Drivers of extinction: the case of Azorean beetles

Journal article

Oceanic islands host a disproportionately high fraction of endangered or recently extinct endemic species. We report on species extinctions among endemic Azorean beetles following 97% habitat loss since 1440AD. We infer extinctions from historical and contemporary records and examine the influence of three predictors: geographic range, habitat specialization and body size. Of 55 endemic beetle species investigated (out of 63), seven can be considered extinct. Single-island endemics (SIEs) were more prone to extinction than multi-island endemics. Within SIESs restricted to native habitat, larger species were more extinction-prone. We thus show a hierarchical path to extinction in Azorean beetles: species with small geographic range face extinction first, with the larger bodied ones being the most threatened. Our study provides a clear warning of the impact of habitat loss on island endemic biotas.

Authors: Terzopoulou, S; Rigal, F; Whittaker, R; Borges, P; Triantis, K

• Publication status: Accepted
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: Royal Society
• Journal: Biology Letters
• Acceptance date: 2015-05-20
• EISSN: 1744-957X
• Language: English
• Keywords: body size; oceanic islands; extinction; habitat destruction; endemic beetles; Azores
• Subjects: Biology