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