Pulse Brain · Growing Health Evidence Index
Tier 4 — Narrative / commentaryPeer-reviewed

Biodiversity in changing environments: An external‐driver internal‐topology framework to guide intervention

Katharine N. Suding, Courtney G. Collins, Lauren M. Hallett, Loralee Larios, Laurel M. Brigham, Joan Dudney, Emily C. Farrer, Julie E. Larson, Nancy Shackelford, Marko J. Spasojevic

Ecology · 2024

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Summary

This paper addresses the challenge of predicting and managing biodiversity change under rapid global environmental shifts by proposing the external-driver internal-topology (EDIT) framework. The framework conceptualises community reorganisation as the interaction between external abiotic drivers (e.g. climate, disturbance) and the internal structure of species interactions, using plant communities as a case study. By translating species abundance and trait data into management guidance, the EDIT framework offers a generalised approach to support resilience and adaptation decisions in conservation and restoration under unprecedented environmental conditions.

Regional applicability

The framework is conceptually universal and applicable to terrestrial plant communities globally, including those in the United Kingdom. However, the abstract does not specify empirical validation in UK-specific contexts; practitioners would need to examine full-text applications to assess transferability to particular UK habitats and management goals.

Key measures

Conceptual framework linking external abiotic drivers to internal community topology (species interactions); community-level biodiversity responses to environmental change; species abundance and trait distributions

Outcomes reported

The study presents the external-driver internal-topology (EDIT) framework as a conceptual tool for understanding how abiotic environmental drivers modulate species interactions within plant communities. The framework is proposed to help generalise patterns of biodiversity change and guide conservation and restoration management decisions in changing environments.

Theme
Climate & resilience
Subject
Regenerative & agroecological farming
Study type
Narrative Review
Study design
Narrative review
Source type
Peer-reviewed study
Status
Published
System type
Other
DOI
10.1002/ecy.4322
Catalogue ID
SNmomgy3o9-xkc1r8

Topic tags

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