Landscape‐scale habitat fragmentation is positively related to biodiversity, despite patch‐scale ecosystem decay

Ecology Letters, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 26(2), P. 268 - 277

Published: Dec. 5, 2022

Positive effects of habitat patch size on biodiversity are often extrapolated to infer negative fragmentation at landscape scales. However, such cross-scale extrapolations typically fail. A recent, landmark, patch-scale analysis (Chase et al., 2020, Nature 584, 238-243) demonstrates positive biodiversity, that is, 'ecosystem decay' in small patches. Other authors have already this result effects, higher a few large than many patches the same cumulative area. We test whether extrapolation is valid. find landscape-scale patterns opposite their analogous patterns: for sets with equal total area, species richness and evenness decrease increasing mean comprising even when considering only conservation concern. Preserving will, therefore, be key sustain amidst ongoing environmental crises.

Language: Английский

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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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Drivers of change in Arctic fjord socio-ecological systems: Examples from the European Arctic

Cambridge Prisms Coastal Futures, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 1

Published: Jan. 1, 2023

Abstract Fjord systems are transition zones between land and sea, resulting in complex dynamic environments. They of particular interest the Arctic as they harbour ecosystems inhabited by a rich range species provide many societal benefits. The key drivers change European (i.e., Greenland, Svalbard, Northern Norway) fjord socio-ecological reviewed here, structured into five categories: cryosphere (sea ice, glacier mass balance, glacial riverine discharge), physics (seawater temperature, salinity, light), chemistry (carbonate system, nutrients), biology (primary production, biomass, richness), social (governance, tourism, fisheries). data available for past present state these drivers, well future model projections, analysed companion paper. Changes to two at base most interactions within fjords, seawater temperature will have significant profound consequences on fjords. This is because even though governance may be effective mitigating/adapting local disruptions caused changing climate, there possibly nothing that can done halt melting glaciers, warming waters, all downstream changes have. review provides first transdisciplinary synthesis systems. Knowledge what are, how interact with one another, should more expedient focus research needs adapting Arctic.

Language: Английский

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Chemical Mixtures and Multiple Stressors: Same but Different?

Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 42(9), P. 1915 - 1936

Published: April 10, 2023

Ecosystems are strongly influenced by multiple anthropogenic stressors, including a wide range of chemicals and their mixtures. Studies on the effects stressors have largely focussed nonchemical whereas studies chemical mixtures ignored other stressors. However, both research areas face similar challenges require tools methods to predict joint or frameworks integrate missing. We provide an overview paradigms, tools, commonly used in stressor mixture discuss potential domains cross-fertilization challenges. First, we compare general paradigms ecotoxicology (applied) ecology explain historical divide. Subsequently, approaches for identification interactions, characterization, designing experiments. suggest that too focused interactions would benefit from integration regarding null model selection. Stressor characterization is typically more costly While comprehensive classification systems at suborganismal level been developed, recent account environmental context. Both suffer rather simplified experimental designs focus only limited number chemicals, treatments. concepts can guide realistic capturing spatiotemporal dynamics. process-based data-driven models particularly promising tackle challenge prediction (meta-)communities (meta-)food webs. propose framework assessment Environ Toxicol Chem 2023;42:1915-1936. © 2023 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology Chemistry published Wiley Periodicals LLC behalf SETAC.

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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Sustainable high-yield farming is essential for bending the curve of biodiversity loss

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

Published: Jan. 9, 2025

Food production does more damage to wild species than any other sector of human activity, yet how best limit its growing impact is greatly contested. Reviewing progress date in interventions that encourage less damaging diets or cut food loss and waste, we conclude both are essential but far from sufficient. In terms production, field studies five continents quantifying the population-level impacts land sharing, sparing, intermediate mixed approaches for almost 2000 individually assessed show implementing high-yield farming spare natural habitats consistently outperforms particularly highest conservation concern. Sparing also offers considerable potential mitigating climate change. Delivering sparing nevertheless raises several important challenges—in particular, identifying promoting higher yielding farm systems environmentally harmful current industrial agriculture, devising mechanisms rebound effects instead tie yield gains habitat conservation. Progress will depend on conservationists forging novel collaborations with agriculture sector. While this may be challenging, suggest without it there no realistic prospect slowing biodiversity loss. 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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Influence of aquatic biodiversity on the self-purification of tropical rivers

Ecological Engineering, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 212, P. 107540 - 107540

Published: Jan. 30, 2025

Language: Английский

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Human disturbance compresses the spatiotemporal niche

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 119(52)

Published: Dec. 19, 2022

Human disturbance may fundamentally alter the way that species interact, a prospect remains poorly understood. We investigated whether anthropogenic landscape modification increases or decreases co-occurrence—a prerequisite for interactions—within wildlife communities. Using 4 y of data from >2,000 camera traps across human gradient in Wisconsin, USA, we considered 74 pairs (classifying as low, medium, high antagonism to account different interaction types) and used time between successive detections measure their co-occurrence probability define networks. Pairs averaged 6.1 [95% CI: 5.3, 6.8] d low-disturbance landscapes (e.g., national forests) but 4.1 [3.5, 4.7] high-disturbance landscapes, such those dominated by urbanization intensive agriculture. Co-occurrence networks showed higher connectance (i.e., larger proportion possible co-occurrences) greater proportions low-antagonism disturbed landscapes. Human-mediated abundance (possibly via resource subsidies) appeared more important than behavioral mechanisms changes daily activity timing) driving these patterns compressed The spatiotemporal compression co-occurrences likely strengthens interactions like competition, predation, infection unless can avoid each other at fine scales. Regardless, human-mediated with—and hence increased exposure to—predators competitors might elevate stress levels individual animals, with cascading effects populations, communities, ecosystems.

Language: Английский

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Emergent properties of species-habitat networks in an insular forest landscape

Science Advances, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 8(34)

Published: Aug. 26, 2022

Deforestation and fragmentation are pervasive drivers of biodiversity loss, but how they scale up to entire landscapes remains poorly understood. Here, we apply species-habitat networks based on species co-occurrences test the effects insular multiple taxa—medium-large mammals, small nonvolant lizards, understory birds, frogs, dung beetles, orchid bees, trees—across 22 forest islands three continuous sites within a river-damming quasi-experimental landscape in Central Amazonia. Widespread, nonrandom local extinctions were translated into highly nested low connectance modularity. Networks’ robustness considering sequential removal large-to-small was generally low; between 5% (dung beetles) 50% (orchid bees) persisted when retaining only <10 ha islands. In turn, larger body size main attributes structuring networks. Our results raise prospects that simplified networks, with distinct taxa persistence habitat loss.

Language: Английский

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Human responses to climate change will likely determine the fate of biodiversity

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 120(8)

Published: Feb. 15, 2023

Microbial communities are found throughout the biosphere, from human guts to glaciers, soil activated sludge. Understanding statistical properties of such diverse can pave way elucidate common mechanisms ...Multiple ecological forces act together shape composition microbial communities. Phyloecology approaches—which combine phylogenetic relationships between species with community ecology—have potential disentangle but often ...

Language: Английский

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