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Dornelas M, Chase JM, Gotelli NJ, Magurran AE, McGill BJ, Antão LH, Blowes SA, Daskalova GN, Leung B, Martins IS, Moyes F, Myers-Smith IH, Thomas CD, Vellend M. Looking back on biodiversity change: lessons for the road ahead. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2023; 378:20220199. [PMID: 37246380 PMCID: PMC10225864 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2022.0199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2022] [Accepted: 03/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Estimating biodiversity change across the planet in the context of widespread human modification is a critical challenge. Here, we review how biodiversity has changed in recent decades across scales and taxonomic groups, focusing on four diversity metrics: species richness, temporal turnover, spatial beta-diversity and abundance. At local scales, change across all metrics includes many examples of both increases and declines and tends to be centred around zero, but with higher prevalence of declining trends in beta-diversity (increasing similarity in composition across space or biotic homogenization) and abundance. The exception to this pattern is temporal turnover, with changes in species composition through time observed in most local assemblages. Less is known about change at regional scales, although several studies suggest that increases in richness are more prevalent than declines. Change at the global scale is the hardest to estimate accurately, but most studies suggest extinction rates are probably outpacing speciation rates, although both are elevated. Recognizing this variability is essential to accurately portray how biodiversity change is unfolding, and highlights how much remains unknown about the magnitude and direction of multiple biodiversity metrics at different scales. Reducing these blind spots is essential to allow appropriate management actions to be deployed. This article is part of the theme issue 'Detecting and attributing the causes of biodiversity change: needs, gaps and solutions'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Dornelas
- Centre for Biological Diversity, University of St Andrews, St Andrews KY16 9TH, UK
- Guia Marine Laboratory, MARE, Faculdade de Ciencias da Universidade de Lisboa, Cascais 2750-374, Portugal
- Leverhulme Centre for Anthropocene Biodiversity, Department of Biology, University of York, Wentworth Way, York YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Jonathan M. Chase
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv), Halle-Jena-Leipzig 04103, Germany
- Department of Computer Sciences, Martin Luther University, Halle-Wittenberg 06099, Germany
| | | | - Anne E Magurran
- Centre for Biological Diversity, University of St Andrews, St Andrews KY16 9TH, UK
| | - Brian J McGill
- School of Biology and Ecology and Mitchell Center for Sustainability Solutions, University of Maine, Orono, ME, USA
| | - Laura H. Antão
- Research Centre for Ecological Change, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki,Finland
| | - Shane A. Blowes
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv), Halle-Jena-Leipzig 04103, Germany
- Department of Computer Sciences, Martin Luther University, Halle-Wittenberg 06099, Germany
| | - Gergana N. Daskalova
- International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), Laxenburg 2361, Austria
| | - Brian Leung
- Department of Biology, McGill University, Montreal, Canada H3A 1B1
| | - Inês S. Martins
- Centre for Biological Diversity, University of St Andrews, St Andrews KY16 9TH, UK
- Leverhulme Centre for Anthropocene Biodiversity, Department of Biology, University of York, Wentworth Way, York YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Faye Moyes
- Centre for Biological Diversity, University of St Andrews, St Andrews KY16 9TH, UK
| | | | - Chris D Thomas
- Leverhulme Centre for Anthropocene Biodiversity, Department of Biology, University of York, Wentworth Way, York YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Mark Vellend
- Leverhulme Centre for Anthropocene Biodiversity, Department of Biology, University of York, Wentworth Way, York YO10 5DD, UK
- Département de biologie, Université de Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada J1K 2R1
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Abstract
Temporal trends in insect numbers vary across studies and habitats, but drivers are poorly understood. Suitable long-term data are scant and biased, and interpretations of trends remain controversial. By contrast, there is substantial quantitative evidence for drivers of spatial variation. From observational and experimental studies, we have gained a profound understanding of where insect abundance and diversity is higher-and identified underlying environmental conditions, resource change and disturbances. We thus propose an increased consideration of spatial evidence in studying the causes of insect decline. This is because for most time series available today, the number of sites and thus statistical power strongly exceed the number of years studied. Comparisons across sites allow quantifying insect population risks, impacts of land use, habitat destruction, restoration or management, and stressors such as chemical and light pollution, pesticides, mowing or harvesting, climatic extremes or biological invasions. Notably, drivers may not have to change in intensity to have long-term effects on populations, e.g. annually repeated disturbances or mortality risks such as those arising from agricultural practices. Space-for-time substitution has been controversially debated. However, evidence from well-replicated spatial data can inform on urgent actions required to halt or reverse declines-to be implemented in space.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nico Blüthgen
- Ecological Networks Lab, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Schnittspahnstraße 3, 64287 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Michael Staab
- Ecological Networks Lab, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Schnittspahnstraße 3, 64287 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Rafael Achury
- Terrestrial Ecology, Department of Ecology and Ecosystem Management, Technical University of Munich, 85354 Freising, Germany
| | - Wolfgang W Weisser
- Terrestrial Ecology, Department of Ecology and Ecosystem Management, Technical University of Munich, 85354 Freising, Germany
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Currie J, Burant JB, Marconi V, Blain SA, Emry S, Hébert K, Xie G, Moore NA, Wang X, Brown A, Grevstad L, McRae L, Mezzini S, Pata P, Freeman R. Assessing the representation of species included within the Canadian Living Planet Index. Facets (Ott) 2022. [DOI: 10.1139/facets-2022-0063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
To effectively combat the biodiversity crisis, we need ambitious targets and reliable indicators to accurately track trends and measure conservation impact. In Canada, the Living Planet Index (LPI) has been adapted to produce a national indicator by both World Wildlife Fund-Canada (Canadian Living Planet Index; C-LPI) and Environment and Climate Change Canada (Canadian Species Index) to provide insight into the status of Canadian wildlife, by evaluating temporal trends in vertebrate population abundance. The indicator includes data for just over 50% of Canadian vertebrate species. To assess whether the current dataset is representative of the distribution of life history characteristics of Canadian wildlife, we analyzed the representation of species-specific biotic variables (i.e., body size, trophic level, lifespan) for vertebrates within the C-LPI compared to native vertebrates lacking LPI data. Generally, there was considerable overlap in the distribution of biotic variables for species in the C-LPI compared to native Canadian vertebrate species lacking LPI data. Nevertheless, some differences among distributions were found, driven in large part by discrepancy in the representation of fishes—where the C-LPI included larger-bodied and longer-lived species. We provide recommendations for targeted data collection and additional analyses to further strengthen the applicability, accuracy, and representativity of biodiversity indicators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Currie
- World Wildlife Fund Canada, 410 Adelaide Street West, Toronto ON M5V 1S8, Canada
| | - Joseph B. Burant
- Department of Biology, McGill University, 1205 Docteur Penfield Avenue, Montreal QC H3A 1B1, Canada
- Département de sciences biologiques, Université de Montréal, 1375 Avenue Thérèse-Lavoie-Roux, Montréal QC H2V 0B3, Canada
- Living Data Project, Canadian Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Vancouver BC V6T 124, Canada
| | - Valentina Marconi
- Indicators and Assessments Unit, Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent’s Park, London NW1 4RY, United Kingdom
- Department of Life Sciences (Silwood Park), Imperial College London, Buckhurst Road, Ascot, Berkshire SL5 7PY, United Kingdom
| | - Stephanie A. Blain
- Department of Zoology and Biodiversity Research Centre, University of British Columbia, 6270 University Boulevard, Vancouver BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Sandra Emry
- Department of Zoology and Biodiversity Research Centre, University of British Columbia, 6270 University Boulevard, Vancouver BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Katherine Hébert
- Département de biologie, Université de Sherbrooke, 2500 Boulevard de l’Université, Sherbrooke QC J1K 2R1, Canada
| | - Garland Xie
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto ON M1C 1A4, Canada
| | - Nikki A. Moore
- Department of Biology, McGill University, 1205 Docteur Penfield Avenue, Montreal QC H3A 1B1, Canada
| | - Xueqi Wang
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph ON N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Andrea Brown
- Department of Biology, McGill University, 1205 Docteur Penfield Avenue, Montreal QC H3A 1B1, Canada
| | - Lara Grevstad
- Department of Geography, University of British Columbia, 2329 West Mall, Vancouver BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Louise McRae
- Indicators and Assessments Unit, Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent’s Park, London NW1 4RY, United Kingdom
| | - Stefano Mezzini
- Department of Biology, University of British Columbia, 1177 Research Road, Kelowna BC V1V 1V7, Canada
| | - Patrick Pata
- Department of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences, University of British Columbia, 2207 Main Mall, Vancouver BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Robin Freeman
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph ON N1G 2W1, Canada
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