Points of view matter when assessing biodiversity vulnerability to environmental changes.

Alejandro Ordonez

doi:10.1111/gcb.15054

Alejandro Ordonez

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.15054

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Journal: Global change biology	Publication Date: Mar 23, 2020
Citations: 2	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: Aarhus University, Utrecht University

Abstract

We can expect different levels of vulnerability depending on the paradigm used to determine the mechanisms that will alter biodiversity under climate change. A multi-paradigm perspective is necessary to get the full picture of biodiversity vulnerability. This is a commentary on Kling et al., 26, 2798-2813.

Highlights

Assessing the vulnerability of populations, species, communities or ecosystems, conceptually simple, is riddled with practical and conceptual complexities regarding how to measure the different aspects embedded in the vulnerability concept
Given the evidence of wide variability in the magnitude and type of responses to environmental changes from populations, species, communities and ecosystems (Scheffers et al, 2016), assessing the threat to biodiversity requires appropriate framing. This framing means that any metric that describes biodiversity change requires a conceptual context that links environmental shifts to a possible response mechanism of the biological entity of interest
The type of conservation, mitigation or adaptation actions considered suitable for a site/area have been based on a homogenous perception of the vulnerability of a population, species, community or ecosystem

Summary

Introduction

Assessing the vulnerability of populations, species, communities or ecosystems, conceptually simple, is riddled with practical and conceptual complexities regarding how to measure the different aspects embedded in the vulnerability concept. Given the evidence of wide variability in the magnitude and type of responses to environmental changes from populations, species, communities and ecosystems (Scheffers et al, 2016), assessing the threat to biodiversity requires appropriate framing. This framing means that any metric that describes biodiversity change requires a conceptual context that links environmental shifts to a possible response mechanism of the biological entity of interest.

Results

Conclusion