Abstract
Location: Global.
Taxon: Birds.
Methods: We provide a review of the literature on threatened and extinct island birds, with a particular focus on global studies that have incorporated functional diversity. Alongside this, we analyse IUCN Red List data in relation to distribution, threats and taxonomy. Using null models and functional hypervolumes, in combination with morphological trait data, we assess the functional diversity represented by threatened and extinct island endemic birds.
Results and main conclusions: We find that almost half of all island endemic birds extant in 1500 CE are currently either extinct or threatened with extinction, with the majority of threatened extant species having declining population trends. We also found evidence of 66 island endemic subspecies extinctions. The primary threats to extant island endemic birds currently are agriculture, biological resource use, and invasive species. While there is overlap between the hotspots of threatened and extinct island endemics birds, there are some notable differences, including that the Philippines and Indonesia support a substantial number of threatened species but have no recorded post-1500 CE bird extinctions. Traits associated with threatened island endemic birds are large body mass, flightlessness, aquatic predator, omnivorous and vertivorous trophic niches, marine habitat affinity, and, paradoxically, higher dispersal ability. Critically, we find that threatened endemics i) occupy distinct areas of beak morphospace, and ii) represent substantial unique areas of the overall functional space of island endemics. We caution that the loss of threatened species may have severe effects on the ecological functions birds provide on islands.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1920-1940 |
| Number of pages | 21 |
| Journal | Journal of Biogeography |
| Volume | 49 |
| Issue number | 11 |
| Early online date | 19 Sept 2022 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Nov 2022 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:A large proportion of the analysed data was provided through the IUCN Red List's API. The hypervolume computations described in this article were performed using the University of Birmingham's BlueBEAR HPC service. John Mittermeier provided information on the ‘Search for Lost Birds’ initiative. Ferran Sayol was supported by the postdoctoral fellowship program Beatriu de Pinós (2020 BP 00067, Government of Catalonia). No permits were needed to carry out this work.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Access to Document
- MatthewsT2022Threatened
This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: T J Matthews et al. ‘Threatened and extinct island endemic birds of the world: Distribution, threats and functional diversity’, Journal of Biogeography, 2022, which has been published in final form at DOI: 10.1111/jbi.14474. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions. This article may not be enhanced, enriched or otherwise transformed into a derivative work, without express permission from Wiley or by statutory rights under applicable legislation. Copyright notices must not be removed, obscured or modified. The article must be linked to Wiley’s version of record on Wiley Online Library and any embedding, framing or otherwise making available the article or pages thereof by third parties from platforms, services and websites other than Wiley Online Library must be prohibited.