The iEcoLab published a new paper titled “Elevated human impact on islands increases the introduction and extinction status of native insular reptiles”, which investigates why some reptiles are introduced to new habitats (introduced species) while others decline (extinction-prone species) in the Anthropocene due to human impact. The paper was authored by PI Dr. Jocelyn Behm, PI Dr. Matthew Helmus, Dr. Wendy Jesse, Dr. Jacintha Ellers, Dr. Gabriel Costa, and Dr. S. Blair Hedges, PI at the Hedges Lab. The study focuses primarily on reptiles in the Western Hemisphere and reveals how island species are more susceptible to both introduction and extinction compared to mainland species. As a result, introduced species tend to have larger, more edgier habitats, while extinction-prone species typically have smaller, simpler habitats. Additionally, introduced species are mostly herbivorous or omnivorous, while extinction-prone species are mostly carnivorous. The study highlights that the combination of geographic and ecological traits, along with human impact, plays a significant role in whether a species thrives or declines in the face of global change.
Picture Credits: Drs. Behm and Helmus, iEcoLab
Jesse, WAM, J Ellers, JE Behm, GC Costa, SB Hedges, MR Helmus. 2024. Elevated human impact on islands increases the introduction and extinction status of native insular reptiles. Ecography, 2024: e06817.