A case for assemblage-level conservation to address the biodiversity crisis
Nature Reviews Biodiversity
Links
- More information: Publisher Index Page (via DOI)
- Open Access Version: Publisher Index Page
- Download citation as: RIS | Dublin Core
Abstract
Traditional conservation efforts have centred on safeguarding individual species, but these strategies have limitations in a world where entire ecosystems are rapidly changing. Ecosystem conservation can maintain critical ecological functions, but often lacks the detail necessary for the effective conservation of threatened or endangered species. The conservation of such species is mandated by policies and remains a dominant focus of natural resource management. In this Perspective, we propose that assemblage-level conservation targeting groups of taxonomically related or functionally similar species can bridge the gap between species and ecosystems and help to address global biodiversity loss. This approach has previously been limited by data and methodological constraints, but the ongoing growth of biodiversity data, advances in ecological modelling and breakthroughs in computational power have now made effective assemblage-level conservation feasible. Community models provide insights at both the species level and the assemblage level while appropriately accounting for species variability in detection during sampling and uncertainty in biological inferences. Assemblage-level conservation can link both species-specific needs and broader ecological dynamics, ultimately enabling effective strategies for conserving threatened species, ecological communities and ecosystem functions.
Suggested Citation
Belitz, M., Campbell, C., Drum, R., Leuenberger, W., Morelli, T.L., Nail, K., Shirey, V., Thogmartin, W.E., Zipken, E., 2025, A case for assemblage-level conservation to address the biodiversity crisis: Nature Reviews Biodiversity, v. 1, p. 134-143, https://doi.org/10.1038/s44358-024-00014-9.
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | A case for assemblage-level conservation to address the biodiversity crisis |
| Series title | Nature Reviews Biodiversity |
| DOI | 10.1038/s44358-024-00014-9 |
| Volume | 1 |
| Publication Date | January 20, 2025 |
| Year Published | 2025 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Springer Nature |
| Contributing office(s) | Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center |
| Description | 10 p. |
| First page | 134 |
| Last page | 143 |