| _version_ | 1866901695379800064 |
|---|---|
| author | Revista, Zen GEOGRAPHY, 10 |
| author_facet | Revista, Zen GEOGRAPHY, 10 |
| contents | Extinction debt, the delayed extinction of species following habitat loss or degradation, is a well-established concept in conservation biology. This paper introduces and explores the notion of "synchronized extinction debt," proposing it as a distinct biogeographic signature reflecting pervasive anthropogenic lag across global ecosystems. While individual extinction events are often attributed to local disturbances, the hypothesis here is that widespread and concurrent human impacts---such as climate change, extensive land-use conversion, pollution, and resource overexploitation---do not merely trigger isolated extinction debts but rather induce a spatially and temporally synchronized wave of delayed extinctions across geographically disparate yet ecologically interconnected regions. This synchronicity arises from the globalized nature of anthropogenic drivers and the inherent time lags in ecological responses. We posit that this synchronized debt presents a more profound and immediate threat than previously understood, indicating a systemic, rather than merely localized, failure of ecological systems to adapt to rapid environmental change. By analyzing the mechanisms underlying this synchronization, including species' differing dispersal abilities, trophic cascade delays, and the propagation of environmental stressors, we aim to uncover the predictive power of this phenomenon for future biodiversity loss. Understanding synchronized extinction debt is crucial for developing proactive, large-scale conservation strategies that account for the lagged, interconnected, and globally pervasive nature of human impacts on biodiversity. |
| format | Recurso digital |
| id | zenodo_https___doi_org_10_5281_zenodo_17728911 |
| institution | Zenodo |
| language | |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| publisher | Zenodo |
| record_format | zenodo |
| spellingShingle | Synchronized Extinction Debt: A Biogeographic Signature of Pervasive Anthropogenic Lag Revista, Zen GEOGRAPHY, 10 Extinction debt, the delayed extinction of species following habitat loss or degradation, is a well-established concept in conservation biology. This paper introduces and explores the notion of "synchronized extinction debt," proposing it as a distinct biogeographic signature reflecting pervasive anthropogenic lag across global ecosystems. While individual extinction events are often attributed to local disturbances, the hypothesis here is that widespread and concurrent human impacts---such as climate change, extensive land-use conversion, pollution, and resource overexploitation---do not merely trigger isolated extinction debts but rather induce a spatially and temporally synchronized wave of delayed extinctions across geographically disparate yet ecologically interconnected regions. This synchronicity arises from the globalized nature of anthropogenic drivers and the inherent time lags in ecological responses. We posit that this synchronized debt presents a more profound and immediate threat than previously understood, indicating a systemic, rather than merely localized, failure of ecological systems to adapt to rapid environmental change. By analyzing the mechanisms underlying this synchronization, including species' differing dispersal abilities, trophic cascade delays, and the propagation of environmental stressors, we aim to uncover the predictive power of this phenomenon for future biodiversity loss. Understanding synchronized extinction debt is crucial for developing proactive, large-scale conservation strategies that account for the lagged, interconnected, and globally pervasive nature of human impacts on biodiversity. |
| title | Synchronized Extinction Debt: A Biogeographic Signature of Pervasive Anthropogenic Lag |
| url | https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17728911 |