Islands are key for protecting the world’s plant endemism

Nature, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 634(8035), С. 868 - 874

Опубликована: Окт. 16, 2024

Язык: Английский

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The global loss of avian functional and phylogenetic diversity from anthropogenic extinctions

Science, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 386(6717), С. 55 - 60

Опубликована: Окт. 3, 2024

Humans have been driving a global erosion of species richness for millennia, but the consequences past extinctions other dimensions biodiversity-functional and phylogenetic diversity-are poorly understood. In this work, we show that, since Late Pleistocene, extinction 610 bird has caused disproportionate loss avian functional space along with ~3 billion years unique evolutionary history. For island endemics, proportional losses even greater. Projected future more than 1000 over next two centuries will incur further substantial reductions in diversity. These results highlight severe ongoing biodiversity crisis urgent need to identify ecological functions being lost through extinction.

Язык: Английский

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Geographic and Biological Drivers Shape Anthropogenic Extinctions in the Macaronesian Vascular Flora

Global Change Biology, Год журнала: 2025, Номер 31(2)

Опубликована: Фев. 1, 2025

ABSTRACT Whether species extinctions have accelerated during the Anthropocene and extent to which certain are more susceptible extinction due their ecological preferences intrinsic biological traits among most pressing questions in conservation biology. Assessing rates is, however, challenging, as best exemplified by phenomenon of ‘ dark ’: loss that disappear before they even formally described. These issues particularly problematic oceanic islands, where exhibit high endemism unique but also vulnerable extinction. Here, we document plant since Linnaeus' Species Plantarum Macaronesia, a biogeographic region comprised five hyperdiverse archipelagos, identify key drivers behind these extinctions. We compiled 168 records covering 126 taxa, identifying 13 global 155 local events. Significantly higher were observed compared expected background rate. uncovered differentiated patterns along altitudinal gradients, highlighting recent coastal hotspot linked socioeconomic changes Macaronesian archipelagos from 1960s onwards. Key factors influencing include island age, elevation, introduced herbivorous mammals, human population size. Trait‐based analyses across floras Azores Canary Islands revealed endemicity, pollination vertebrates, nitrogen‐fixing capacity, woodiness, zoochory consistently tended increase risk. Our findings emphasize critical role geography traits, alongside anthropogenic impacts, shaping dynamics on islands. Enhancing our knowledge life‐history within is crucial for accurately predicting mitigating future risks, underscoring urgent need comprehensive biodiversity assessments ecosystems.

Язык: Английский

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A‐Islands: A Vascular Plant Dataset for Biodiversity Research and Species Monitoring on Australian Continental Islands

Journal of Vegetation Science, Год журнала: 2025, Номер 36(2)

Опубликована: Март 1, 2025

ABSTRACT Aims Australia's coastline is fringed by more than 8000 continental islands. These islands feature a diverse array of landforms, rock and soil types geological origins. Some these are among the least invaded, most pristine habitats in Australia support high plant diversity. Here, we present new Australia‐wide curated dataset for species occurrences on Results Combining information from 1349 lists floras, A‐Islands includes data > 6500 844 ranging size 18 m 2 to 4400 km , exhibiting different degrees isolation mainland, spanning all major Australian climate zones. Of these, 251 have been repeatedly sampled up 11 times, making it possible investigate temporal compositional change. open access will be continuously updated. Its simple structure, consisting three comma‐separated files allows easy integration with other global plant‐occurrence databases can serve as repository island research Australia. Conclusions Knowing which occur provide opportunities future research, including studying changes biodiversity turnover within archipelagos, tests classical biogeography theory, baseline ecological monitoring conservation.

Язык: Английский

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The island syndrome in birds

Journal of Biogeography, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 51(9), С. 1607 - 1622

Опубликована: Сен. 16, 2023

Abstract The island syndrome is a widespread biological phenomenon that describes suite of morphological, behavioural, demographic and life‐history changes associated with dwelling. These similar evolutionary responses among disparate groups animals plants represent remarkable case convergent evolution. Among animals, birds are highly suitable group to study the syndrome; they comparatively data‐rich taxon, frequent colonisers, sometimes display extreme adaptations such as loss flight. However, avian literature fragmented, multiple components rarely considered together even though many inextricably linked. We reviewed multi‐species comparative studies, single‐species or population‐level studies anecdotal accounts, summarise assess support for individual birds, identify suites traits should be together. weight evidence patterns in morphology substantial, but more partial various aspects behaviour, life history physiology. Full validation will require less‐studied treated framework, covarying examined an integrated way. An improved description scope pave way understanding its drivers.

Язык: Английский

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MEDIS—A comprehensive spatial database on Mediterranean islands for biogeographical and evolutionary research

Global Ecology and Biogeography, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 33(8)

Опубликована: Май 3, 2024

Abstract Motivation The intrinsic characteristics of islands make them a unique study system for the investigation ecological and evolutionary dynamics. Mediterranean Basin, an island‐rich biodiversity hotspot, still lacks comprehensive spatial database these geographic features. This presents first all larger than 0.01 km 2 , aiding investigations interdisciplinary research. Main types variable contained MEDIS offers detailed information on 39 geographic, climatic, land‐use variables, including island area, perimeter, isolation metrics, climatic space, terrain data, land cover, palaeogeography, road networks geological information, providing multifaceted view each island's characteristics. Spatial location grain encompasses 2217 in Basin . datasets which selected variables are based varies from 10 m (ESA WorldCover) to 1 (CHELSA‐BIOCLIM+). Time period incorporates data various sources, with its own timeframe, such as Global Shoreline Vector 2014 Landsat imagery WorldCover dataset 2021. Historical like Paleocoastlines GIS offer insights into configurations during Last Glacial Maximum. Major taxa level measurement While not focusing specific taxa, lays foundation research islands, facilitating comparisons distribution native, endemic or alien species. is extensive, encompassing wide range polygonal features rather centroids' coordinates.

Язык: Английский

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Flower size evolution in the Southwest Pacific

Annals of Botany, Год журнала: 2025, Номер unknown

Опубликована: Янв. 18, 2025

Despite accelerating interest in island evolution, the general evolutionary trajectories of flowers remain poorly understood. In particular rule, which posits that small organisms become larger and large to smaller after colonization, while tested various plant traits, has never been flower size. Here, we provide first test for rule size animal- wind-pollinated flowers, evidence generalized in-situ evolution on islands. Focusing 10 archipelagos Southwest Pacific, amassed a dataset comprising 129 independent colonization events, by pairing each endemic its closest mainland relative. We then gigantism/dwarfism floral display flowers. Animal-pollinated followed did not, instead showing gigantism. Results remained consistent controlling breeding system, source pool, degree taxonomic differentiation, family, type. While situ is widespread islands wind- pollinated exhibited unexpected markedly different trajectories. Further studies are needed understand mechanisms behind these patterns.

Язык: Английский

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Dispersal rather than climate and local environment constrains non‐marine snail fauna in west Greenland

Ecography, Год журнала: 2025, Номер unknown

Опубликована: Фев. 17, 2025

The biota of North Atlantic islands evokes intriguing questions on its evolution, colonisation routes, and an equilibrium between dispersal limitation climatic/habitat constraints. While good data non‐marine snails exist for most the islands, Greenland were observed mainly 1850 1900. recorded species have been described as endemics, but this conclusion has never fully questioned based evidence. It can be assumed that these passively dispersing invertebrates are in fact American origin, due to shortest distance mainland across Davis Strait. To answer questions, we collected snail fauna at 72 sites five locations west Greenland. Our sampling revealed a very species‐poor fauna, consisting two aquatic four terrestrial species. Based mitochondrial nuclear DNA sequences, phylogenetic reconstruction haplotype analysis showed taxa either (all aquatic) or European terrestrial) origin. None them appeared endemic they not even genetically distinct from populations. At both macro habitat scale, was found only small fraction pool climate mapping requirements. it appears limited by dispersal, detailed bird migration routes intensity could explain puzzling difference biogeographical origin components. Terrestrial mimic pattern seen non‐flying beetles, while some flying insects. results strong reminder simple linear does make barrier, barrier permeability differ within group sharing same mode potential.

Язык: Английский

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A review of the species groups of the Western Hemisphere Onthophagus Latreille (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) using COI barcoding and gene trees

Zootaxa, Год журнала: 2025, Номер 5604(4), С. 401 - 447

Опубликована: Март 16, 2025

Species groups of Western Hemispheric Onthophagus Latreille (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae: Onthophagini) are suggested using COI barcoding and gene trees supported by congruence with external morphology, behavior, ecology, biogeographic evidence. New species groups, complexes, taxonomic statuses offered, other preexisting proposals confirmed. No gap w as found between the intragroup intergroup genetic distance blocks, but average (8.38%) (13.88%) Kimura-two-parameter distances statistically different. The following seven were mtDNA barcode analysis independent evidence: O. chevrolati, clypeatus, dicranius, gazellinus, hircus, landolti, mexicanus. Eight new suggested: crinitus, curvicornis, eulophus, hecate, hoepfneri, marginatus, nasutus, velutinus. Possible behavioral/ecological adaptations morphological characters also discussed. evolutionary hypotheses advanced. An identification key for is presented.

Язык: Английский

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Ancestral state reconstruction sheds new light on the loss of divarication hypothesis on New Zealand's outlying islands

Journal of Ecology, Год журнала: 2025, Номер unknown

Опубликована: Апрель 2, 2025

Abstract The New Zealand flora is remarkable in many respects, but one of its most notable features the convergent evolution plant lineages towards a divaricate habit. adaptive significance divarication remains controversial, it has usually been considered response to harsh climates or defence mechanism against diverse array Ratites (large browsing birds) that once populated Zealand. loss hypothesis posits divaricate‐related traits should be lost on Zealand's outlying islands, as these islands were never reached by Ratites. Like evolutionary components island syndrome, this was tested through pairwise comparison method, is, comparing endemics those their closest relative(s) mainland, assuming recent common ancestor (MRCA) divaricate. This assumption challenged results tested. Here, we test assumption. We collated data for all genus comprising at least species and endemic region. used ancestral range reconstruction determine which colonised from then state whether each MRCA quantify degree morphological leaf size branching angle (i.e. significant traits) islands. Twenty‐one out 29 MRCAs estimated likely non‐divaricate, meaning cases evolved mainland present Island also larger leaves smaller angles regardless not. Synthesis . These findings show how advance our understanding In addition, they have broader implications field biogeography, highlight limits method provide way overcome them.

Язык: Английский

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