AI Article Synopsis
- Habitat fragmentation can significantly harm biodiversity, and the effects might not be fully understood for decades due to slow changes in species colonization and extinction rates.
- In a major study, connected habitat fragments showed a 5% higher colonization rate and a 2% lower extinction rate for 239 plant species compared to unconnected fragments.
- After almost 20 years, connected fragments had nearly 14% more species, highlighting the importance of habitat connectivity for biodiversity and the need to act on it sooner rather than later.
Article Abstract
Deleterious effects of habitat fragmentation and benefits of connecting fragments could be significantly underestimated because changes in colonization and extinction rates that drive changes in biodiversity can take decades to accrue. In a large and well-replicated habitat fragmentation experiment, we find that annual colonization rates for 239 plant species in connected fragments are 5% higher and annual extinction rates 2% lower than in unconnected fragments. This has resulted in a steady, nonasymptotic increase in diversity, with nearly 14% more species in connected fragments after almost two decades. Our results show that the full biodiversity value of connectivity is much greater than previously estimated, cannot be effectively evaluated at short time scales, and can be maximized by connecting habitat sooner rather than later.
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| http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.aax8992 | DOI Listing |
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