Matrix condition mediates the effects of habitat fragmentation on species extinction risk

Juan Pablo Ramírez-Delgado (), Moreno Di Marco, James E. M. Watson, Chris J. Johnson, Carlo Rondinini, Xavier Corredor Llano, Miguel Arias and Oscar Venter
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Juan Pablo Ramírez-Delgado: University of Northern British Columbia
Moreno Di Marco: Sapienza University of Rome
James E. M. Watson: University of Queensland
Chris J. Johnson: University of Northern British Columbia
Carlo Rondinini: Sapienza University of Rome
Xavier Corredor Llano: University of Northern British Columbia
Miguel Arias: University of Northern British Columbia
Oscar Venter: University of Northern British Columbia

Nature Communications, 2022, vol. 13, issue 1, 1-10

Abstract: Abstract Habitat loss is the leading cause of the global decline in biodiversity, but the influence of human pressure within the matrix surrounding habitat fragments remains poorly understood. Here, we measure the relationship between fragmentation (the degree of fragmentation and the degree of patch isolation), matrix condition (measured as the extent of high human footprint levels), and the change in extinction risk of 4,426 terrestrial mammals. We find that the degree of fragmentation is strongly associated with changes in extinction risk, with higher predictive importance than life-history traits and human pressure variables. Importantly, we discover that fragmentation and the matrix condition are stronger predictors of risk than habitat loss and habitat amount. Moreover, the importance of fragmentation increases with an increasing deterioration of the matrix condition. These findings suggest that restoration of the habitat matrix may be an important conservation action for mitigating the negative effects of fragmentation on biodiversity.

Date: 2022
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-28270-3

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