Habitat fragmentation and its lasting impact on Earth’s ecosystems

Science Advances, Год журнала: 2015, Номер 1(2)

Опубликована: Март 6, 2015

We conducted an analysis of global forest cover to reveal that 70% remaining is within 1 km the forest's edge, subject degrading effects fragmentation. A synthesis fragmentation experiments spanning multiple biomes and scales, five continents, 35 years demonstrates habitat reduces biodiversity by 13 75% impairs key ecosystem functions decreasing biomass altering nutrient cycles. Effects are greatest in smallest most isolated fragments, they magnify with passage time. These findings indicate urgent need for conservation restoration measures improve landscape connectivity, which will reduce extinction rates help maintain services.

Язык: Английский

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Accelerated modern human–induced species losses: Entering the sixth mass extinction

Science Advances, Год журнала: 2015, Номер 1(5)

Опубликована: Июнь 5, 2015

The oft-repeated claim that Earth's biota is entering a sixth "mass extinction" depends on clearly demonstrating current extinction rates are far above the "background" prevailing between five previous mass extinctions. Earlier estimates of have been criticized for using assumptions might overestimate severity crisis. We assess, extremely conservative assumptions, whether human activities causing extinction. First, we use recent estimate background rate 2 mammal extinctions per 10,000 species 100 years (that is, E/MSY), which twice as high widely used estimates. then compare this with and vertebrate latter conservatively low because listing extinct requires meeting stringent criteria. Even under our would tend to minimize evidence an incipient extinction, average loss over last century up times higher than rate. Under E/MSY rate, number gone in taken, depending taxon, 800 disappear. These reveal exceptionally rapid biodiversity few centuries, indicating already way. Averting dramatic decay subsequent ecosystem services still possible through intensified conservation efforts, but window opportunity rapidly closing.

Язык: Английский

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More than 75 percent decline over 27 years in total flying insect biomass in protected areas

PLoS ONE, Год журнала: 2017, Номер 12(10), С. e0185809 - e0185809

Опубликована: Окт. 18, 2017

Global declines in insects have sparked wide interest among scientists, politicians, and the general public. Loss of insect diversity abundance is expected to provoke cascading effects on food webs jeopardize ecosystem services. Our understanding extent underlying causes this decline based single species or taxonomic groups only, rather than changes biomass which more relevant for ecological functioning. Here, we used a standardized protocol measure total using Malaise traps, deployed over 27 years 63 nature protection areas Germany (96 unique location-year combinations) infer status trend local entomofauna. analysis estimates seasonal 76%, mid-summer 82% flying study. We show that apparent regardless habitat type, while weather, land use, characteristics cannot explain overall decline. This yet unrecognized loss must be taken into account evaluating depending as source, functioning European landscape.

Язык: Английский

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Worldwide decline of the entomofauna: A review of its drivers

Biological Conservation, Год журнала: 2019, Номер 232, С. 8 - 27

Опубликована: Янв. 31, 2019

Язык: Английский

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Biological annihilation via the ongoing sixth mass extinction signaled by vertebrate population losses and declines

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Год журнала: 2017, Номер 114(30)

Опубликована: Июль 10, 2017

Significance The strong focus on species extinctions, a critical aspect of the contemporary pulse biological extinction, leads to common misimpression that Earth’s biota is not immediately threatened, just slowly entering an episode major biodiversity loss. This view overlooks current trends population declines and extinctions. Using sample 27,600 terrestrial vertebrate species, more detailed analysis 177 mammal we show extremely high degree decay in vertebrates, even “species low concern.” Dwindling sizes range shrinkages amount massive anthropogenic erosion ecosystem services essential civilization. “biological annihilation” underlines seriousness for humanity ongoing sixth mass extinction event.

Язык: Английский

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Environmental DNA – An emerging tool in conservation for monitoring past and present biodiversity

Biological Conservation, Год журнала: 2014, Номер 183, С. 4 - 18

Опубликована: Дек. 20, 2014

The continuous decline in Earth's biodiversity represents a major crisis and challenge for the 21st century, there is international political agreement to slow down or halt this decline. large part impeded by lack of knowledge on state distribution – especially since majority species Earth are un-described science. All conservation efforts save essentially depend monitoring populations obtain reliable patterns population size estimates. Such has traditionally relied physical identification visual surveys counting individuals. However, traditional techniques remain problematic due difficulties associated with correct cryptic juvenile life stages, taxonomic expertise, non-standardized sampling, invasive nature some survey techniques. Hence, urgent need alternative efficient large-scale monitoring. Environmental DNA (eDNA) defined here as: genetic material obtained directly from environmental samples (soil, sediment, water, etc.) without any obvious signs biological source an efficient, non-invasive easy-to-standardize sampling approach. Coupled sensitive, cost-efficient ever-advancing sequencing technology, it may be appropriate candidate been ancient as well modern encompasses single detection analyses ecosystems. research eDNA initiated microbiology, recognizing that culture-based methods grossly misrepresent microbial diversity nature. Subsequently, method assess macro-organismal communities, was first analyzed sediments, revealing extinct extant animals plants, but various terrestrial aquatic samples. Results approaches have provided valuable insights study environments proven useful contemporary In future, we expect eDNA-based move single-marker communities meta-genomic entire ecosystems predict spatial temporal patterns. advances applications range biological, geological sciences. Here review achievements gained through macro-organisms context, discuss its potential advantages limitations

Язык: Английский

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Decline of the North American avifauna

Science, Год журнала: 2019, Номер 366(6461), С. 120 - 124

Опубликована: Сен. 19, 2019

Species extinctions have defined the global biodiversity crisis, but extinction begins with loss in abundance of individuals that can result compositional and functional changes ecosystems. Using multiple independent monitoring networks, we report population losses across much North American avifauna over 48 years, including once-common species from most biomes. Integration range-wide trajectories size estimates indicates a net approaching 3 billion birds, or 29% 1970 abundance. A continent-wide weather radar network also reveals similarly steep decline biomass passage migrating birds recent 10-year period. This bird signals an urgent need to address threats avert future avifaunal collapse associated ecosystem integrity, function, services.

Язык: Английский

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Insect decline in the Anthropocene: Death by a thousand cuts

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Год журнала: 2021, Номер 118(2)

Опубликована: Янв. 11, 2021

Nature is under siege. In the last 10,000 y human population has grown from 1 million to 7.8 billion. Much of Earth’s arable lands are already in agriculture (1), millions acres tropical forest cleared each year (2, 3), atmospheric CO2 levels at their highest concentrations more than 3 (4), and climates erratically steadily changing pole pole, triggering unprecedented droughts, fires, floods across continents. Indeed, most biologists agree that world entered its sixth mass extinction event, first since end Cretaceous Period 66 ago, when 80% all species, including nonavian dinosaurs, perished. Ongoing losses have been clearly demonstrated for better-studied groups organisms. Terrestrial vertebrate sizes ranges contracted by one-third, many mammals experienced range declines least over century (5). A 2019 assessment suggests half amphibians imperiled (2.5% which recently gone extinct) (6). Bird numbers North America fallen 2.9 billion 1970 (7). Prospects world’s coral reefs, beyond middle this century, could scarcely be dire (8). 2020 United Nations report estimated a species danger next few decades (9), but also see bridled assessments refs. 10 11. Although flurry reports drawn attention insect abundance, biomass, richness, (e.g., 12⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓–18; reviews 19 20), whether rates insects on par with or exceed those other remains unknown. There still too … [↵][1]1To whom correspondence may addressed. Email: david.wagner{at}uconn.edu. [1]: #xref-corresp-1-1

Язык: Английский

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Marine defaunation: Animal loss in the global ocean

Science, Год журнала: 2015, Номер 347(6219)

Опубликована: Янв. 15, 2015

Marine defaunation, or human-caused animal loss in the oceans, emerged forcefully only hundreds of years ago, whereas terrestrial defaunation has been occurring far longer. Though humans have caused few global marine extinctions, we profoundly affected wildlife, altering functioning and provisioning services every ocean. Current ocean trends, coupled with lessons, suggest that rates will rapidly intensify as human use oceans industrializes. protected areas are a powerful tool to harness productivity, especially when designed future climate mind, additional management strategies be required. Overall, habitat degradation is likely major driver wildlife loss. Proactive intervention can avert disaster magnitude observed on land.

Язык: Английский

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How Should Beta-Diversity Inform Biodiversity Conservation?

Trends in Ecology & Evolution, Год журнала: 2015, Номер 31(1), С. 67 - 80

Опубликована: Дек. 17, 2015

Язык: Английский

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