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Species richness declines and biotic homogenisation have slowed down for NW ‐European pollinators and plants
Author(s) -
Carvalheiro Luísa Gigante,
Kunin William E.,
Keil Petr,
AguirreGutiérrez Jesus,
Ellis Willem Nicolaas,
Fox Richard,
Groom Quentin,
Hennekens Stephan,
Landuyt Wouter,
Maes Dirk,
Meutter Frank,
Michez Denis,
Rasmont Pierre,
Ode Baudewijn,
Potts Simon Geoffrey,
Reemer Menno,
Roberts Stuart Paul Masson,
Schaminée Joop,
WallisDeVries Michiel F.,
Biesmeijer Jacobus Christiaan
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
ecology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.852
H-Index - 265
eISSN - 1461-0248
pISSN - 1461-023X
DOI - 10.1111/ele.12121
Subject(s) - species richness , biodiversity , ecology , habitat , pollinator , biology , geography , habitat destruction , pollination , pollen
Concern about biodiversity loss has led to increased public investment in conservation. Whereas there is a widespread perception that such initiatives have been unsuccessful, there are few quantitative tests of this perception. Here, we evaluate whether rates of biodiversity change have altered in recent decades in three European countries (Great Britain, Netherlands and Belgium) for plants and flower visiting insects. We compared four 20‐year periods, comparing periods of rapid land‐use intensification and natural habitat loss (1930–1990) with a period of increased conservation investment (post‐1990). We found that extensive species richness loss and biotic homogenisation occurred before 1990, whereas these negative trends became substantially less accentuated during recent decades, being partially reversed for certain taxa (e.g. bees in Great Britain and Netherlands). These results highlight the potential to maintain or even restore current species assemblages (which despite past extinctions are still of great conservation value), at least in regions where large‐scale land‐use intensification and natural habitat loss has ceased.