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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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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Principles for area‐based biodiversity conservation

Ecology Letters, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 27(6)

Published: June 1, 2024

Recent international agreements have strengthened and expanded commitments to protect restore native habitats for biodiversity protection ("area-based conservation"). Nevertheless, conservation is hindered because how such should be implemented has been strongly debated, which can lead suboptimal habitat decisions. We argue that, despite the debates, there are three essential principles area-based conservation. These related geographic coverage, amount, connectivity. They emerge from evidence while large areas of nature important must protected, or restoration multiple small patches also critical global conservation, particularly in regions with high land use. contend that many initiatives expected coming decades follow we identify, regardless ongoing debates. Considering importance maintenance ecosystem services, suggest this would bring widespread societal benefits.

Language: Английский

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Combining environmental niche models, multi‐grain analyses, and species traits identifies pervasive effects of land use on butterfly biodiversity across Italy

Global Change Biology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 29(7), P. 1715 - 1728

Published: Jan. 25, 2023

Understanding how species respond to human activities is paramount ecology and conservation science, one outstanding question being large-scale patterns in land use affect biodiversity. To facilitate answering this question, we propose a novel analytical framework that combines environmental niche models, multi-grain analyses, traits. We illustrate the capitalizing on most extensive dataset compiled date for butterflies of Italy (106,514 observations 288 species), assessing agriculture urbanization have affected biodiversity these taxa from landscape regional scales (3-48 km grains) across country while accounting its steep climatic gradients. Multiple lines evidence suggest pervasive scale-dependent effects Italy. While explained richness primarily at grains ≤12 km, idiosyncratic responses highlighted "winners" "losers" human-dominated regions. Detrimental emerged (3-km grain) (48-km scales, disproportionally affecting small with short flight curve. Human therefore reorganized biogeography Italian butterflies, filtering out poor dispersal capacity narrow breadth not only local assemblages, but also pools. These results global efforts neglecting risk falling their goals, even typically assumed persist natural areas (e.g., invertebrates). Our study confirms consideration spatial will be crucial implementing effective actions Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework. In context, applications proposed broad potential identify which mechanisms underlie change different scales.Comprendere come le specie rispondono alle attività umane è essenziale per la conservazione della biodiversità. Tuttavia, questo ambito, rimane poco chiaro il ruolo dei cambiamenti dell’uso del suolo su larga scala. Per contribuire colmare queste lacune, proponiamo un nuovo approccio analitico che combina modelli di nicchia ambientale, analisi diverse scale spaziali e tratti funzionali delle indagate. Testiamo con inedito distribuzione farfalle italiane (106.514 osservazioni specie), valutando l’effetto agricoltura urbanizzazione sulla diversità crescenti, da locali regionali (i.e., 3 48 “grains”). I nostri risultati suggeriscono hanno avuto effetti diffusi dipendenti dalla scala composizione comunità italiane. Mentre l'uso spiega ricchezza specifica principalmente ≤ 12 risposte idiosincratiche evidenziano “vincenti” “perdenti” nelle aree dominate dall'uomo anche più ampie. Effetti negativi dell'agricoltura dell'urbanizzazione emergono fino (48 km) incidono piccole dimensioni periodo volo breve. Le quindi rimaneggiato biogeografia italiane, causando perdita sensibili non solo dalle locali, ma intere regioni. Il nostro lavoro dimostra gli sforzi impiegati nella biodiversità devono considerare i pattern nell'uso scala, organismi spesso si presume persistano naturali (come molti invertebrati). Considerare sarà perciò cruciale nel progettare azioni siano efficaci raggiungere obiettivi iniziative Strategia Biodiversità 2030. tale contesto, l’approccio dimostrato studio propone strumento metodologico identificare meccanismi alla base cambiamento spaziali.

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Obstruction of biodiversity conservation by minimum patch size criteria

Conservation Biology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 37(5)

Published: April 6, 2023

Abstract Minimum patch size criteria for habitat protection reflect the conservation principle that a single large (SL) of has higher biodiversity than several small (SS) patches same total area (SL > SS). Nonetheless, this is often incorrect, and requires placing more emphasis on numbers (SS SL). We used global database reporting abundances species across hundreds to assess SL SS in systems where are much smaller typical minimum applied (i.e., ∼85% <100 ha). The 76 metacommunities we examined included 4401 1190 patches. From each metacommunity, resampled species–area accumulation curves evaluate how responded existing as few or many Counter consistent with previous syntheses, richness accumulated rapidly when adding (45.2% vs. 19.9% SS) reach cumulative area, even very our data set. Responses taxa fragmentation differed, which suggests given be protected, overall will most effective if composed possible, plus ones. Because require larger examined, results suggest such hinder efforts protect biodiversity.

Language: Английский

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Reforestation policies around 2000 in southern China led to forest densification and expansion in the 2010s

Communications Earth & Environment, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 4(1)

Published: July 18, 2023

Abstract Forest expansion has been observed in China over the past decades, but typically applied coarse resolution satellite data does not reveal spatial details about China’s forest transition. By using three decades of observations at a 30-m resolution, we here complex spatiotemporal patterns individual stands forming return history southern China. We calculate age, densification rates, and annual fragmentation show that area surge around 2010 is result trees planted after 2000 formed dense forests decade later. document old 1980s were mostly fragmented into scattered patches located on mountain tops, rapidly expanded downhill by 729,540 km 2 alleviated clear-cut logging pressure from forests. Our study provides detailed documentation for country had largely deforested ago.

Language: Английский

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Contrasting range changes and drivers of four forest foundation species under future climate change in China

The Science of The Total Environment, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 942, P. 173784 - 173784

Published: June 7, 2024

Language: Английский

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Incorporating effects of habitat patches into species distribution models

Journal of Ecology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 112(10), P. 2162 - 2182

Published: Aug. 30, 2024

Abstract Species distribution models (SDMs) are algorithms designed to infer the of species using environmental and biotic variables have become an important tool for ecologists conservation biologists seeking understand implications change. Global datasets at resolutions a few metres increasingly available. SDMs fitted such high‐resolution data allow researchers investigate how local factors affect occurrences unprecedented fine spatial scales. As resolution increases, we see critical need consider characteristics habitat types within or around raster pixels. In particular, argue that effects patches (EHPs, including area, configuration, diversity), measured focusing on landscapes, yet be fully realized in SDMs. We provide guidelines incorporate EHPs explain why this development is important, describe approaches properly conduct analyses, discuss pitfalls foresee testing EHPs. Synthesis . Ensuring incorporating will key increasing model predictive performance understanding which influence At crucial time nature conservation, step forward protecting biodiversity.

Language: Английский

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Importance of Patches in Maintaining Forest Landscape Connectivity: A Case Study of Barluk, Xinjiang, China

Forests, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 16(1), P. 74 - 74

Published: Jan. 5, 2025

Habitat loss and fragmentation are two main threats to biodiversity. Forest landscape connectivity can directly affect many ecological processes, such as plant seed dispersal animal migration, is an important framework for determining strategic priorities biodiversity conservation. This study examines the Barluk Mountain Nature Reserve in Xinjiang a case evaluate changes at different diffusion distances based on graph theory. Our results showed that consists predominantly (62%) of small patches (<1 hm2) relatively limited number (7%) large (>10 hm2). By simulating forest scenario assessing importance individual patches, we found played role maintaining connectivity. Further, by calculating delta components (dNC), not all contribute connectivity, (with dNC < 0 area 1 act “stepping stones” within should also be prioritized protection. Therefore, priority identification most will provide effective management strategies, help enhance functioning ecosystems, protect fragmented ecosystems.

Language: Английский

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Towards the establishment of genetic reserves for key crop wild relatives in Lebanon: analysis of strategies across diverse ecogeographical landscapes

Global Ecology and Conservation, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. e03413 - e03413

Published: Jan. 1, 2025

Language: Английский

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