Time-lags in extinction and colonization : Long-term biodiversity responses to landscape changes

There can be long time-lags in the biodiversity responses to human-induced landscape changes. The lagged responses in biodiversity due to delayed species extinction and colonization have been called the "extinction debt" and "colonization (or immigration) credit", respectively. Recent studies, particularly from North America and Europe, have demonstrated that extinction and colonization were delayed for years, and even for decades or centuries, after landscape conditions were modified. Species traits, such as dispersal ability and life span, and landscape history appear to be important factors that affect the extent to which biodiversity exhibits a delayed response. To better understand such biodiversity dynamics, it is essential to consider not only the present landscape pattern but also the history of landscape modification due to human activities. There is an urgent need to accumulate data that can be used to predict the long-term dynamics of biodiversity, which can benefit our effort to conserve and maintain regional biodiversity and ecosystem function in the future.