A global analysis of traits predicting species sensitivity to habitat fragmentation

Abstract

Aim Elucidating patterns in species responses to habitat fragmentation is an important focus of ecology and conservation, but studies are often geographically restricted, taxonomically narrow or use indirect measures of species vulnerability. We investigated predictors of species presence after fragmentation using data from studies around the world that included all four terrestrial vertebrate classes, thus allowing direct inter-taxonomic comparison.Location World-wide.Methods We used generalized linear mixed-effect models in an information theoretic framework to assess the factors that explained species presence in remnant habitat patches (3342 patches; 1559 species, mostly birds; and 65,695 records of patch-specific presence-absence). We developed a novel metric of fragmentation sensitivity, defined as the maximum rate of change in probability of presence with changing patch size ('Peak Change'), to distinguish between general rarity on the landscape and sensitivity to fragmentation per se.Results Size of remnant habitat patches was the most important driver of species presence. Across all classes, habitat specialists, carnivores and larger species had a lower probability of presence, and those effects were substantially modified by interactions. Sensitivity to fragmentation (measured by Peak Change) was influenced primarily by habitat type and specialization, but also by fecundity, life span and body mass. Reptiles were more sensitive than other classes. Grassland species had a lower probability of presence, though sample size was relatively small, but forest and shrubland species were more sensitive.Main conclusions Habitat relationships were more important than lifehistory characteristics in predicting the effects of fragmentation. Habitat specialization increased sensitivity to fragmentation and interacted with class and habitat type; forest specialists and habitat-specific reptiles were particularly sensitive to fragmentation. Our results suggest that when conservationists are faced with disturbances that could fragment habitat they should pay particular attention to specialists, particularly reptiles. Further, our results highlight that the probability of presence in fragmented landscapes and true sensitivity to fragmentation are predicted by different factors.

The distribution of plants and seed dispersers in response to habitat fragmentation in an artificial island archipelago

“…This is likely due to the fact that birds can migrate among patches, and mobility is a key factor determining species responses to habitat fragmentation (Fuentes‐Montemayor, Watts, Macgregor, Lopez‐Gallego, & Park, ). However, the generalization may not hold for territorial birds or those that do not move between patches and are sensitive to habitat fragmentation (Keinath et al., ).…”

Opportunistic records reveal Mediterranean reptiles’ scale‐dependent responses to anthropogenic land use

“…These traits are often associated with high vulnerability to habitat conversion (Tscharntke et al 2002, Le Viol et al 2012, Keinath et al 2017, while broad habitat range, exogenous origin and generalist diet favor tolerance to anthropogenic disturbance (Rayner et al 2015). In line with these general patterns, a meta-analysis pointed reptiles' habitat specialization to explain their high sensitivity to landscape fragmentation (Keinath et al 2017). This result was further supported by a regional study in eastern North America, which showed that high human imprint on land use threaten snakes with carnivorous diets, low reproductive rates, fossorial and aquatic habitats (Todd et al 2017).…”

“…Reptiles have recently undergone declines at regional (Driscoll 2004) and global scales (Gibbons et al 2000, Keinath et al 2017, partly explained by ecological trait suites associated with vulnerability to anthropogenic disturbance of resources and habitats (Cardillo et al 2005, Trimble andvan Aarde 2014). As ectothermic predators, most reptile species combine small home ranges, high habitat and dietary specialization, low dispersal and sensitivity to microclimates (Huey 1982).…”

Adapt or die—Response of large herbivores to environmental changes in Europe during the Holocene

“…It seems that despite the change in environmental conditions and growth of total available N (g/m 2 ) in soils (Göransson et al, 2016), δ 15 N values in aurochs did not increase. Habitat specialists are more sensitive to environmental changes and vulnerable to extinction (Keinath et al, 2017). Thus, the limits set by ecological conditions of forest habitats (i.e.…”

“…Large mammals are particularly vulnerable to environmental changes and habitat fragmentations and exposed to risk of extirpation or extinction due to their body size, lower densities, larger spatial requirements and disproportional exploitation by humans, particularly more specialized species that have a lower capacity for adaptation (Cardillo et al, 2005;Keinath et al, 2017). Opening of forest habitats would have created more optimal foraging conditions for grazers, less for browsers, but might have exposed them to increased human pressure and had similar effects (reduced fitness, population fragmentation and local extinction).…”