Evolution and Extinctions on Islands

A topical collection in Diversity (ISSN 1424-2818). This collection belongs to the section "Phylogeny and Evolution".

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Editors

Department of Life, Health & Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, Via Vetoio, Coppito, 67100 L'Aquila, Italy
Interests: biodiversity; coleoptera tenebrionidae; community ecology; conservation biology; evolutionary biology; historical biogeography; island biogeography; macroecology; insect systematics and taxonomy; urban ecology

Topical Collection Information

Dear Colleagues,

Islands are often described as ''laboratories of evolution'', because on these isolated areas various remarkable evolutionary processes can be observed in both plants and animals. They include unexpected colonisation events, endemism, size increase or decrease in various lineages, unusual adaptive radiations, etc. Moreover, insular ecosystems are often fragile and widespread extinctions have been well documented on many islands following the arrival of invasive species.

The aim of this topical collection is to gather contributions covering all aspects of evolution and extinction in insular environments, both in the past and today, from palaeontologists, botanists and zoologists working on all groups of organisms.

Dr. Eric Buffetaut
Dr. Simone Fattorini
Dr. Maria Panitsa
Collection Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • Islands
  • Biogeography
  • Endemism
  • Insular Evolution
  • Extinction
  • Invasive species

Published Papers (2 papers)

2022

Jump to: 2021

12 pages, 1241 KiB  
Review
Current Status of and Threats to Sicilian Turtles
by Luca Vecchioni, Marco Arculeo, Melita Vamberger and Federico Marrone
Diversity 2022, 14(10), 798; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14100798 - 25 Sep 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2356
Abstract
Based on the critical review of the literature published in the last 22 years, an attempt was made to evaluate the current knowledge gap on the distribution and status of the native Testudines taxa occurring in Sicily (namely Caretta caretta, Emys trinacris [...] Read more.
Based on the critical review of the literature published in the last 22 years, an attempt was made to evaluate the current knowledge gap on the distribution and status of the native Testudines taxa occurring in Sicily (namely Caretta caretta, Emys trinacris, and Testudo hermanni hermanni), as well as the available knowledge of the only non-native species with putative viable populations occurring on the island, i.e., Trachemys scripta. Summarizing the current information, all of the Testudines species occurring in Sicily showed a fragmented and incompletely-known distribution, and only scarce data are available about their phenology. Moreover, despite their inclusion of international and national laws (Bern Convention, CITES, Habitat directive), all three native species are facing several threats (e.g., habitat alteration, the occurrence of invasive species, parasite spillover) leading to a reduction of their populations on the island. Future monitoring programs on the island should be enhanced, with an emphasis on those taxa in decline. Moreover, involve Citizen Science programs should also be implemented in order to increase the awareness of non-experts and facilitate the monitoring task. Full article
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2021

Jump to: 2022

19 pages, 3285 KiB  
Article
The Role of Small Lowland Patches of Exotic Forests as Refuges of Rare Endemic Azorean Arthropods
by Noelline Tsafack, Simone Fattorini, Mário Boieiro, François Rigal, Alejandra Ros-Prieto, Maria Teresa Ferreira and Paulo A. V. Borges
Diversity 2021, 13(9), 443; https://doi.org/10.3390/d13090443 - 16 Sep 2021
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 2955
Abstract
Islands have been disproportionately affected by the current biodiversity crisis. In island biotas, one of the most recurrent anthropic alterations is species introduction. Invasion of exotic species may represent a major threat for island biotas, because invasive species may change species composition and [...] Read more.
Islands have been disproportionately affected by the current biodiversity crisis. In island biotas, one of the most recurrent anthropic alterations is species introduction. Invasion of exotic species may represent a major threat for island biotas, because invasive species may change species composition and simplify community dynamics. We investigated diversity patterns of native and introduced species in native and exotic forests of Terceira Island (Azores, Portugal) by using diversity profiles based on Hill numbers. Use of diversity profiles allows for a complete characterization of the community diversity because they combine information on species richness, rarity, and dominance. We found that native forest remnants are crucial for the maintenance of endemic Azorean arthropod diversity. However, we also found that some lowland patches of exotic forests can sustain populations of rare endemic species. Our findings reinforce the importance of the few and small remnants of native forests, which are a pillar to the conservation of Azorean endemic arthropods. However, areas occupied by exotic forests, whether they are large and contiguous or small and isolated, close to native forests, or embedded in a matrix of agriculture activities, can also play a role in the conservation of native species, including endemics. Full article
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Graphical abstract

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