Toward a set of essential biodiversity variables for assessing change in mountains globally

Schmeller, Dirk S; Thornton, James M; Urbach, Davnah; Alexander, Jake; Jetz, Walter; Kulonen, Aino; Mills, Robert T E; Notornicola, Claudia; Palazzi, Elisa; Pauli, Harald; Randin, Christophe; Rosbakh, Sergey; Sayre, Roger; Tehrani, Nasrin Amini; Verbiest, William W M; Walker, Tom W N; Wipf, Sonja; Adler, Carolina (2024). Toward a set of essential biodiversity variables for assessing change in mountains globally. Bioscience Oxford University Press 10.1093/biosci/biae052

Text (Toward a set of essential biodiversity variables for assessing change in mountains globally) Schmeller_et_al_2024_Toward_a_set_of_essential_biodiversity_variables_for_assessing_change_in_mountains_globally.pdf - Accepted Version Restricted to registered users only until 1 August 2025. Available under License Publisher holds Copyright. Download (440kB) | Request a copy

Mountain regions harbor unique and rich biodiversity, forming an important part of our global life support system. This rich biodiversity underpins the ecological intactness and functioning of mountain ecosystems, which are imperative for the provision of key ecosystem services. A considerable amount of data are required to assess ecological intactness and ecosystem functioning and, given the profound anthropogenic pressures many mountain regions are being subjected to, are urgently needed. However, data on mountain biodiversity remain lacking. The essential biodiversity variables (EBVs) framework can help focus efforts related to detecting, investigating, predicting, and managing global biodiversity change, but has not yet been considered in the context of mountains. Here, we review key biological processes and physical phenomena that strongly influence mountain biodiversity and ecosystems and elucidate their associations with potential mountain EBVs. We identify seven EBVs of highest relevance for tracking and understanding the most critical drivers and responses of mountain biodiversity change. If they are implemented, the selected EBVs will contribute useful information to inform management and policy interventions seeking to halt mountain biodiversity loss and maintain functional mountain ecosystems.

Interest & Impact

Downloads

0 since deposited on 08 Aug 2024
0 in the past 12 months

Citations

5 Citations in Web of Science ®
6 Citations in Scopus

Search

in Google Scholar™

Services

Actions (login required)

Edit item

Actions (login required)

Edit item