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Relative effects of land conversion and land-use intensity on terrestrial vertebrate diversity

Author

Listed:
  • Philipp Semenchuk

    (University of Vienna)

  • Christoph Plutzar

    (University of Vienna
    University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU))

  • Thomas Kastner

    (Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre)

  • Sarah Matej

    (University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU))

  • Giorgio Bidoglio

    (Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre)

  • Karl-Heinz Erb

    (University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU))

  • Franz Essl

    (University of Vienna)

  • Helmut Haberl

    (University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU))

  • Johannes Wessely

    (University of Vienna)

  • Fridolin Krausmann

    (University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU))

  • Stefan Dullinger

    (University of Vienna)

Abstract

Land-use has transformed ecosystems over three quarters of the terrestrial surface, with massive repercussions on biodiversity. Land-use intensity is known to contribute to the effects of land-use on biodiversity, but the magnitude of this contribution remains uncertain. Here, we use a modified countryside species-area model to compute a global account of the impending biodiversity loss caused by current land-use patterns, explicitly addressing the role of land-use intensity based on two sets of intensity indicators. We find that land-use entails the loss of ~15% of terrestrial vertebrate species from the average 5 × 5 arcmin-landscape outside remaining wilderness areas and ~14% of their average native area-of-habitat, with a risk of global extinction for 556 individual species. Given the large fraction of global land currently used under low land-use intensity, we find its contribution to biodiversity loss to be substantial (~25%). While both sets of intensity indicators yield similar global average results, we find regional differences between them and discuss data gaps. Our results support calls for improved sustainable intensification strategies and demand-side actions to reduce trade-offs between food security and biodiversity conservation.

Suggested Citation

  • Philipp Semenchuk & Christoph Plutzar & Thomas Kastner & Sarah Matej & Giorgio Bidoglio & Karl-Heinz Erb & Franz Essl & Helmut Haberl & Johannes Wessely & Fridolin Krausmann & Stefan Dullinger, 2022. "Relative effects of land conversion and land-use intensity on terrestrial vertebrate diversity," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-10, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:13:y:2022:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-022-28245-4
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-28245-4
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    Cited by:

    1. Plank, Christina & Görg, Christoph & Kalt, Gerald & Kaufmann, Lisa & Dullinger, Stefan & Krausmann, Fridolin, 2023. "“Biomass from somewhere?” Governing the spatial mismatch of Viennese biomass consumption and its impact on biodiversity," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 131(C).
    2. Daijun Liu & Philipp Semenchuk & Franz Essl & Bernd Lenzner & Dietmar Moser & Tim M. Blackburn & Phillip Cassey & Dino Biancolini & César Capinha & Wayne Dawson & Ellie E. Dyer & Benoit Guénard & Evan, 2023. "The impact of land use on non-native species incidence and number in local assemblages worldwide," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-11, December.
    3. Nazgul Esengulova & Pasquale Balena & Caterina De Lucia & Antonio Lopolito & Pasquale Pazienza, 2024. "Key Drivers of Land Use Changes in the Rural Area of Gargano (South Italy) and Their Implications for the Local Sustainable Development," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-19, January.

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