Temporal Trends in Biodiversity Intactness Vary with Baseline Levels Across Regions and Climates

Exploring the relationship between the magnitude and temporal trend of the Biodiversity Intactness Index (BII) is critical to assessing current and future changes in biodiversity intactness. However, investigations into the relationship between BII magnitude and trends worldwide have been limited. U...

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Main Authors: Naiyi Liu, Yunhe Wu, Wenbo Li, Zihan Liu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-06-01
Series:Land
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/14/6/1224
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author Naiyi Liu
Yunhe Wu
Wenbo Li
Zihan Liu
author_facet Naiyi Liu
Yunhe Wu
Wenbo Li
Zihan Liu
author_sort Naiyi Liu
collection DOAJ
description Exploring the relationship between the magnitude and temporal trend of the Biodiversity Intactness Index (BII) is critical to assessing current and future changes in biodiversity intactness. However, investigations into the relationship between BII magnitude and trends worldwide have been limited. Using annual BII time series data from 2000 to 2020, we assess the global spatial patterns of BII magnitude and trend, as well as their relationship. Our findings reveal four key insights: First, the global mean BII magnitude exhibits pronounced latitudinal and climatic heterogeneity, with higher values observed in less human-impacted regions. Second, biodiversity trends display contrasting trajectories between areas of differing baseline intactness—regions with initially low biodiversity (BII < 0.50) show recovery potential (−0.007 ± 0.021 decade<sup>−1</sup>), while high-biodiversity areas (BII > 0.90) face accelerated declines (0.002 ± 0.012 decade<sup>−1</sup>). Third, continental and climatic disparities are striking: Europe and temperate zones demonstrate stabilizing trends, whereas tropical and polar regions experience marked deterioration. Fourth, climate variables, particularly precipitation seasonality (BIO15) and mean temperature of the coldest quarter (BIO11), show strong negative correlations with the BII trend, indicating climate-linked declines while exhibiting minimal influence on baseline BII magnitude. This study has the potential to help develop more efficient sustainable practices and behaviors to mitigate biodiversity disparities and achieve sustainable development goals.
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spelling doaj-art-407f29d644b2429bba3940862f1885db2025-08-20T03:27:23ZengMDPI AGLand2073-445X2025-06-01146122410.3390/land14061224Temporal Trends in Biodiversity Intactness Vary with Baseline Levels Across Regions and ClimatesNaiyi Liu0Yunhe Wu1Wenbo Li2Zihan Liu3School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, ChinaJiangsu Key Laboratory for Biodiversity and Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, ChinaSchool of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, ChinaSchool of Artificial Intelligence, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, ChinaExploring the relationship between the magnitude and temporal trend of the Biodiversity Intactness Index (BII) is critical to assessing current and future changes in biodiversity intactness. However, investigations into the relationship between BII magnitude and trends worldwide have been limited. Using annual BII time series data from 2000 to 2020, we assess the global spatial patterns of BII magnitude and trend, as well as their relationship. Our findings reveal four key insights: First, the global mean BII magnitude exhibits pronounced latitudinal and climatic heterogeneity, with higher values observed in less human-impacted regions. Second, biodiversity trends display contrasting trajectories between areas of differing baseline intactness—regions with initially low biodiversity (BII < 0.50) show recovery potential (−0.007 ± 0.021 decade<sup>−1</sup>), while high-biodiversity areas (BII > 0.90) face accelerated declines (0.002 ± 0.012 decade<sup>−1</sup>). Third, continental and climatic disparities are striking: Europe and temperate zones demonstrate stabilizing trends, whereas tropical and polar regions experience marked deterioration. Fourth, climate variables, particularly precipitation seasonality (BIO15) and mean temperature of the coldest quarter (BIO11), show strong negative correlations with the BII trend, indicating climate-linked declines while exhibiting minimal influence on baseline BII magnitude. This study has the potential to help develop more efficient sustainable practices and behaviors to mitigate biodiversity disparities and achieve sustainable development goals.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/14/6/1224biodiversity intactness index (BII)biodiversity magnitudetemporal trendspatial heterogeneitybioclimatic variables
spellingShingle Naiyi Liu
Yunhe Wu
Wenbo Li
Zihan Liu
Temporal Trends in Biodiversity Intactness Vary with Baseline Levels Across Regions and Climates
Land
biodiversity intactness index (BII)
biodiversity magnitude
temporal trend
spatial heterogeneity
bioclimatic variables
title Temporal Trends in Biodiversity Intactness Vary with Baseline Levels Across Regions and Climates
title_full Temporal Trends in Biodiversity Intactness Vary with Baseline Levels Across Regions and Climates
title_fullStr Temporal Trends in Biodiversity Intactness Vary with Baseline Levels Across Regions and Climates
title_full_unstemmed Temporal Trends in Biodiversity Intactness Vary with Baseline Levels Across Regions and Climates
title_short Temporal Trends in Biodiversity Intactness Vary with Baseline Levels Across Regions and Climates
title_sort temporal trends in biodiversity intactness vary with baseline levels across regions and climates
topic biodiversity intactness index (BII)
biodiversity magnitude
temporal trend
spatial heterogeneity
bioclimatic variables
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/14/6/1224
work_keys_str_mv AT naiyiliu temporaltrendsinbiodiversityintactnessvarywithbaselinelevelsacrossregionsandclimates
AT yunhewu temporaltrendsinbiodiversityintactnessvarywithbaselinelevelsacrossregionsandclimates
AT wenboli temporaltrendsinbiodiversityintactnessvarywithbaselinelevelsacrossregionsandclimates
AT zihanliu temporaltrendsinbiodiversityintactnessvarywithbaselinelevelsacrossregionsandclimates