Digital Commons Network^™

Estimates Of Local Biodiversity Change Over Time Stand Up To Scrutiny, Mark Vellend, Maria Dornelas, Lander Baeten, Robin Beauséjour, Carissa D. Brown, Pieter De Frenne, Sarah C. Elmendorf, Nicholas J. Gotelli, Faye Moyes, Isla H. Myers-Smith, Anne E. Magurran, Brian J. Mcgill, Hideyasu Shimadzu, Caya Sievers

College of Arts and Sciences Faculty Publications

We present new data and analyses revealing fundamental flaws in a critique of two recent meta-analyses of local-scale temporal biodiversity change. First, the conclusion that short-term time series lead to biased estimates of long-term change was based on two errors in the simulations used to support it. Second, the conclusion of negative relationships between temporal biodiversity change and study duration was entirely dependent on unrealistic model assumptions, the use of a subset of data, and inclusion of one outlier data point in one study. Third, the finding of a decline in local biodiversity, after eliminating post-disturbance studies, is not robust …