Inside Biodiversity

In this episode of Inside Biodiversity, we talk to Andrew Gonzalez about how biodiversity is changing – and how humans are driving this process. Gonzalez discusses shifts in species composition, critiques conclusions drawn from time-series analyses we covered in episode one, and calls for better data to link changes to human impacts. Drawing on climate science, he proposes a “detection and attribution” approach and urges scientists to focus on solutions. A thought-provoking look at the science and communication of biodiversity change.

Links:

Professor Andrew Gonzalez’s profile at McGill University: https://www.thegonzalezlab.org/about-andrew-gonzalez

Paper critiquing analyses of time-series data, which have suggested biodiversity is not declining at local scales: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S000632071732089X?via%3Dihub

Paper on “detection and attribution” in biodiversity research, discussed in this episode: https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rstb.2022.0182

Episode summary:

Andy Gonzalez, a biodiversity scientist at McGill University, explores the complexity of biodiversity change and urges caution against oversimplified narratives of biodiversity decline. He acknowledges that while extinction is real and alarming, biodiversity is not uniformly decreasing — many local communities are experiencing reorganization rather than outright loss, with changing species compositions and shifting abundances.

Gonzalez critiques time-series data analyses we discussed in episode one for their geographic and taxonomic biases and argues that we lack a truly global, representative understanding of biodiversity trends.

Drawing inspiration from climate science, he promotes a “detection and attribution” framework to better link observed biodiversity changes to human drivers.

Gonzalez stresses the need for standardized, long-term data collection and a focus on causal understanding. Gonzalez also highlights the importance of shifting communication from loss to actionable solutions, suggesting that focusing solely on negative trends risks alienating the public. Instead, he calls for a balanced, evidence-based narrative that recognizes both the challenges and potential of biodiversity conservation.

Host: Volker Hahn Postproduction: Leven Wortmann

In this episode of Inside Biodiversity, we look at one of the most controversial questions in biodiversity research: How ubiquitous is biodiversity loss? Our guest, Maria Dornelas, has challenged overly simplistic narratives of how biodiversity is changing. We discuss the current state of knowledge and how best to communicate it. Whether you are a sceptic or an advocate of biodiversity conservation, this conversation will give you new insights into the fascination and complexity of biodiversity change.

Maria Dornelas is a Professor at the University of St Andrews and the University of Lisbon, specializing in global biodiversity patterns, species diversity, and ecological change. Her research challenges common assumptions about biodiversity loss, using long-term data to reveal complex trends.

Links:

Maria Dornelas’s profile at the University of St Andrews: https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/biology/people/maadd

Controversial paper discussed in this podcast episode: Assemblage Time Series Reveal Biodiversity Change but Not Systematic Loss https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.1248484

Recent review paper: Looking Back on Biodiversity Change: Lessons for the Road Ahead https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/full/10.1098/rstb.2022.0199

Episode summary:

Maria Dornelas, a macroecologist at the University of St. Andrews and the University of Lisbon, challenges the common view that biodiversity is uniformly declining. Her research, based on the BioTIME database, reveals a more complex picture, with biodiversity trends varying by location—some areas remaining stable or even seeing increases in species diversity.

She discusses the "biodiversity conservation paradox," where human activities alter ecosystems, yet biodiversity declines are not universal. While biodiversity loss is real, it is part of a broader story that includes species turnover and recovery. Dornelas advocates shifting the focus from "biodiversity loss" to "biodiversity change."

Addressing criticisms, she acknowledges limitations like short analysis timeframes and regional biases in monitoring but emphasizes that her findings remain valuable. She calls for a more nuanced conservation approach, highlighting successes alongside challenges. Overly simplistic narratives, she warns, risk disengaging the public—echoing mistakes made in climate communication. Instead, she urges balanced messaging and expanded global biodiversity monitoring efforts.

Host: Volker Hahn Postproduction: Leven Wortmann

Inside Biodiversity is hosted by the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv).