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Langhammer PF, Bull JW, Bicknell JE, Oakley JL, Brown MH, Bruford MW, Butchart SHM, Carr JA, Church D, Cooney R, Cutajar S, Foden W, Foster MN, Gascon C, Geldmann J, Genovesi P, Hoffmann M, Howard-McCombe J, Lewis T, Macfarlane NBW, Melvin ZE, Merizalde RS, Morehouse MG, Pagad S, Polidoro B, Sechrest W, Segelbacher G, Smith KG, Steadman J, Strongin K, Williams J, Woodley S, Brooks TM. The positive impact of conservation action. Science 2024; 384:453-458. [PMID: 38662833 DOI: 10.1126/science.adj6598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024]
Abstract
Governments recently adopted new global targets to halt and reverse the loss of biodiversity. It is therefore crucial to understand the outcomes of conservation actions. We conducted a global meta-analysis of 186 studies (including 665 trials) that measured biodiversity over time and compared outcomes under conservation action with a suitable counterfactual of no action. We find that in two-thirds of cases, conservation either improved the state of biodiversity or at least slowed declines. Specifically, we find that interventions targeted at species and ecosystems, such as invasive species control, habitat loss reduction and restoration, protected areas, and sustainable management, are highly effective and have large effect sizes. This provides the strongest evidence to date that conservation actions are successful but require transformational scaling up to meet global targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Penny F Langhammer
- Re:wild, PO Box 129, Austin, TX 78767, USA
- Arizona State University, School of Life Sciences, PO Box 874501, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
| | - Joseph W Bull
- Department of Biology, University of Oxford, 11a Mansfield Rd, Oxford OX1 3SZ, UK
- Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology (DICE), School of Anthropology and Conservation, University of Kent, Canterbury CT2 7NR, UK
- Wild Business Ltd, London, UK
| | - Jake E Bicknell
- Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology (DICE), School of Anthropology and Conservation, University of Kent, Canterbury CT2 7NR, UK
| | | | | | - Michael W Bruford
- School of Biosciences and Sustainable Places Research Institute, Cathays Park, Cardiff CF10 3AX, UK
- IUCN SSC Conservation Genetics Specialist Group, 28 rue Mauverney, 1196 Gland, Switzerland
| | - Stuart H M Butchart
- BirdLife International, David Attenborough Building, Pembroke Street, Cambridge CB2 3QZ, UK
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Downing St., Cambridge CB2 3EJ, UK
| | - Jamie A Carr
- Leverhulme Centre for Anthropocene Biodiversity, University of York, York YO10 15DD, UK
- Department of Environment and Geography, University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK
- IUCN SSC Climate Change Specialist Group, 28 rue Mauverney, 1196 Gland, Switzerland
| | - Don Church
- Re:wild, PO Box 129, Austin, TX 78767, USA
| | - Rosie Cooney
- CEESP/SSC IUCN Sustainable Use and Livelihoods Specialist Group, 28 rue Mauverney, 1196 Gland, Switzerland
- Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University, ACT 2601, Australia
| | | | - Wendy Foden
- IUCN SSC Climate Change Specialist Group, 28 rue Mauverney, 1196 Gland, Switzerland
- South African National Parks, Cape Research Centre, Tokai, Cape Town, 7966, South Africa
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, Rondebosch, Cape Town, 7701, South Africa
- Global Change Biology Group, Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
| | | | - Claude Gascon
- The Global Environment Facility, 1818 H Street NW, Washington, DC 20433, USA
| | - Jonas Geldmann
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Downing St., Cambridge CB2 3EJ, UK
- Center for Macroecology, Evolution and Climate, GLOBE Institute, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, 2100 Copenhagen E, Denmark
| | - Piero Genovesi
- Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, Via Vitaliano Brancati 48, 00144 Rome, Italy
- IUCN SSC Invasive Species Specialist Group, 00144 Rome, Italy
- Centre for Invasion Biology, Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
| | - Michael Hoffmann
- IUCN Species Survival Commission, 28 rue Mauverney, 1196 Gland, Switzerland
- Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park, London NW1 4RY, UK
| | - Jo Howard-McCombe
- School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, The Sir Martin Evans Building, Museum Avenue, Cardiff, CF10 3AX, UK
- RZSS WildGenes, Conservation Department, Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, Edinburgh EH12 6TS, UK
| | - Tiffany Lewis
- Arizona State University, 427 E. Tyler Mall, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA
| | | | - Zoe E Melvin
- School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, The Sir Martin Evans Building, Museum Avenue, Cardiff, CF10 3AX, UK
- Bangor University, School of Natural Sciences, Deiniol Road, Bangor, Gwynedd, Wales LL57 2UW, UK
| | | | - Meredith G Morehouse
- LLaves: Keys to Bilingual Conservation, LLC, 346 Mayberry Hill Road, Casco, Maine 04015, USA
| | - Shyama Pagad
- University of Auckland, Auckland 1072, New Zealand
| | - Beth Polidoro
- IUCN Species Survival Commission, 28 rue Mauverney, 1196 Gland, Switzerland
- Arizona State University, 4701 W. Thunderbird Rd, Glendale, AZ 85382, USA
| | | | - Gernot Segelbacher
- IUCN SSC Conservation Genetics Specialist Group, 28 rue Mauverney, 1196 Gland, Switzerland
- University Freiburg, Tennenbacher Str. 4, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Kevin G Smith
- IUCN, The David Attenborough Building, Pembroke St, Cambridge CB2 3QZ, UK
| | - Janna Steadman
- Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology (DICE), School of Anthropology and Conservation, University of Kent, Canterbury CT2 7NR, UK
| | - Kyle Strongin
- Arizona State University, 800 S. Cady Mall, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA
| | - Jake Williams
- Imperial College London, Silwood Park, Ascot SL5 7PY, UK
| | - Stephen Woodley
- IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas, 64 Juniper Road, Chelsea, Quebec J9B 1T3, Canada
| | - Thomas M Brooks
- IUCN, 28 rue Mauverney, 1196 Gland, Switzerland
- World Agroforestry Center, University of The Philippines Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines
- Institute for Marine & Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
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Salland N, Wilding C, Jensen A, Smale DA. Spatiotemporal variability in population demography and morphology of the habitat-forming macroalga Saccorhiza polyschides in the Western English Channel. ANNALS OF BOTANY 2024; 133:117-130. [PMID: 37962600 PMCID: PMC10921834 DOI: 10.1093/aob/mcad181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Large brown macroalgae serve as foundation organisms along temperate and polar coastlines, providing a range of ecosystem services. Saccorhiza polyschides is a warm-temperate kelp-like species found in the northeast Atlantic, which is suggested to have proliferated in recent decades across the southern UK, possibly in response to increasing temperatures, physical disturbance and reduced competition. However, little is known about S. polyschides with regard to ecological functioning and population dynamics across its geographical range. Here we examined the population demography of S. polyschides populations in southwest UK, located within the species' range centre, to address a regional knowledge gap and to provide a baseline against which to detect future changes. METHODS Intertidal surveys were conducted during spring low tides at three sites along a gradient of wave exposure in Plymouth Sound (Western English Channel) over a period of 15 months. Density, cover, age, biomass and morphology of S. polyschides were quantified. Additionally, less frequent sampling of shallow subtidal reefs was conducted to compare intertidal and subtidal populations. KEY RESULTS We recorded pronounced seasonality, with fairly consistent demographic patterns across sites and depths. By late summer, S. polyschides was a dominant habitat-former on both intertidal and subtidal reefs, with maximum standing stock exceeding 13 000 g wet weight m-2. CONCLUSIONS Saccorhiza polyschides is a conspicuous and abundant member of rocky reef assemblages in the region, providing complex and abundant biogenic habitat for associated organisms and high rates of primary productivity. However, its short-lived pseudo-annual life strategy is in stark contrast to dominant long-lived perennial laminarian kelps. As such, any replacement or reconfiguration of habitat-forming macroalgae due to ocean warming will probably have implications for local biodiversity and community composition. More broadly, our study demonstrates the importance of high-resolution cross-habitat surveys to generate robust baselines of kelp population demography, against which the ecological impacts of climate change and other stressors can be reliably detected.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nora Salland
- The Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, The Laboratory, Citadel Hill, Plymouth PL1 2PB, UK
- School of Ocean and Earth Science, University of Southampton, European Way, Southampton SO14 3ZH, UK
| | - Catherine Wilding
- The Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, The Laboratory, Citadel Hill, Plymouth PL1 2PB, UK
| | - Antony Jensen
- School of Ocean and Earth Science, University of Southampton, European Way, Southampton SO14 3ZH, UK
| | - Dan A Smale
- The Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, The Laboratory, Citadel Hill, Plymouth PL1 2PB, UK
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Gilson AR, Smale DA, O'Connor N. Ocean warming and species range shifts affect rates of ecosystem functioning by altering consumer-resource interactions. Ecology 2021; 102:e03341. [PMID: 33709407 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.3341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2020] [Revised: 11/19/2020] [Accepted: 12/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Recent warming trends have driven widespread changes in the performance and distribution of species in many regions, with consequent shifts in assemblage structure and ecosystem functioning. However, as responses to warming vary across species and regions, novel communities are emerging, particularly where warm-affinity range-expanding species have rapidly colonized communities still dominated by cold-affinity species. Such community reconfiguration may alter core ecosystem processes, such as productivity or nutrient cycling, yet it remains unclear whether novel communities function similarly to those they have replaced, and how continued warming will alter functioning in the near future. Using simplified kelp forest communities as a model system, we compared rates of respiration, consumption and secondary productivity between current cold-affinity and future warm-affinity kelp assemblages under both present-day temperatures and near-future warming in a series of mesocosm experiments. Overall, respiration rates of gastropods and amphipods increased with warming but did not differ between cold and warm affinity kelp assemblages. Consumption rates of three consumers (urchin, gastropod and amphipod) differed between kelp assemblages but only amphipod consumption rates increased with warming. A diet derived from warm-affinity kelp assemblages led to a decrease in growth and biomass of urchins, whereas the response of other consumers was variable depending on temperature treatment. These results suggest that climate-driven changes in assemblage structure of primary producers will alter per capita rates of ecosystem functioning, and that specific responses may vary in complex and unpredictable ways, with some mediated by warming more than others. Understanding how differences in life history and functional traits of dominant species will affect ecological interactions and, in turn, important ecosystem processes is crucial to understanding the wider implications of climate-driven community reconfiguration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abby R Gilson
- School of Biological Sciences, Institute of Global Food Security, Queen's University Belfast, 1-33 Chlorine Gardens, Belfast, BT9 5AJ, UK
| | - Dan A Smale
- Marine Biological Association of the UK, Citadel Hill, Plymouth, PL1 2PB, UK
| | - Nessa O'Connor
- School of Biological Sciences, Institute of Global Food Security, Queen's University Belfast, 1-33 Chlorine Gardens, Belfast, BT9 5AJ, UK
- School of Natural Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
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