All Is Not Loss: Plant Biodiversity in the Anthropocene

2012 | journal article. A publication with affiliation to the University of Göttingen.

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​All Is Not Loss: Plant Biodiversity in the Anthropocene​
Ellis, E. C.; Antill, E. C. & Kreft, H. ​ (2012) 
PLoS ONE7(1) art. e30535​.​ DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0030535 

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Authors
Ellis, Erle C.; Antill, Erica C.; Kreft, Holger 
Abstract
Anthropogenic global changes in biodiversity are generally portrayed in terms of massive native species losses or invasions caused by recent human disturbance. Yet these biodiversity changes and others caused directly by human populations and their use of land tend to co-occur as long-term biodiversity change processes in the Anthropocene. Here we explore contemporary anthropogenic global patterns in vascular plant species richness at regional landscape scales by combining spatially explicit models and estimates for native species loss together with gains in exotics caused by species invasions and the introduction of agricultural domesticates and ornamental exotic plants. The patterns thus derived confirm that while native losses are likely significant across at least half of Earth's ice-free land, model predictions indicate that plant species richness has increased overall in most regional landscapes, mostly because species invasions tend to exceed native losses. While global observing systems and models that integrate anthropogenic species loss, introduction and invasion at regional landscape scales remain at an early stage of development, integrating predictions from existing models within a single assessment confirms their vast global extent and significance while revealing novel patterns and their potential drivers. Effective global stewardship of plant biodiversity in the Anthropocene will require integrated frameworks for observing, modeling and forecasting the different forms of anthropogenic biodiversity change processes at regional landscape scales, towards conserving biodiversity within the novel plant communities created and sustained by human systems.
Issue Date
2012
Journal
PLoS ONE 
Organization
Fakultät für Forstwissenschaften und Waldökologie ; Burckhardt-Institut ; Abteilung Biodiversität, Makroökologie und Biogeographie 
ISSN
1932-6203
Language
English

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