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

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

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0293083

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

Axel Hochkirch^*
, Melanie Bilz
, Catarina C. Ferreira
, Anja Danielczak
, David Allen
, Ana Nieto
, Carlo Rondinini
, Kate Harding
, Craig Hilton-Taylor
, Caroline M. Pollock
, Mary Seddon
, Jean Christophe Vié
, Keith N.A. Alexander
, Emily Beech
, Manuel Biscoito
, Yoan Braud
, Ian J. Burfield
, Filippo Maria Buzzetti
, Marta Cálix
, Kent E. Carpenter

Ning Labbish Chao, Dragan Chobanov, Maarten J.M. Christenhusz, Bruce B. Collette, Mia T. Comeros-Raynal, Neil Cox, Matthew Craig, Annabelle Cuttelod, William R.T. Darwall, Benoit Dodelin, Nicholas K. Dulvy, Eve Englefield, Michael F. Fay, Nicholas Fettes, Jörg Freyhof, Silvia García, Mariana García Criado, Michael Harvey, Nick Hodgetts, Christina Ieronymidou, Vincent J. Kalkman, Shelagh P. Kell, James Kemp, Sonia Khela, Richard V. Lansdown, Julia M. Lawson, Danna J. Leaman, Joana Magos Brehm, Nigel Maxted, Rebecca M. Miller, Eike Neubert, Baudewijn Odé, David Pollard, Riley Pollom, Rob Pople, Juan José Presa Asensio, Gina M. Ralph, Hassan Rankou, Malin Rivers, Stuart P.M. Roberts, Barry Russell, Alexander Sennikov, Fabien Soldati, Anna Staneva, Emilie Stump, Andy Symes, Dmitrijs Teļnovs, Helen Temple, Andrew Terry, Anastasiya Timoshyna, Chris van Swaay, Henry Väre, Rachel H.L. Walls, Luc Willemse, Brett Wilson, Jemma Window, Emma G.E. Wright, Thomas Zuna-Kratky

^*Corresponding author for this work

University of Latvia

IUCN SSC Grasshopper Specialist Group
IUCN SSC Invertebrate Conservation Committee
IUCN SSC Steering Committee
Musée national d’histoire naturelle
Trier University
IUCN European Regional Office
IUCN SSC Freshwater Plant Specialist Group
Technical University of Berlin
Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research
Biodiversity Assessment and Knowledge Team
International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources
SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
University of Rome La Sapienza
IUCN SSC Mollusc Specialist Group
Fondation Franklinia
IUCN SSC Plant Conservation Committee
IUCN Specialist Adviser on European Saproxylic Beetles
Botanic Gardens Conservation International
Funchal Natural History Museum
University of Lisbon
BirdLife International
IUCN SSC Red List Authority for Birds
Fondazione Museo Civico di Rovereto
Rewilding Portugal
IUCN Marine Biodiversity Unit
National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium Pingtung
Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
Plant Gateway Herbarium
Smithsonian Institution
James Cook University Queensland
University of Hawai'i at Mānoa
Conservation International
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
IUCN Global Species Programme
Simon Fraser University
Joint Nature Conservation Committee
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Scott Cawley Ltd.
Museum für Naturkunde - Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science
Oceana
University of Edinburgh
European Committee for the Conservation of Bryophytes
BirdLife Cyprus
Naturalis Biodiversity Center
University of Birmingham
IUCN SSC Cave Invertebrate Specialist Group
University of California at Santa Barbara
IUCN SSC Medicinal Plant Specialist Group
IUCN SSC Crop Wild Relative Specialist Group
Natural History Museum Bern
FLORON Plant Conservation Netherlands
Australian Museum
Species Recovery Program
University of Murcia
IUCN SSC Global Tree Specialist Group
Université libre de Bruxelles
Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory
University of Helsinki
Laboratoire National d’Entomologie Forestière
Daugavpils University
The Natural History Museum, London
The Biodiversity Consultancy
Zoological Society of London Institute of Zoology
TRAFFIC
Dutch Butterfly Conservation
Reef Environmental Education Foundation
University of Cambridge
Ingenieurbüro für Landschaftsplanung und Landschaftspflege

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

67 Citations (Scopus)

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.

Original language	English
Article number	e0293083
Pages (from-to)	1-13
Journal	PLOS ONE
Volume	18
Issue number	11 November
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0293083
Publication status	Published - Nov 2023

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 6 Clean Water and Sanitation
SDG 14 Life Below Water
SDG 15 Life on Land
SDG 17 Partnerships for the Goals

OECD Field of Science

1.6 Biological Sciences

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10.1371/journal.pone.0293083

Cite this

Hochkirch, A., Bilz, M., Ferreira, C. C., Danielczak, A., Allen, D., Nieto, A., Rondinini, C., Harding, K., Hilton-Taylor, C., Pollock, C. M., Seddon, M., Vié, J. C., Alexander, K. N. A., Beech, E., Biscoito, M., Braud, Y., Burfield, I. J., Buzzetti, F. M., Cálix, M., ... Zuna-Kratky, T. (2023). A multi-taxon analysis of European Red Lists reveals major threats to biodiversity. PLOS ONE, 18(11 November), 1-13. Article e0293083. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0293083

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title = "A multi-taxon analysis of European Red Lists reveals major threats to biodiversity",

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{\textquoteright} 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.",

author = "Axel Hochkirch and Melanie Bilz and Ferreira, \{Catarina C.\} and Anja Danielczak and David Allen and Ana Nieto and Carlo Rondinini and Kate Harding and Craig Hilton-Taylor and Pollock, \{Caroline M.\} and Mary Seddon and Vi{\'e}, \{Jean Christophe\} and Alexander, \{Keith N.A.\} and Emily Beech and Manuel Biscoito and Yoan Braud and Burfield, \{Ian J.\} and Buzzetti, \{Filippo Maria\} and Marta C{\'a}lix and Carpenter, \{Kent E.\} and Chao, \{Ning Labbish\} and Dragan Chobanov and Christenhusz, \{Maarten J.M.\} and Collette, \{Bruce B.\} and Comeros-Raynal, \{Mia T.\} and Neil Cox and Matthew Craig and Annabelle Cuttelod and Darwall, \{William R.T.\} and Benoit Dodelin and Dulvy, \{Nicholas K.\} and Eve Englefield and Fay, \{Michael F.\} and Nicholas Fettes and J{\"o}rg Freyhof and Silvia Garc{\'i}a and Criado, \{Mariana Garc{\'i}a\} and Michael Harvey and Nick Hodgetts and Christina Ieronymidou and Kalkman, \{Vincent J.\} and Kell, \{Shelagh P.\} and James Kemp and Sonia Khela and Lansdown, \{Richard V.\} and Lawson, \{Julia M.\} and Leaman, \{Danna J.\} and Brehm, \{Joana Magos\} and Nigel Maxted and Miller, \{Rebecca M.\} and Eike Neubert and Baudewijn Od{\'e} and David Pollard and Riley Pollom and Rob Pople and Asensio, \{Juan Jos{\'e} Presa\} and Ralph, \{Gina M.\} and Hassan Rankou and Malin Rivers and Roberts, \{Stuart P.M.\} and Barry Russell and Alexander Sennikov and Fabien Soldati and Anna Staneva and Emilie Stump and Andy Symes and Dmitrijs Teļnovs and Helen Temple and Andrew Terry and Anastasiya Timoshyna and \{van Swaay\}, Chris and Henry V{\"a}re and Walls, \{Rachel H.L.\} and Luc Willemse and Brett Wilson and Jemma Window and Wright, \{Emma G.E.\} and Thomas Zuna-Kratky",

year = "2023",

month = nov,

doi = "10.1371/journal.pone.0293083",

language = "English",

volume = "18",

pages = "1--13",

journal = "PLOS ONE",

issn = "1932-6203",

publisher = "Public Library of Science",

number = "11 November",

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Hochkirch, A, Bilz, M, Ferreira, CC, Danielczak, A, Allen, D, Nieto, A, Rondinini, C, Harding, K, Hilton-Taylor, C, Pollock, CM, Seddon, M, Vié, JC, Alexander, KNA, Beech, E, Biscoito, M, Braud, Y, Burfield, IJ, Buzzetti, FM, Cálix, M, Carpenter, KE, Chao, NL, Chobanov, D, Christenhusz, MJM, Collette, BB, Comeros-Raynal, MT, Cox, N, Craig, M, Cuttelod, A, Darwall, WRT, Dodelin, B, Dulvy, NK, Englefield, E, Fay, MF, Fettes, N, Freyhof, J, García, S, Criado, MG, Harvey, M, Hodgetts, N, Ieronymidou, C, Kalkman, VJ, Kell, SP, Kemp, J, Khela, S, Lansdown, RV, Lawson, JM, Leaman, DJ, Brehm, JM, Maxted, N, Miller, RM, Neubert, E, Odé, B, Pollard, D, Pollom, R, Pople, R, Asensio, JJP, Ralph, GM, Rankou, H, Rivers, M, Roberts, SPM, Russell, B, Sennikov, A, Soldati, F, Staneva, A, Stump, E, Symes, A, Teļnovs, D, Temple, H, Terry, A, Timoshyna, A, van Swaay, C, Väre, H, Walls, RHL, Willemse, L, Wilson, B, Window, J, Wright, EGE & Zuna-Kratky, T 2023, 'A multi-taxon analysis of European Red Lists reveals major threats to biodiversity', PLOS ONE, vol. 18, no. 11 November, e0293083, pp. 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0293083

TY - JOUR

T1 - A multi-taxon analysis of European Red Lists reveals major threats to biodiversity

AU - Hochkirch, Axel

AU - Bilz, Melanie

AU - Ferreira, Catarina C.

AU - Danielczak, Anja

AU - Allen, David

AU - Nieto, Ana

AU - Rondinini, Carlo

AU - Harding, Kate

AU - Hilton-Taylor, Craig

AU - Pollock, Caroline M.

AU - Seddon, Mary

AU - Vié, Jean Christophe

AU - Alexander, Keith N.A.

AU - Beech, Emily

AU - Biscoito, Manuel

AU - Braud, Yoan

AU - Burfield, Ian J.

AU - Buzzetti, Filippo Maria

AU - Cálix, Marta

AU - Carpenter, Kent E.

AU - Chao, Ning Labbish

AU - Chobanov, Dragan

AU - Christenhusz, Maarten J.M.

AU - Collette, Bruce B.

AU - Comeros-Raynal, Mia T.

AU - Cox, Neil

AU - Craig, Matthew

AU - Cuttelod, Annabelle

AU - Darwall, William R.T.

AU - Dodelin, Benoit

AU - Dulvy, Nicholas K.

AU - Englefield, Eve

AU - Fay, Michael F.

AU - Fettes, Nicholas

AU - Freyhof, Jörg

AU - García, Silvia

AU - Criado, Mariana García

AU - Harvey, Michael

AU - Hodgetts, Nick

AU - Ieronymidou, Christina

AU - Kalkman, Vincent J.

AU - Kell, Shelagh P.

AU - Kemp, James

AU - Khela, Sonia

AU - Lansdown, Richard V.

AU - Lawson, Julia M.

AU - Leaman, Danna J.

AU - Brehm, Joana Magos

AU - Maxted, Nigel

AU - Miller, Rebecca M.

AU - Neubert, Eike

AU - Odé, Baudewijn

AU - Pollard, David

AU - Pollom, Riley

AU - Pople, Rob

AU - Asensio, Juan José Presa

AU - Ralph, Gina M.

AU - Rankou, Hassan

AU - Rivers, Malin

AU - Roberts, Stuart P.M.

AU - Russell, Barry

AU - Sennikov, Alexander

AU - Soldati, Fabien

AU - Staneva, Anna

AU - Stump, Emilie

AU - Symes, Andy

AU - Teļnovs, Dmitrijs

AU - Temple, Helen

AU - Terry, Andrew

AU - Timoshyna, Anastasiya

AU - van Swaay, Chris

AU - Väre, Henry

AU - Walls, Rachel H.L.

AU - Willemse, Luc

AU - Wilson, Brett

AU - Window, Jemma

AU - Wright, Emma G.E.

AU - Zuna-Kratky, Thomas

PY - 2023/11

Y1 - 2023/11

N2 - 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.

AB - 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.

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UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85176356370

U2 - 10.1371/journal.pone.0293083

DO - 10.1371/journal.pone.0293083

M3 - Article

C2 - 37939028

SN - 1932-6203

VL - 18

SP - 1

EP - 13

JO - PLOS ONE

JF - PLOS ONE

IS - 11 November

M1 - e0293083

ER -

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

Abstract

UN SDGs

OECD Field of Science

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