A multi-taxon analysis of European Red Lists reveals major threats to biodiversity

Publication

A multi-taxon analysis of European Red Lists reveals major threats to biodiversity

Hochkirch, Axel, Bilz, Melanie, Ferreira, Catarina C, Danielczak, Anja, Allen, David, Nieto, Ana, Rondinini, Carlo, Harding, Kate, Hilton-Taylor, Craig, Pollock, Caroline M, Seddon, Mary, Vié, Jean-Christophe, Alexander, Keith NA, Beech, Emily, Biscoito, Manuel, Braud, Yoan, Burfield, Ian J, Buzzetti, Filippo Maria, Cálix, Marta, Carpenter, Kent E, Chao, Ning Labbish, Chobanov, Dragan, Christenhusz, Maarten JM, Collette, Bruce B, Comeros-Raynal, Mia T, Cox, Neil, Craig, Matthew, Cuttelod, Annabelle, Darwall, William RT, Dodelin, Benoit, Dulvy, Nicholas K, Englefield, Eve, Fay, Michael F, Fettes, Nicholas, Freyhof, Jörg, García, Silvia, Criado, Mariana García, Harvey, Michael, Hodgetts, Nick, Ieronymidou, Christina, Kalkman, Vincent J, Kell, Shelagh P, Kemp, James, Khela, Sonia, Lansdown, Richard V, Lawson, Julia M, Leaman, Danna J, Brehm, Joana Magos, Maxted, Nigel, Miller, Rebecca M, Neubert, Eike, Odé, Baudewijn, Pollard, David, Pollom, Riley, Pople, Rob, Presa Asensio, Juan José, Ralph, Gina M, Rankou, Hassan, Rivers, Malin, Roberts, Stuart PM, Russell, Barry, Sennikov, Alexander, Soldati, Fabien, Staneva, Anna, Stump, Emilie, Symes, Andy, Telnov, Dmitry, Temple, Helen, Terry, Andrew, Timoshyna, Anastasiya, Swaay, Chris van, Väre, Henry, Walls, Rachel HL, Willemse, Luc, Wilson, Brett, Window, Jemma, Wright, Emma GE, Zuna-Kratky, Thomas

Issue Date

2023-11-08

Submitted Date

2023-01-16

Subject Terms

biodiversity
conservation science
Europe
invertebrates
vertebrates
marine fish
endangered species
fresh water

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Abstract

Biodiversity loss is a major global challenge and minimizing extinction rates is the goal of several multilateral environmental agreements. Policy decisions require comprehensive, spatially explicit information on species’ distributions and threats. We present an analysis of the conservation status of 14,669 European terrestrial, freshwater and marine species (ca. 10% of the continental fauna and flora), including all vertebrates and selected groups of invertebrates and plants. Our results reveal that 19% of European species are threatened with extinction, with higher extinction risks for plants (27%) and invertebrates (24%) compared to vertebrates (18%). These numbers exceed recent IPBES (Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services) assumptions of extinction risk. Changes in agricultural practices and associated habitat loss, overharvesting, pollution and development are major threats to biodiversity. Maintaining and restoring sustainable land and water use practices is crucial to minimize future biodiversity declines.

Citation

Hochkirch A, Bilz M, Ferreira CC, Danielczak A, Allen D, Nieto A, et al. (2023) A multi-taxon analysis of European Red Lists reveals major threats to biodiversity. PLoS ONE 18(11): e0293083. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0293083

Publisher

Public Library of Science (PLoS)

Journal

URI

http://hdl.handle.net/10141/623072

DOI

10.1371/journal.pone.0293083

Type

Journal Article

Item Description

This is an open access article, free of all copyright ,and may be freely reproduced, distributed, transmitted, modified, built upon, or otherwise used by anyone for any lawful purpose. The work is made available under the Creative Commons CC0 public domain dedication. The attached file is the published version of the article.
NHM Repository

EISSN

1932-6203