Understanding extinction debts: spatio–temporal scales, mechanisms and a roadmap for future research

• DOI: 10.1111/ecog.04740
• Publication Date: 2019-07-13T11:04:11Z
• Authors: Ludmilla Figueiredo; Jochen Krauss; Ingolf Steffan‐De...; Juliano Sarmento ...
• Keywords: Extinction debt; Extinction (optical mineralogy); Metapopulation; Temporal scales

Extinction debt refers to delayed species extinctions expected as a consequence of ecosystem perturbation. Quantifying such and investigating long‐term consequences perturbations has proven challenging, because are not isolated occur across various spatial temporal scales, from local habitat losses global warming. Additionally, the relative importance eco‐evolutionary processes varies levels ecological organization, i.e. individuals, (meta)populations (meta)communities, respond hierarchically perturbations. To summarize our current knowledge scales mechanisms influencing extinction debts, we reviewed recent empirical, theoretical methodological studies addressing either spatio–temporal debts or delaying extinctions. were detected range ecosystems taxonomic groups, with estimates ranging 9 90% richness. The duration over which have been sustained 5 570 yr, projections total period required settle can extend 1000 yr. Reported causes 1) life‐history traits that prolong individual survival, 2) population metapopulation dynamics maintain populations under deteriorated conditions. Other potential factors may survival time microevolutionary dynamics, interaction partners, rarely analyzed. Therefore, propose roadmap for future research three key avenues: processes, disjunctive loss interacting 3) impact multiple regimes perturbation on payment debts. For their ability integrate occurring at different highlight mechanistic simulation models tools address these gaps deepen understanding dynamics.