Although there is broad agreement that maintaining biodiversity is necessary to achieve conservation goals, there is disagreement about the definition of biodiversity. Some native plant advocates believe biodiversity includes only native plants (example HERE). Most scientists include both native and non-native plants in measurements of biodiversity. I asked Claude.ai about this debate.
I publish Claude.ai’s answer to my question as a guest post today. Claude.ai now has immediate access to internet sources, which makes answers to such queries more current and comprehensive. Claude.ai has also provided links to the sources of the information provided.
Conservation Sense and Nonsense
The ongoing debate about measuring biodiversity
Claude.ai: Based on the available data, there’s a significant and ongoing scientific debate about whether biodiversity measurements should include non-native species. Here’s what the evidence shows:
Scientific Practice vs. Conservation Ideology
The Reality of Scientific Measurement:
In actual scientific practice, major biodiversity databases and assessment tools often do include non-native species. Research shows that “data used for biodiversity assessments and conservation planning should, initially, include all species” and that “including non-native species into the Biodiversity Intactness Index can lead to a 10% improvement in the index score” NihNCBI.
The Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), one of the world’s largest biodiversity databases, explicitly includes non-native species, stating that “information is the single most important variable necessary to support research, monitoring and management of alien and invasive species” GBIF.
Standard Biodiversity Definitions
Official Definitions Are Inclusive:
Scientific definitions of biodiversity do not exclude non-native species. As Britannica notes, biodiversity is defined as “the variety of life found in a place on Earth” and biologists most often define it as “the totality of genes, species and ecosystems of a region.” The most common measure is “species richness” – simply “the count of species in an area” BritannicaWikipedia.
The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) “emphasises the role of biodiversity in delivering benefits essential for all people and, as a result, seeks to safeguard all life-forms.” Research argues that “the absence of non-native species from biodiversity indices stands in contradiction to the CBD and Sustainable Development Goals {SDGs}” Do non-native species contribute to biodiversity? – PMC.
Scientific Consensus vs. Conservation Advocacy
The Evidence Shows Division:
A 2019 survey of 314 researchers found that “overall, a majority of respondents in our sample supported statements that the species-component of biodiversity should include all species (55%) or some types of non-native species” Diverse views among scientists on non-native species. This indicates significant scientific support for including non-native species in biodiversity measures.
However, there’s strong opposition from some conservation biologists. The IUCN argues it’s “misguided and potentially disastrous to consider native and non-native species as equal from the standpoint of both ecosystem services and conservation goals” Do non-native species count as biodiversity? – Crossroads blog | IUCN.
Practical Measurement Reality
How Biodiversity Is Actually Measured:
Standard biodiversity indices like Shannon diversity, Simpson diversity, and species richness simply count all species present. These indices “do not discriminate between species and communities with very different functionalities” and follow “a leading principle that ‘all species and individuals are considered equal'” 22.2: Diversity Indices – Biology LibreTexts +2.
Research shows that “the introduction of a non-native species increases the local species count (by one!)” and “because of the spread of non-natives, a general trend worldwide is that often local biodiversity (measured by a species count) is increasing even while overall global species numbers are in decline” Understanding and Defending the Preference for Native Species | SpringerLink.
Key Contextual Points
The Complexity of the Issue:
Scientists recognize this is “a broader social debate about what type of nature we need to ensure a good life for present and future generations.” The discussion involves “not only a scientific debate about the contributions of these species to society but also a broader social debate” Do non-native species contribute to biodiversity? – PMC.
Even in conservation contexts, scientists often use the term “alien species” rather than “invasive species” because “‘invasive’ suggests invasion potential and negative ecological effects, which is not necessarily the case for all alien species” Species data for understanding biodiversity dynamics: The what, where and when of species occurrence data collection – Petersen – 2021 – Ecological Solutions and Evidence – Wiley Online Library.
Conclusion
The available data clearly shows that:
- Standard scientific practice: Most biodiversity measurements and major databases include all species regardless of origin
- Official definitions: Neither CBD nor standard scientific definitions of biodiversity exclude non-native species
- Research consensus: A majority of surveyed scientists support including non-native species in biodiversity measures
- Conservation advocacy: Some conservation biologists argue for native-only measures, but this appears to be a minority position in the broader scientific community
The claim that “biodiversity only includes native plants” appears to be an ideological position held by some in the invasion biology community rather than the standard scientific practice for measuring biodiversity.
Conservation Sense and Nonsense 