Endemic plant species are more palatable to introduced herbivores than non-endemics.
Proc Biol Sci
; 286(1900): 20190136, 2019 04 10.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-30940053
ABSTRACT
Islands harbour a spectacular diversity and unique species composition. This uniqueness is mainly a result of endemic species that have evolved in situ in the absence of mammal herbivores. However, island endemism is under severe threat by introduced herbivores. We test the assumption that endemic species are particularly vulnerable to generalist introduced herbivores (European rabbit) using an unprecedented dataset covering an entire island with enormous topographic, climatic and biological diversity (Tenerife, Canary Islands). With increasing endemism, plant species are more heavily browsed by rabbits than non-endemic species with up to 67% of endemics being negatively impacted by browsing, indicating a dramatic lack of adaptation to mammal herbivory in endemics. Ecosystems with high per cent endemism are most heavily browsed, suggesting ecosystem-specific vulnerability to introduced herbivores, even within islands. Protection of global biodiversity caused by disproportionally high endemism on oceanic islands via ecosystem-specific herbivore control and eradication measures is of utmost importance.
Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Rabbits
/
Conservation of Natural Resources
/
Feeding Behavior
/
Herbivory
/
Plant Dispersal
Limits:
Animals
Country/Region as subject:
Europa
Language:
En
Journal:
Proc Biol Sci
Journal subject:
BIOLOGIA
Year:
2019
Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Spain