Climate change and habitat conversion favour the same species

Ecol Lett. 2016 Sep;19(9):1081-90. doi: 10.1111/ele.12645. Epub 2016 Jul 11.

Abstract

Land-use change and climate change are driving a global biodiversity crisis. Yet, how species' responses to climate change are correlated with their responses to land-use change is poorly understood. Here, we assess the linkages between climate and land-use change on birds in Neotropical forest and agriculture. Across > 300 species, we show that affiliation with drier climates is associated with an ability to persist in and colonise agriculture. Further, species shift their habitat use along a precipitation gradient: species prefer forest in drier regions, but use agriculture more in wetter zones. Finally, forest-dependent species that avoid agriculture are most likely to experience decreases in habitable range size if current drying trends in the Neotropics continue as predicted. This linkage suggests a synergy between the primary drivers of biodiversity loss. Because they favour the same species, climate and land-use change will likely homogenise biodiversity more severely than otherwise anticipated.

Keywords: Anthropocene; bird; climate niche; countryside biogeography; deforestation; habitat conversion; homogenisation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Agriculture*
  • Animals
  • Biodiversity*
  • Birds / physiology*
  • Climate Change*
  • Conservation of Natural Resources*
  • Costa Rica
  • Forests*

Associated data

  • Dryad/10.5061/dryad.fv921