presentation - Synchronicity Earth

Wildlife in a changing world: what do we know about the changing face of nature? Global commitment to biodiversity •  190 na<ons commi=ed via the Conven<on on Biological Diversity to ac<ons to: “… achieve, by 2010, a significant reduc<on of the current rate of biodiversity loss” •  New commitments for 2020, but informa<on is needed Target for Biodiversity 2002 2010 IUCN Red List will provide cri<cal info 2020 Current knowledge of ex<nc<on risk Change in global biodiversity Quan<ta<ve criteria used to evaluate risk •  Evaluate the symptoms of risk -  Reflect the likelihood of ex<nc<on under prevailing circumstances •  Ex;nc;on risk greatest when: -  Popula<on size is small -  Decline rate is high -  Fluctua<ons in size > growth -  Very small popula<ons suscep<ble (gene<c, demographic, environment) CRITERIA A Popula;on reduc;on B Geographic range size C Small popula;on size & decline D E Very small or restricted popula;on Quan;ta;ve analysis Mace & Lande 1991; Mace et al. 2008 Conserva-on Biology Change in global biodiversity Quan<ta<ve criteria used to evaluate risk •  Allowing scien;sts to place all species in categories of increasing ex;nc;on risk Ex;nct (EX)
Cri;cally Endangered (CR)
Endangered (EN) Vulnerable (VU) Near Threatened (NT)
Least Concern (LC)
Data Deficient (DD) High risk Low risk Mace & Lande 1991; Mace et al. 2008 Conserva-on Biology One in five species are at risk of ex<nc<on Vertebrates 24% (15-­‐54%) 22% (19-­‐32%) * * * * * = sampled = sampled group
* * Plants Invertebrates * * * 24% (23-­‐28%) * * * * * Collen et al. 2012 Spineless: status & trends of the world’s invertebrates Many species are at high risk of ex<nc<on 26 % of mammals threatened with ex<nc<on (range: 22-­‐37) Schipper et al. 2008 Science Ex<nc<on risk varies by habitat Freshwater ecosystems IUCN tracks 7,000+ species of crabs, crayfish, rep<les, amphibians, fishes, mammals 1 in 3 freshwater species threatened cf. 1 in 4 terrestrial species Collen et al. 2013 GEB Lakes Marshes Flowing water 0 0.2 0.4 0.6
0.8
Propor;on of species 1 Dominant threats to freshwater species Freshwater ecosystems 7,000+ species of crabs, crayfish, rep<les, amphibians, fishes, mammals •  Habitat loss = greatest threat to freshwater species •  Closely followed by pollu<on and exploita<on Habitat Loss/
Pollution
Exploitation
Intrinsic
Flow modification
Invasive species
Native species
Other
Climate change
Disease
Human disturbance
Natural disasters
Unknown
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
Propor;on of threatened species Collen et al. 2013 GEB 0.8
1
Tracking change in ex<nc<on risk over <me How is the environment changing? Change in forest extent in Sumatra Aerial photo of Forest loss in Sumatra – what does it mean for species? Tracking change over <me 1900 1960 2000 Satellite imagery and historical records show rapid shrinking of forests in Sumatra 2010 Tracking change over <me 1996 Vulnerable 2008 Endangered Loss of forest results in increased risk for species like this Agile gibbon (Hylobates agilis) Image: ARKive.org The IUCN Red List Index Corals Worse
Red List Index of
species survival
Better
1.00
Co
Bi
Ma
0.95
Am
Birds 0.90
Mammals 0.85
0.80
0.75
0.70
1980
Amphibians 1985
1990
1995
2000
2005
2010
Year
By tracking lots of species, we can see broad scale pa=erns for different groups Risk of ex<nc<on increasing, but conserva<on working Red List index Mammals Current situa<on 0.86 Impact of conserva<on How bad it would have been 0.85 1996 Year 2008 And while conserva<on is working, it’s not enough to stem the loss Hoffmann et al. 2010 Science What is needed? Barometer of Life To find out more about how you can help threatened species contact Synchronicity Earth info@synchronicityearth.org