribution recent developments spatial‐ecological methods leveraging uncertainty modelling process address four common issues concept: gap‐crossing multi‐variate delineation, interior‐edge transitions parameterise as both a discrete continuous spatial entity. conclude with several recommendations studies on outcomes where problem may influence research process.

Language: Английский

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The Geometry of Southern China’s Mangroves: Small and Elongated

Forests, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 16(2), P. 212 - 212

Published: Jan. 23, 2025

Mangrove wetlands are naturally divided into habitat patches by tidal creeks, with patch edges highly vulnerable to human activities and biological invasions, making them critical areas for mangrove degradation. Understanding the geometrical characteristics of these is essential management in Anthropocene, yet their exploration remains limited. Using a high-resolution (2 m) distribution dataset from 2018, we analyzed structure mangroves southern China. This study revealed predominantly small elongated patches, an average area 0.044 km2 median 0.011 across 5857 patches. About 65% had major-axis length over twice minor-axis length. The number peaked between 19° N 22° N. In 0.1° × latitudinal-longitudinal grid, maximum was 9.03 km2, consisting 192 Additionally, composition geometric differed significantly among existing reserves. These findings highlight need prioritize geometry strategies, especially regions numerous prone degradation invasion. this underscores research gap: ecological impacts fragmentation on biodiversity ecosystem services remain poorly understood. Future should focus how landscape configuration influence processes wetlands.

Language: Английский

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Why we should not assume that habitat fragmentation is generally bad for restoration: a reply to Watts and Hughes (2024)

Restoration Ecology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Jan. 31, 2025

In a recent Opinion article, Watts and Hughes (W&H) suggest that habitat fragmentation is “generally bad for restoration.” We found W&H timely given progress in the conversation on fragmentation, we agree importance of assessing restoration ecology. At same time, some claims to be unsubstantiated. there likely are situations where good” setting, identify an urgent need test empirically how biodiversity responds context. Such tests will tell us when spatial pattern restored matters, informing efforts expected coming decades fulfill historical commitments sustain globally.

Language: Английский

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Fractal Metrics and Connectivity Analysis for Forest and Deforestation Fragmentation Dynamics

Forests, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 16(2), P. 314 - 314

Published: Feb. 11, 2025

Forests are critical ecosystems that regulate climate, preserve biodiversity, and support human livelihoods by providing essential resources. However, they increasingly vulnerable due to the growing impacts of deforestation habitat fragmentation, which endanger their value long-term sustainability. Assessing forest fragmentation is vital for promoting sustainable logging, guiding ecosystem restoration, biodiversity conservation. This study introduces an advanced approach integrates Local Connected Fractal Dimension (LCFD) with near real-time (NRT) land use cover (LULC) data from Dynamic World dataset (2017–2024) enhance monitoring landscape analysis. By leveraging high-frequency, high-resolution satellite imagery imaging techniques, this method employs two fractal indices, namely Fragmentation Index (FFI) Disorder (FFDI), analyze spatiotemporal changes in monitoring, a dynamic, quantitative assessing connectivity real time. LCFD provides refined assessment spatial complexity, localized connectivity, self-similarity fragmented landscapes, improving understanding dynamics. Applied Nigeria’s Okomu Forest, analysis revealed significant transformations, peak observed 2018 substantial recovery 2019. FFI FFDI metrics indicated heightened disturbances 2018, increasing 75.2% non-deforested areas 61.1% deforested before experiencing rapid declines 2019 (82.6% 87%, respectively), suggesting improved connectivity. Despite minor fluctuations, cumulative trends showed 160.5% rise 2017 2024, reflecting stabilization. patterns highlighted persistent variability, recovering 12% 2024 after 38% reduction These findings reveal complex interplay between recovery, emphasizing need targeted conservation strategies ecological resilience indices offer potential generate valuable insights across multiple scales, thereby informing preservation adaptive management.

Language: Английский

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Neither Scale of Response Nor Threshold in Habitat Availability Is Conserved Across Species of Forest-Dwelling Songbirds Responding to Habitat Loss

Birds, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 6(1), P. 9 - 9

Published: Feb. 10, 2025

Thresholds can be an effective tool in conservation planning, as they form a defensible target for habitat or restoration. Generalized thresholds must used with caution, however, threshold responses may vary species and spatial scale. The objectives of this study were to identify the scales at which forest-dwelling birds respond both availability critical forest cover associated their occurrence, assess if life history traits relate either scale response threshold. Using point count data from Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas, I generated concentric buffers ranging 100 m 10 km radius around random subset counts described occurrence within each buffer. assessed likelihood analysis using logistic regression identified below becomes unlikely fitted curves ROC plots. Species varied landscape cover, based on relative growth rate, clutch size, site fidelity. mean was 30.8%, 200 9 km. Despite range, pragmatic approaches planning are still possible.

Language: Английский

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