Publication Details

Category Text Publication
Reference Category Journals
DOI 10.1111/cobi.13441
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Title (Primary) Nonadditive effects among threats on rare plant species
Author Bernardo, H.L.; Goad, R.; Vitt, P.; Knight, T.M.
Source Titel Conservation Biology
Year 2020
Department BZF; iDiv
Volume 34
Issue 4
Page From 1029
Page To 1034
Language englisch
Supplements https://conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/action/downloadSupplement?doi=10.1111%2Fcobi.13441&file=cobi13441-sup-0001-Appendix1.docx
https://conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/action/downloadSupplement?doi=10.1111%2Fcobi.13441&file=cobi13441-sup-0002-Appendix2.docx
https://conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/action/downloadSupplement?doi=10.1111%2Fcobi.13441&file=cobi13441-sup-0003-Appendix3.docx
https://conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/action/downloadSupplement?doi=10.1111%2Fcobi.13441&file=cobi13441-sup-0004-Appendix4.docx
Keywords disturbance, habitat management, human intrusion, mammalian herbivory, species’ viability, threat assessment, woody species encroachment
Abstract The current loss of biodiversity has put 50,000 plant species at an elevated risk of extinction worldwide. Conserving at‐risk species is often complicated by covariance or nonadditivity among threats, which makes it difficult to determine optimal management strategies. We sought to demographically quantify covariance and nonadditive effects of more threats on more rare plant species than ever attempted in a single analysis. We used 1082 population reports from 186 populations across 3 U.S. states of 27 rare, herbaceous plant species collected over 15 years by citizen scientists. We used a linear mixed‐effects model with 4 threats and their interactions as fixed predictors, species as a random predictor, and annual growth rates as the response. We found a significant 3‐way interaction on annual growth rates; rare plant population sizes were reduced by 46% during the time immediately after disturbance when populations were also browsed by deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and had high levels of encroachment by woody species. This nonadditive effect should be considered a major threat to the persistence of rare plant species. Our results highlight the need for comprehensive, multithreat assessments to determine optimal conservation actions.
Persistent UFZ Identifier https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=23533
Bernardo, H.L., Goad, R., Vitt, P., Knight, T.M. (2020):
Nonadditive effects among threats on rare plant species
Conserv. Biol. 34 (4), 1029 - 1034 10.1111/cobi.13441