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Which host-dependent insects are most prone to coextinction under changed climates?
Melinda L Moir1, Lesley Hughes2, Peter A Vesk3
1School of Plant Biology, University of Western Australia Crawley, Western Australia, 6009, Australia ; School of Botany, University of Melbourne Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia.
Ecology and Evolution
|May 17, 2014
Summary
Coextinction, the loss of species dependent on others, is worsened by climate change. This review synthesizes research to identify vulnerable species and habitats, aiding future conservation efforts against climate-driven coextinction.
Area of Science:
- Ecology and conservation biology
- Climate change impacts
- Biodiversity loss
Background:
- Coextinction, the loss of dependent species alongside their hosts or partners, poses a significant threat to global biodiversity.
- Climate change is increasingly recognized as a factor that may accelerate coextinction events.
- Understanding the interplay between climate change and coextinction is crucial for effective conservation strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize existing literature on coextinction and climate change.
- To propose a framework for assessing climate change risks to dependent species.
- To identify traits and regions particularly vulnerable to climate-driven coextinction.
Main Methods:
- Comprehensive literature review on coextinction and climate change.
- Development of a schematic diagram for risk assessment.
- Analysis of insect species' traits and host characteristics influencing coextinction susceptibility.
- Identification of geographical regions most impacted by climate change-induced coextinction.
Main Results:
- Climate change can synergistically increase the rate of coextinction events.
- Specific insect traits and host characteristics heighten susceptibility to climate-driven coextinction.
- Certain geographical regions are identified as hotspots for climate change-accelerated coextinction.
Conclusions:
- This review provides the first synthesis of literature on climate change and coextinction.
- A novel schematic diagram is proposed to aid in assessing risks to dependent species.
- Future research should prioritize taxa and habitats most at risk from climate-accelerated coextinction.
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