Automated assessment reveals that the extinction risk of reptiles is widely underestimated across space and phylogeny

PLoS Biology, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 20(5), P. e3001544 - e3001544

Published: May 26, 2022

The Red List of Threatened Species, published by the International Union for Conservation Nature (IUCN), is a crucial tool conservation decision-making. However, despite substantial effort, numerous species remain unassessed or have insufficient data available to be assigned extinction risk category. Moreover, Listing process subject various sources uncertainty and bias. development robust automated assessment methods could serve as an efficient highly useful accelerate offer provisional assessments. Here, we aimed (1) present machine learning-based method that can used on less known species; (2) assessments all reptiles-the only major tetrapod group without comprehensive assessment; (3) evaluate potential effects human decision biases outcome We use presented here assess 4,369 reptile are currently classified Data Deficient IUCN. models in our predictions were 90% accurate classifying threatened/nonthreatened, 84% predicting specific categories. Unassessed reptiles considerably more likely threatened than assessed species, adding mounting evidence these warrant attention. overall proportion greatly increased when included Assessor identities strongly affected prediction outcomes, suggesting assessor need carefully considered Regions taxa identified should given attention new planning. Lastly, easily implemented help bridge gap other taxa.

Language: Английский

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Extinction risk predictions for the world's flowering plants to support their conservation

New Phytologist, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 242(2), P. 797 - 808

Published: March 4, 2024

Summary More than 70% of all vascular plants lack conservation status assessments. We aimed to address this shortfall in knowledge species extinction risk by using the World Checklist Vascular Plants generate first comprehensive set predictions for a large clade: angiosperms (flowering plants, c. 330 000 species). used Bayesian Additive Regression Trees (BART) predict predictors relating range size, human footprint, climate, and evolutionary history applied novel approach estimate uncertainty individual species‐level predictions. From our model predictions, we 45.1% angiosperm are potentially threatened with lower bound 44.5% upper 45.7%. Our associated estimates, do not replace full global, or regional Red List assessments, but can be prioritise predicted assessment fast‐track non‐threatened Least Concern estimates also guide fieldwork, inform systematic planning support global plant efforts targets.

Language: Английский

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SquamBase—A database of squamate (Reptilia: Squamata) traits

Global Ecology and Biogeography, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 33(4)

Published: Feb. 7, 2024

Abstract Motivation I present a database that contains information on multiple key traits for all 11,744 recognised species of squamates worldwide. The encompasses and reasonably comprehensive picture available public knowledge. description the sources rationale leading to assignment each particular trait state species. hope dataset can serve scientific community, promote research understanding group, comparisons with other taxa, assessment conservation needs. Furthermore, gaps in our knowledge squamate become readily apparent will hopefully lead further study even better Main types variables contained Morphological, ecological, life history, geographical conservation‐related traits. Spatial location Global. Time period Late Holocene recent. Major taxa level measurement Squamata, Software format xlsx.

Language: Английский

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The new annotated checklist of the wild bees of Europe (Hymenoptera: Anthophila)

Zootaxa, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 5327(1), P. 1 - 147

Published: Aug. 10, 2023

At a time when nature conservation has become essential to ensure the long-term sustainability of our environment, it is widely acknowledged that actions must be implemented within solid taxonomic framework. In preparation for upcoming update IUCN Red List, we here European checklist wild bees (sensu geographical framework). The original checklist, published in 2014, was revised first 2017. present revision, add one genus, four subgenera and 67 species recently described, 40 newly recorded since latest revision (including two are not native Europe), 26 overlooked previous checklists 63 synonymies. We provide records eight previously unknown continent and, as acts, three new synonyms, consider names nomina nuda, ten dubia, inquirenda, synonymize exclude from checklist. Around hundred other changes clarifications also included discussed. work revises total number genera Europe 77 2,138. addition specifying necessary forthcoming List bees, discuss sampling biases characterise research on bee fauna highlight growing importance range expansions invasions.

Language: Английский

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Prioritizing the reassessment of data‐deficient species on the IUCN Red List

Conservation Biology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 37(6)

Published: July 3, 2023

Abstract Despite being central to the implementation of conservation policies, usefulness International Union for Conservation Nature (IUCN) Red List Threatened Species is hampered by 14% species classified as data‐deficient (DD) because information evaluate these species’ extinction risk was lacking when they were last assessed or assessors did not appropriately account uncertainty. Robust methods are needed identify which DD more likely be reclassified in one data‐sufficient IUCN categories. We devised a reproducible method help red‐list prioritize reassessment and tested it with 6887 mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fishes, Odonata (dragonflies damselflies). For each groups, we calculated its probability category if reassessed today from covariates measuring available knowledge (e.g., number occurrence records published articles available), proxies remoteness range), characteristics nocturnality); change such since assessment increase new records); determined whether might qualify threatened based on recent rate habitat loss global land‐cover maps. identified 1907 >0.5; 624 this increased >0.25 assessment; 77 that could near loss. Combining 3 elements, our results provided list comprehensiveness representativeness can improved.

Language: Английский

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Global evaluation of current and future threats to drylands and their vertebrate biodiversity

Nature Ecology & Evolution, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 8(8), P. 1448 - 1458

Published: July 4, 2024

Drylands are often overlooked in broad conservation frameworks and development priorities face increasing threats from human activities. Here we evaluated the formal degree of protection global drylands, their land vertebrate biodiversity current threats, projected human-induced land-use changes to drylands under different future climate change socioeconomic scenarios. Overall, have lower protected-area coverage (12%) compared non-drylands (21%). Consequently, most dryland vertebrates including many endemic narrow-ranging species inadequately protected (0-2% range coverage). Dryland threatened by varied anthropogenic factors-including agricultural infrastructure (that is, artificial structures, surfaces, roads industrial sites). Alarmingly, 2100 experience some conversion 95-100% natural habitat due urban, alternative energy expansion. This loss undisturbed regions is expected across pathways, even optimistic scenarios characterized progressive policies moderate trends.

Language: Английский

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A phylogeny-informed characterisation of global tetrapod traits addresses data gaps and biases

PLoS Biology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 22(7), P. e3002658 - e3002658

Published: July 11, 2024

Tetrapods (amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals) are model systems for global biodiversity science, but continuing data gaps, limited standardisation, ongoing flux in taxonomic nomenclature constrain integrative research on this group potentially cause biased inference. We combined harmonised taxonomic, spatial, phylogenetic, attribute with phylogeny-based multiple imputation to provide a comprehensive resource (TetrapodTraits 1.0.0) that includes values, predictions, sources body size, activity time, micro- macrohabitat, ecosystem, threat status, biogeography, insularity, environmental preferences, human influence, all 33,281 tetrapod species covered recent fully sampled phylogenies. assess gaps biases across taxa space, finding shared missing values increased taxon-level completeness richness clades. Prediction of using revealed substantial changes estimated macroecological patterns. These results highlight incurred by nonrandom missingness strategies best address them. While there is an obvious need further collection updates, our phylogeny-informed database traits can support more representation their attributes ecology, evolution, conservation research.

Language: Английский

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Global Projection of Terrestrial Vertebrate Food Webs Under Future Climate and Land‐Use Changes

Global Change Biology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 31(2)

Published: Feb. 1, 2025

ABSTRACT Food webs represent an important nexus between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning, yet considering changes in food around the world has been limited by data availability. Previous studies have predicted web collapses coextinction, but structure less investigated under climate warming anthropogenic pressures on a global scale. We systematically amassed information about species' diets, traits, distributions, habitat use, phylogenetics real used machine learning to predict meta‐food of terrestrial vertebrates land‐use changes. By year 2100, vertebrate are expected decrease size 32% trophic links 49%. Projections declines over 25% modularity, predator generality, diversity groups. Increased dispersal could ameliorate these trends indicate disproportionate vulnerability regional webs. Unlike many previous studies, this work combines extensive empirical with advanced modeling techniques, providing more detailed spatially explicit prediction how will respond Overall, our study predicts undergo drastic heterogeneous structural

Language: Английский

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Three-quarters of species’ ranges have not been covered by protected areas in global borders

Nature Communications, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 16(1)

Published: March 17, 2025

Borderlands are increasingly recognized as critically important for biodiversity conservation owing to their ecological significance and high political profile. However, the species ranges covered by protected areas influencing factors in transboundary still largely unknown worldwide. Here, based on distributional of 19,039 terrestrial vertebrates, we find that three-quarters species' global borders remain uncovered areas, particularly tropical Southeast Asia West Africa. The average area coverage is lower than non-transboundary after accounting geographical differences sampling efforts. We also observe increases with governance effectiveness, collaboration abilities, protection levels, sizes establishment years topographic complexity, but decreases human population density, development index, cropland expansion. Furthermore, simultaneously face threats ongoing challenges from climate change, land-use modification, alien invasion, proportions borderlands threatened changes higher elsewhere. All these findings demonstrate cross-border cooperation urgently needed achieve ambitious goal 2050. Transboundary critical refuges many species. this study reveals border regions facing greater change.

Language: Английский

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Generation length of the world's amphibians and reptiles

Ecography, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: March 19, 2025

Variation in life histories influences demographic processes, from adaptive changes to population declines leading extinction. Among history traits, generation length offers a critical feature forecast species' trajectories such as (widely used by the IUCN Red List) and adaptability environmental change over time. Therefore, estimates of are crucial monitor stability or predict future highly threatened organisms, particularly amphibians reptiles, which among vertebrates for uncertainty impacts remains high. Despite its importance, reptiles is largely missing. Here, we aim fill this gap modeling lengths amphibians, squamates testudines function species size, climate, phylogeny using generalized additive models phylogenetic least squares. We estimated 5059 (57%) 8722 (73%) 117 (32%) testudines. Our performed well most families (e.g. Bufonidae Lacertidae Colubridae squamates, Geoemydidae testudines) while found high around prediction few families, notably Chamaeleonidae. Species' body size mean temperature were main predictors all groups. Although our not meant substitute robust validated measurements field studies natural museums, they can help reduce existing biases conservation assessments until data comprehensively available.

Language: Английский

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