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Cited by 186Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics StudiesConservation, Biodiversity, and Resource ManagementConservation, Ecology, Wildlife Education

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 38 of the 38 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

Ecological time lags and the journey towards conservation success

Open access
Watts, Kevin, Whytock, Robin C., Park, Kirsty J., Fuentes-Montemayor, Elisa, Macgregor, Nicholas A., Duffield, Simon, McGowan, Philip J. K.·2020·Nature Ecology & Evolution
DOI 10.1038/s41559-019-1087-8
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Abstract

Global conservation targets to reverse biodiversity declines and halt species extinctions are not being met despite decades of conservation action. However, a lack of measurable change in biodiversity indicators towards these targets is not necessarily a sign that conservation has failed; instead, temporal lags in species' responses to conservation action could be masking our ability to observe progress towards conservation success. Here we present our perspective on the influence of ecological time lags on the assessment of conservation success and review the principles of time lags and their ecological drivers. We illustrate how a number of conceptual species may respond to change in a theoretical landscape and evaluate how these responses might influence our interpretation of conservation success. We then investigate a time lag in a real biodiversity indicator using empirical data and explore alternative approaches to understand the mechanisms that drive time lags. Our proposal for setting and evaluating conservation targets is to use milestones, or interim targets linked to specific ecological mechanisms at key points in time, to assess whether conservation actions are likely to be working. Accounting for ecological time lags in biodiversity targets and indicators will greatly improve the way that we evaluate conservation successes.

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Crossref · 10.1038/s41559-019-1087-8

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Research works printed but not linked: 3

  1. MacArthur, R. H. & Wilson, E. O. The Theory of Island Biogeography (Princeton Univ. Press, 1967).
  2. Fuller, R. J., Noble, D. G., Smith, K. W. & Vanhinsbergh, D. Recent declines in populations of woodland birds in Britain: a review of possible causes. Brit. Birds 98, 116–143 (2005).
  3. Savory, C. J. Colonisation by woodland birds at Carrifran Wildwood: the story so far. Scot. Birds 36, 135–149 (2016).

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Metadata

Authors
Watts, K., Whytock, R. C., Park, K. J., Fuentes-Montemayor, E., Macgregor, N. A., Duffield, S., & McGowan, P. J. K.
Affiliations
  • University of Stirling (GB)
  • University of Kent (GB)
  • Natural England (GB)
  • Newcastle University (GB)
Corresponding author
Watts, Kevin
ORCID
Venue
Nature Ecology & Evolution
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2020-01-27
Volume
4
Issue
3
Pages
304-311
ISSN
2397-334X (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1038/s41559-019-1087-8
OpenAlex
W3001470161
Cited by
185
References
38
Citations by year
2026: 29 · 2025: 50 · 2024: 34 · 2023: 23 · 2022: 20 · 2021: 19 · 2020: 10
FWCI
1.58
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Nature Ecology & Evolution (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Stirling Online Research Repository (University of Stirling) (submittedVersion, public-domain)
  • Newcastle University ePrints (Newcastle Univesity)
Funders
  • multiple funders in acknowledgements
  • RCUK | Natural Environment Research Council (NE/L002590/1)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Nature and Landscape Conservation › Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Global and Planetary Change › Conservation, Biodiversity, and Resource Management
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law › Conservation, Ecology, Wildlife Education
Keywords
conservation success, biodiversity indicators, conservation targets, biodiversity loss, conservation evaluation
MeSH terms
Conservation of Natural Resources, Ecology, Biodiversity, Extinction, Biological

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