🧩Human modification does not always lead to a biotic homogenisation.
Using a scenario-based approach, we found that beta diversity increased despite reductions in local alpha diversity, thereby maintaining gamma diversity, when relatively natural landscapes were modified into mixed landscapes.
This study used five very different case studies but there is still much more to be explored.
This challenges the view that widespread species are the main drivers of biotic homogenisation. Our work also suggests that conservation interventions to increase localised species occurrence are likely to have the most impact on limiting homogenisation.
Our results were also influenced by the level of nestedness found within the set of assemblages.
By comparing the trends in individual species occurrence to their beta-diversity contributions we found that the most widespread species directly contributed very little to beta-diversity change. The main influence was found to be the balance of declining versus increasing rare species.
New paper with @jonathan-gdon.bsky.social @cmbeale.bsky.social and Chris Thomas looking at species contributions to biotic homogenisation and differentiation.
@anthropocenebio.bsky.social
doi.org/10.1111/geb....
Thanks! Yes, I can imagine the volume is a problem and many people don’t change from the default CC-BY-NC. I’ll try and go again soon and fill you in a recording form.
Do you use records from iNaturalist? I went there and added a few during York City Nature Challenge. Also looks to be quite a few other records
REVIEW
The Greatest Extinction Event in 66 Million Years? Contextualising Anthropogenic Extinctions
🔗 buff.ly/qPG3mEa
@jackhhatfield.bsky.social @anthropocenebio.bsky.social
This paper was a huge collaborative effort built from a workshop series bringing together ecologists and paleobiologists. I would like to thank all those that made it possible and funding from
@anthropocenebio.bsky.social
We know that human influence is global and systems are changing rapidly. The placing of current extinctions in context does not negate the need to address known issues many of which clearly impact the longer term prospects of the biosphere
The current event is still smaller however than events labelled mass extinctions such as that at the end of the Cretaceous. Much uncertainty remains around any of these comparisons. We therefore also discuss the issues of comparing different data and the need for multiple lines of evidence
In our new article just out we examine the current extinction event in the context of the longer fossil record. We conclude it is likely the greatest event in the last 66 million years
doi.org/10.1111/gcb....
Join one of the world's largest community science events!
The 2025 City Nature Challenge (CNC) runs in York from 25-28 April. Show your love of nature & improve understanding of York's biodiversity by taking photos of wild plants & animals & sharing them with York CNC.
Learn more: lnkd.in/ehaeMMEn
Seven for a secret never to be told….
Great to see my first Beefly of the year today! #BeeFlyWatch
I’m aiming to increase my species count on @inaturalist.bsky.social by 500 this year so was great to see this amazing caterpillar on a recent trip to Exeter
www.inaturalist.org/observations...
We are still recruiting Brazilian experts in species ID at Pivotal. It's remote flexible work so a really handy side gig.
If you can identify Brazilian plants or mammals from photos, of frogs, bats or birds from audio, please apply! 🧪
www.researchgate.net/job/1018369_...
🚨Fully-Funded UK PhD Opportunity!🚨
I’m hiring a #PhD exploring the complexities of #biodiversity change across space and time 🌐. Join @cmbeale.bsky.social and me at #York and for this exciting opportunity!
Please share and/or message me if interested. More info and how to apply: shorturl.at/Zu7ED
Cat sat on a broadband cabinet
I often see this cat sat here on my way to work. Seems an odd spot but I think I’ve figured it out. The cabinet kicks out a fair amount of heat. Is this an example of individuals adjusting their behaviour to microclimatic conditions?
