Land‐use change and biodiversity: Challenges for assembling evidence on the greatest threat to nature

Global Change Biology, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 27(21), P. 5414 - 5429

Published: Aug. 15, 2021

Land-use change is considered the greatest threat to nature, having caused worldwide declines in abundance, diversity, and health of species ecosystems. Despite increasing research on this global driver, there are still challenges forming an effective synthesis. The estimated impact land-use biodiversity can depend location, methods, taxonomic focus, with recent meta-analyses reaching disparate conclusions. Here, we critically appraise body our ability reach a reliable consensus. We employ named entity recognition analyze more than 4000 abstracts, alongside full reading 100 randomly selected papers. highlight broad range study designs methodologies used; most common being local space-for-time comparisons that classify land use situ. Species metrics including distribution, diversity were measured frequently complex responses such as demography, vital rates, behavior. identified biases, vertebrates well represented while detritivores largely missing. Omitting group may hinder understanding how affects ecosystem feedback. Research was heavily biased toward temperate forested biomes North America Europe, warmer regions acutely underrepresented despite offering potential insights into future effects under novel climates. Various histories covered, although understudied Africa Middle East required capture regional differences form current historical practices. Failure address these will impede impacts biodiversity, limit reliability projections have repercussions for conservation threatened species. Beyond identifying literature priorities data gaps need urgent attention offer perspectives move forward.

Language: Английский

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Widespread homogenization of plant communities in the Anthropocene

Nature Communications, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 12(1)

Published: Dec. 6, 2021

Abstract Native biodiversity decline and non-native species spread are major features of the Anthropocene. Both processes can drive biotic homogenization by reducing trait phylogenetic differences in assemblages between regions, thus diminishing regional distinctiveness biotas likely have negative impacts on key ecosystem functions. However, a global assessment this phenomenon is lacking. Here, using dataset >200,000 plant species, we demonstrate widespread temporal decreases turnover across grain sizes spatial extents. The extent within biomes pronounced overwhelmingly explained naturalizations. Asia North America sources species; however, they export tend to be phylogenetically close recipient floras. Australia, Pacific Europe, contrast, contribute fewer pool non-natives, but represent disproportionate amount diversity. timeline most naturalisations coincides with human migration last ~500 years, demonstrates profound influence humans exert beyond changes richness.

Language: Английский

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Actions to halt biodiversity loss generally benefit the climate

Global Change Biology, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 28(9), P. 2846 - 2874

Published: Jan. 31, 2022

The two most urgent and interlinked environmental challenges humanity faces are climate change biodiversity loss. We entering a pivotal decade for both the international agendas with sharpening of ambitious strategies targets by Convention on Biological Diversity United Nations Framework Climate Change. Within their respective Conventions, have largely been addressed separately. There is evidence that conservation actions halt, slow or reverse loss can simultaneously anthropogenic mediated significantly. This review highlights which largest potential mitigation change. note mainly synergistic benefits few antagonistic trade-offs mitigation. Specifically, we identify direct co-benefits in 14 out 21 action draft post-2020 global framework Diversity, notwithstanding many indirect links also support These relationships context scale-dependent; therefore, showcase examples local be incentivized, guided prioritized objectives targets. close interlinkages between biodiversity, mitigation, other nature's contributions to people good quality life seldom as integrated they should management policy. aims re-emphasize vital timely manner, major Conferences Parties about negotiate strategic frameworks goals decades come.

Language: Английский

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Why don't we share data and code? Perceived barriers and benefits to public archiving practices

Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 289(1987)

Published: Nov. 23, 2022

The biological sciences community is increasingly recognizing the value of open, reproducible and transparent research practices for science society at large. Despite this recognition, many researchers fail to share their data code publicly. This pattern may arise from knowledge barriers about how archive code, concerns its reuse, misaligned career incentives. Here, we define, categorize discuss sharing that are relevant fields. We explore real perceived might be overcome or reframed in light benefits relative costs. By elucidating these contexts which they arise, can take steps mitigate them align our actions with goals open science, both as individual scientists a scientific community.

Language: Английский

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Pushing the Frontiers of Biodiversity Research: Unveiling the Global Diversity, Distribution, and Conservation of Fungi

Annual Review of Environment and Resources, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 48(1), P. 149 - 176

Published: Sept. 18, 2023

Fungi comprise approximately 20% of all eukaryotic species and are connected to virtually life forms on Earth. Yet, their diversity remains contentious, distribution elusive, conservation neglected. We aim flip this situation by synthesizing current knowledge. present a revised estimate 2–3 million fungal with “best estimate” at 2.5 million. To name the unknown >90% these end century, we propose recognition known only from DNA data call for large-scale sampling campaigns. an updated global map richness, highlighting tropical temperate ecoregions high diversity. further Red List assessments enhanced management guidelines aid conservation. Given that fungi play inseparable role in our lives ecosystems, considering fascinating questions remaining be answered, argue constitute next frontier biodiversity research.

Language: Английский

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Clarifying the effect of biodiversity on productivity in natural ecosystems with longitudinal data and methods for causal inference

Nature Communications, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 14(1)

Published: May 5, 2023

Abstract Causal effects of biodiversity on ecosystem functions can be estimated using experimental or observational designs — that pose a tradeoff between drawing credible causal inferences from correlations and generalizable inferences. Here, we develop design reduces this revisits the question how plant species diversity affects productivity. Our leverages longitudinal data 43 grasslands in 11 countries approaches borrowed fields outside ecology to draw data. Contrary many prior studies, estimate increases plot-level richness caused productivity decline: 10% increase decreased by 2.4%, 95% CI [−4.1, −0.74]. This contradiction stems two sources. First, studies incompletely control for confounding factors. Second, most experiments fewer rare non-native than exist nature. Although native, dominant increased productivity, making average effect negative our study. By reducing designs, study demonstrates complement ecological inform future ones.

Language: Английский

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Escarpment evolution drives the diversification of the Madagascar flora

Science, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 383(6683), P. 653 - 658

Published: Feb. 8, 2024

Madagascar exhibits high endemic biodiversity that has evolved with sustained and stable rates of speciation over the past several tens millions years. The topography is dominated by a mountainous continental rift escarpment, highest plant diversity rarity found along steep, eastern side this geographic feature. Using process-explicit model, we show precipitation-driven erosion landward retreat high-relief creates transient habitat organization through multiple mechanisms, including catchment expansion, isolation highland remnants, formation topographic barriers. Habitat reconnection on million-year timescale serves as an allopatric pump creating observed biodiversity.

Language: Английский

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The global distribution of angiosperm genome size is shaped by climate

New Phytologist, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 242(2), P. 744 - 759

Published: Jan. 24, 2024

Angiosperms, which inhabit diverse environments across all continents, exhibit significant variation in genome sizes, making them an excellent model system for examining hypotheses about the global distribution of size. These include previously proposed large constraint, mutational hazard, polyploidy-mediated, and climate-mediated hypotheses. We compiled largest size dataset to date, encompassing 16 017 (> 5% known) angiosperm species, analyzed using a comprehensive geographic angiosperms. observed that angiosperms with range sizes generally had small genomes, supporting constraint hypothesis. Climate was shown exert strong influence on along latitudinal gradient, while frequency polyploidy type growth form negligible effects. In contrast unimodal patterns gradient by plant traits polyploid proportions, increase from equator 40-50°N/S is probably mediated different (mostly climatic) mechanisms than decrease 40 50°N northward. Our analysis suggests mainly shaped climatically purifying selection, genetic drift, relaxed environmental filtering.

Language: Английский

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Biotic homogenization, lower soil fungal diversity and fewer rare taxa in arable soils across Europe

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

Published: Jan. 6, 2024

Abstract Soil fungi are a key constituent of global biodiversity and play pivotal role in agroecosystems. How arable farming affects soil fungal biogeography whether it has disproportional impact on rare taxa is poorly understood. Here, we used the high-resolution PacBio Sequel targeting entire ITS region to investigate distribution 217 sites across 3000 km gradient Europe. We found consistently lower diversity lands than grasslands, with geographic locations significantly impacting community structures. Prevalent groups became even more abundant, whereas fewer or absent lands, suggesting biotic homogenization due farming. The were narrowly distributed common grasslands. Our findings suggest that disproportionally affected by farming, sustainable practices should protect ecosystem services they support.

Language: Английский

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Consistent patterns of common species across tropical tree communities

Nature, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 625(7996), P. 728 - 734

Published: Jan. 10, 2024

Trees structure the Earth's most biodiverse ecosystem, tropical forests. The vast number of tree species presents a formidable challenge to understanding these forests, including their response environmental change, as very little is known about species. A focus on common may circumvent this challenge. Here we investigate abundance patterns using inventory data 1,003,805 trees with trunk diameters at least 10 cm across 1,568 locations

Language: Английский

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