Scientists’ warning – The outstanding biodiversity of islands is in peril

Global Ecology and Conservation, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 31, P. e01847 - e01847

Published: Sept. 28, 2021

Despite islands contributing only 6.7% of land surface area, they harbor ~20% the Earth’s biodiversity, but unfortunately also ~50% threatened species and 75% known extinctions since European expansion around globe. Due to their geological geographic history characteristics, act simultaneously as cradles evolutionary diversity museums formerly widespread lineages—elements that permit achieve an outstanding endemicity. Nevertheless, majority these endemic are inherently vulnerable due genetic demographic factors linked with way colonized. Here, we stress great variation in physical geography (area, isolation, altitude, latitude) (age, human colonization, density). We provide examples some most rich iconic insular radiations. Next, analyze natural vulnerability biota, a result founder events well typically small population sizes many island species. note that, whereas evolution toward syndromes (including size shifts, derived woodiness, altered dispersal ability, loss defense traits, reduction clutch size) might have improved ability thrive under conditions on islands, it has made biota disproportionately anthropogenic pressures such habitat loss, overexploitation, invasive species, climate change. This led documented extinction at least 800 past 500 years, addition had already gone extinct following arrival first colonists prehistoric times. Finally, summarize current scientific knowledge ongoing biodiversity worldwide express our serious concern trajectory will continue decimate unique irreplaceable heritage world’s islands. conclude drastic actions urgently needed bend curve alarming rates loss.

Language: Английский

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Looking back on biodiversity change: lessons for the road ahead

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 378(1881)

Published: May 29, 2023

Estimating biodiversity change across the planet in context of widespread human modification is a critical challenge. Here, we review how has changed recent decades scales and taxonomic groups, focusing on four diversity metrics: species richness, temporal turnover, spatial beta-diversity abundance. At local scales, all metrics includes many examples both increases declines tends to be centred around zero, but with higher prevalence declining trends (increasing similarity composition space or biotic homogenization) The exception this pattern changes through time observed most assemblages. Less known about at regional although several studies suggest that richness are more prevalent than declines. Change global scale hardest estimate accurately, extinction rates probably outpacing speciation rates, elevated. Recognizing variability essential accurately portray unfolding, highlights much remains unknown magnitude direction multiple different scales. Reducing these blind spots allow appropriate management actions deployed. This article part theme issue ‘Detecting attributing causes change: needs, gaps solutions’.

Language: Английский

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A roadmap to plant functional island biogeography

Biological reviews/Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 96(6), P. 2851 - 2870

Published: Aug. 23, 2021

ABSTRACT Island biogeography is the study of spatio‐temporal distribution species, communities, assemblages or ecosystems on islands and other isolated habitats. diversity structured by five classes process: dispersal, establishment, biotic interactions, extinction evolution. Classical approaches in island focused species richness as deterministic outcome these processes. This has proved fruitful, but traits can potentially offer new biological insights into processes which life assembles why some perform better at colonising persisting islands. Functional refer to morphological phenological characteristics an organism that be linked its ecological strategy scale up from individual plants properties communities ecosystems. A baseline hypothesis for strategies show similar patterns a matched mainland environment. However, strong environmental biotic‐interaction filters well stochasticity associated with insularity modify this baseline. Clades do colonise often embark distinct evolutionary pathways, because distinctive forces islands, opportunities offered freedom competitors herbivores absence mutualists. are expected shaped Here, we review discuss potential integrating functional biogeography. While focus plants, general considerations concepts may extended groups organisms. We evaluate how relate core principles extinction, reproduction, evolution conservation. formulate existing knowledge 33 working hypotheses. Some grounded firm empirical evidence, others provide future research. organise our hypotheses under overarching sections. Section focuses plant enabling dispersal B discusses help predict successional trajectories natural extinctions C reviews indicate interactions reproduction promote intra‐island dispersal. D leads predictable changes trait values most susceptible change. E debates ecology used multiple drivers global change effective conservation measures. Islands have justified reputation research models. They illuminate operating within showing what happens when those released changed. believe lens shed more light than not consider differences among species.

Language: Английский

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Macaronesia as a Fruitful Arena for Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology

Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 9

Published: Nov. 5, 2021

Research in Macaronesia has led to substantial advances ecology, evolution and conservation biology. We review the scientific developments achieved this region, outline promising research avenues enhancing conservation. Some of these discoveries indicate that Macaronesian flora fauna are composed rather young lineages, not Tertiary relicts, predominantly European origin. also seems be an important source region for back-colonisation continental fringe regions on both sides Atlantic. This group archipelagos (Azores, Madeira, Selvagens, Canary Islands, Cabo Verde) been crucial learn about particularities macroecological patterns interaction networks islands, providing evidence development General Dynamic Model oceanic island biogeography subsequent updates. However, addition exceptionally high richness endemic species, is home a growing number threatened along with invasive alien plants animals. Several innovative management actions place protect its biodiversity from other drivers global change. The Islands well-suited field study ecology research, mostly due special geological layout 40 islands grouped within five differing age, climate isolation. A large amount data now available several groups organisms around many islands. continued efforts should made toward compiling new information their biodiversity, pursue various fruitful develop appropriate tools.

Language: Английский

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Climate change facilitated the early colonization of the Azores Archipelago during medieval times

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 118(41)

Published: Oct. 4, 2021

Significance We use a diverse set of lake and landscape proxy indicators to characterize initial human occupation its impacts on the Azores Archipelago. The these islands began between 700 850 CE, years earlier than suggested by documentary sources. These early occupations caused widespread ecological disturbance raise doubts about islands' presumed pristine nature during Portuguese arrival. earliest explorers arrived at end Middle Ages, when temperatures were higher average, westerly winds weaker, facilitating arrivals archipelago from northeastern Europe inhibiting exploration southern Europe. This is consistent with archaeological genetic research suggesting Norse first colonize

Language: Английский

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Phylogenetic and functional clustering illustrate the roles of adaptive radiation and dispersal filtering in jointly shaping late‐Quaternary mammal assemblages on oceanic islands

Ecology Letters, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 25(5), P. 1250 - 1262

Published: March 11, 2022

Islands frequently harbour unique assemblages of species, yet their ecological roles and differences are largely ignored in island biogeography studies. Here, we examine eco-evolutionary processes structuring mammal on oceanic islands worldwide, including all extant extinct late-Quaternary species. We find tend to be phylogenetically clustered (share more recent evolutionary histories), with clustering increasing area isolation. also observe that often functionally similar traits), but the strength is weak generally independent from or These findings indicate important situ speciation dispersal filtering shaping under pre-anthropogenic conditions, notably through adaptive radiation a few clades (e.g. bats, high abilities). Our study demonstrates considering functional phylogenetic axes diversity can better reveal community assembly.

Language: Английский

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Detecting Thresholds of Ecological Change in the Anthropocene

Annual Review of Environment and Resources, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 47(1), P. 797 - 821

Published: Sept. 6, 2022

Ecological thresholds comprise relatively fast changes in ecological conditions, with respect to time or external drivers, and are an attractive concept both scientific policy arenas. However, there is considerable debate concerning the existence, underlying mechanisms, generalizability of across a range subdisciplines. Here, we usethe general scale as unifying framework which systematically navigate variability within threshold research. We review literature show how observational adopted any one study, defined by its organizational level, spatiotemporal grain extent, analytical method, can influence detection magnitude. highlight need for nuance synthetic studies thresholds, could improve our predictive understanding thresholds. Nuance also needed when translating concepts into policies, including contingencies uncertainties.

Language: Английский

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Dwarfism and gigantism drive human-mediated extinctions on islands

Science, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 379(6636), P. 1054 - 1059

Published: March 10, 2023

Islands have long been recognized as distinctive evolutionary arenas leading to morphologically divergent species, such dwarfs and giants. We assessed how body size evolution in island mammals may exacerbated their vulnerability, well human arrival has contributed past ongoing extinctions, by integrating data on 1231 extant 350 extinct species from islands paleo worldwide spanning the 23 million years. found that likelihood of extinction endangerment are highest most extreme Extinction risk insular was compounded modern humans, which accelerated rates more than 10-fold, resulting an almost complete demise these iconic marvels evolution.

Language: Английский

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Island Biogeography

Oxford University Press eBooks, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: June 30, 2023

Abstract Island Biogeography: Geo-environmental Dynamics, Ecology, Evolution, Human Impact, and Conservation provides a synthetic review covering islands as model systems in the life sciences. It is centred on study of geographical distribution biodiversity how it changes through time, understood medium island biotas ecosystems. comprises four parts devoted turn to: environments; ecology; evolution; human impact conservation. describes origins dynamics different types key characteristics environments that shape their biotic characteristics. identifies theories ecology reviews progress towards evaluation development. sets out essential building blocks evolution emergent patterns insular endemism evolutionary syndromes animals plants. geo-environmental are crucial relevance to understanding developing improved explanatory predictive models ecological dynamics. application theory fragmented spread societies across world these subsequent colonization events environments, biotas, sustainability islands. evidence anthropogenic extinction islands, identifying drivers threats existing native species ecosystems, ways which may make particularly vulnerable certain external influences. considers distinctive conservation challenges solutions be effective

Language: Английский

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Revegetation through seeding or planting: A worldwide systematic map

Journal of Environmental Management, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 337, P. 117713 - 117713

Published: March 21, 2023

Roughly 2 billion ha of land are degraded and in need ecological restoration worldwide. Active frequently involves revegetation, which leads to the dilemma whether conduct direct seeding or plant nursery-grown seedlings. The choice revegetation method can regulate survival performance, with economic implications that ultimately feed back our capacity restoration. We followed a peer-reviewed protocol develop systematic map collates, describes catalogues available studies on how compares planting achieving targets. compiled database characteristics all retrieved studies, be searched identify particular locations habitats, objectives restoration, material, technical aspects, outcomes measured. search was made eight languages 3355 publications, 178 were retained. identifies research gaps, such as lack global South, tropical rainforests, covering long time period, represent opportunities expand field-based research. Additionally, many overlooked reporting important aspects seed provenance nursery cultivation methods, others watering seedling protection more applied for than seeding, limits learn from past Most measured related target plants but avoided measuring general aspects. This represents relevant gap research, is greatly based achievement goals goes beyond establishment plants. Finally, we identified substantial volume conducted temperate regions over short periods (0-5 y). cluster calls future in-depth synthesis, potentially through meta-analysis, reveal overall balance between assess response this question mediated by species traits, environmental characteristics, Besides identifying clusters allows managers find most scientific literature appropriateness vs. conditions, certain habitats.

Language: Английский

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