University of Sussex
Browse
journal.pbio.2006841.pdf (1.98 MB)

Widespread winners and narrow-ranged losers: land use homogenizes biodiversity in local assemblages worldwide

Download (1.98 MB)
Version 2 2023-06-12, 07:27
Version 1 2023-06-09, 15:30
journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-12, 07:27 authored by Tim Newbold, Lawrence N Hudson, Sara Contu, Samantha L L Hill, Jan Beck, Yunhui Liu, Carsten Meyer, Helen R R Phillips, Jörn P Scharlemann, Andy Purvis
Human use of the land (for agriculture and settlements) has a substantial negative effect on biodiversity globally. However, not all species are adversely affected by land use, and indeed, some benefit from the creation of novel habitat. Geographically rare species may be more negatively affected by land use than widespread species, but data limitations have so far prevented global multi-clade assessments of land-use effects on narrow-ranged and widespread species. We analyse a large, global database to show consistent differences in assemblage composition. Compared with natural habitat, assemblages in disturbed habitats have more widespread species on average, especially in urban areas and the tropics. All else being equal, this result means that human land use is homogenizing assemblage composition across space. Disturbed habitats show both reduced abundances of narrow-ranged species and increased abundances of widespread species. Our results are very important for biodiversity conservation because narrow-ranged species are typically at higher risk of extinction than widespread species. Furthermore, the shift to more widespread species may also affect ecosystem functioning by reducing both the contribution of rare species and the diversity of species’ responses to environmental changes among local assemblages.

History

Publication status

  • Published

File Version

  • Published version

Journal

PLoS Biology

ISSN

1544-9173

Publisher

Public Library of Science

Issue

12

Volume

16

Page range

1-24

Article number

e2006841

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

2018-10-16

First Open Access (FOA) Date

2018-12-07

First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date

2018-10-15

Usage metrics

    University of Sussex (Publications)

    Categories

    No categories selected

    Licence

    Exports

    RefWorks
    BibTeX
    Ref. manager
    Endnote
    DataCite
    NLM
    DC