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Gray Hill et al 2016 Local biodiversity is higher inside than outside terrestrial protected areas worldwide NatureComms.pdf (616.53 kB)

Local biodiversity is higher inside than outside terrestrial protected areas worldwide

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posted on 2023-06-09, 01:17 authored by Claudia L Gray, Samantha L L Hill, Tim Newbold, Lawrence N Hudson, Luca Börger, Sara Contu, Andrew J Hoskins, Simon Ferrier, Andy Purvis, Jörn P W Scharlemann
Protected areas are widely considered essential for biodiversity conservation. However, few global studies have demonstrated that protection benefits a broad range of species. Using a new global biodiversity database with unprecedented geographic and taxonomic coverage, we compare four biodiversity measures at sites sampled in multiple land uses inside and outside protected areas. Globally, species richness is 10.7% higher and abundance 14.5% higher in samples taken inside protected areas compared to samples taken outside, but neither rarefaction-based richness nor endemicity differ significantly. Importantly, we show that the positive effects of protection are mostly attributable to differences in land use between protected and unprotected sites. Nonetheless, even within some human-dominated land uses, species richness and abundance are higher in protected sites. Our results reinforce the global importance of protected areas but suggest that protection does not consistently benefit species with small ranges or increase the variety of ecological niches.

History

Publication status

  • Published

File Version

  • Published version

Journal

Nature Communications

ISSN

2041-1723

Publisher

Nature Publishing Group

Issue

1

Volume

7

Page range

1-7

Article number

a12306

Department affiliated with

  • Evolution, Behaviour and Environment Publications

Research groups affiliated with

  • Sussex Sustainability Research Programme Publications

Full text available

  • Yes

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2016-05-18

First Open Access (FOA) Date

2016-07-29

First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date

2016-05-18

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