The extent and predictability of the biodiversity-carbon correlation

Di Marco, Moreno, Watson, James E M, Currie, David J, Possingham, Hugh P and Venter, Oscar (2018) The extent and predictability of the biodiversity-carbon correlation. Ecology letters, 21 3: 365-375. doi:10.1111/ele.12903


Author Di Marco, Moreno
Watson, James E M
Currie, David J
Possingham, Hugh P
Venter, Oscar
Title The extent and predictability of the biodiversity-carbon correlation
Journal name Ecology letters   Check publisher's open access policy
ISSN 1461-0248
1461-023X
Publication date 2018-01-04
Year available 2018
Sub-type Article (original research)
DOI 10.1111/ele.12903
Open Access Status Not yet assessed
Volume 21
Issue 3
Start page 365
End page 375
Total pages 11
Place of publication Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom
Publisher Wiley-Blackwell Publishing
Language eng
Subject 1105 Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
Abstract Protecting biomass carbon stocks to mitigate climate change has direct implications for biodiversity conservation. Yet, evidence that a positive association exists between carbon density and species richness is contrasting. Here, we test how this association varies (1) across spatial extents and (2) as a function of how strongly carbon and species richness depend on environmental variables. We found the correlation weakens when moving from larger extents, e.g. realms, to narrower extents, e.g. ecoregions. For ecoregions, a positive correlation emerges when both species richness and carbon density vary as functions of the same environmental variables (climate, soil, elevation). In 20% of tropical ecoregions, there are opportunities to pursue carbon conservation with direct biodiversity co-benefits, while other ecoregions require careful planning for both species and carbon to avoid potentially perverse outcomes. The broad assumption of a linear relationship between carbon and biodiversity can lead to undesired outcomes.
Keyword SDG
Carbon density
REDD+
conservation goals
macroecology
scale
species richness
Q-Index Code C1
Q-Index Status Provisional Code
Institutional Status UQ

Document type: Journal Article
Sub-type: Article (original research)
Collection: School of Biological Sciences Publications
 
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Created: Wed, 17 Jan 2018, 12:21:29 EST