Jung, Martin, Rowhani, Pedram and Scharlemann, Jörn P W (2019) Impacts of past abrupt land change on local biodiversity globally. Nature Communications, 10 (5474). pp. 1-8. ISSN 2041-1723

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Abstract

Abrupt land change, such as deforestation or agricultural intensification, is a key driver of biodiversity change. Following abrupt land change, local biodiversity often continues to be influenced through biotic lag effects. However, current understanding of how terrestrial biodiversity is impacted by past abrupt land changes is incomplete. Here we show that abrupt land change in the past continues to influence present species assemblages globally. We combine geographically and taxonomically broad data on local biodiversity with quantitative estimates of abrupt land change detected within time series of satellite imagery from 1982 to 2015. Species richness and abundance were 4.2% and 2% lower, respectively, and assemblage composition was altered at sites with an abrupt land change compared to unchanged sites, although impacts differed among taxonomic groups. Biodiversity recovered to levels comparable to unchanged sites after >10 years. Ignoring delayed impacts of abrupt land changes likely results in incomplete assessments of biodiversity change.

Item Type:	Article
Keywords:	Biodiversity, Remote-sensing, Land change, Biotic Lag, Landsat, PREDICTS
Schools and Departments:	School of Global Studies > Geography School of Life Sciences > Evolution, Behaviour and Environment
Research Centres and Groups:	Sussex Sustainability Research Programme
Subjects:	G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GB Physical geography G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GE Environmental Sciences Q Science > QH Natural history > QH0001 Natural history (General) > QH0075 Nature conservation Q Science > QH Natural history > QH0301 Biology > QH0540 Ecology Q Science > QH Natural history > QH0301 Biology Q Science > QL Zoology Q Science > QL Zoology > QL0001 General Including geographical distribution Q Science > QL Zoology > QL0081 Wildlife conservation. Rare animals. Endangered species. Wildlife refuges. Wildlife habitat improvement
Depositing User:	Martin Jung
Date Deposited:	03 Dec 2019 08:55
Last Modified:	20 Dec 2019 08:16
URI:	http://sro.sussex.ac.uk/id/eprint/88376

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