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Severity of deforestation mediates biotic homogenisation in an island archipelago

Mitchell, Simon L., Edwards, David P., Martin, Rob, Deere, Nicolas J., Voigt, Maria, Kastanya, Agustinus, Karya, Adi, Akbar, Panji, Yordan, Khaleb, Martin, Tom, and others. (2022) Severity of deforestation mediates biotic homogenisation in an island archipelago. Ecography, . ISSN 0906-7590. E-ISSN 1600-0587. (doi:10.1111/ecog.05990) (KAR id:94891)

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Abstract

Anthropogenic-driven species extinctions are radically changing the biosphere. Biological communities may become increasingly similar to or dissimilar from one another via the processes of biotic homogenisation or heterogenisation. A key question is how the conversion of native forests to agriculture may influence these processes by driving changes in the occurrence patterns of restricted-range endemic species versus wide-ranging generalists. We examined biotic homogenisation and heterogenisation in bird communities on the Southeast Asian islands of Borneo, Sulawesi, Seram, Buru, Talaud and Sangihe. Each island is characterised by high levels of avian endemism, and unique spatial configuration of forest conversion to agriculture. Forest conversion to agriculture influenced the patterns of biotic homogenisation on five islands. Bird communities became increasingly dissimilar to forest reference communities relative to localised patterns of deforestation. Turnover led to species with larger global range-sizes dominating communities at the expense of island endemics and ecological specialists. Within islands, forest conversion did not result in clear changes to β-diversity, whereas between-island communities became increasingly similar with greater deforestation, implying that patterns of forest conversion profoundly affect biotic homogenisation. Our findings elucidate how continued conversion of forests is causing the replacement of endemic species by a small cohort of shared ubiquitous species with potentially strong negative consequences for ecosystem functioning and resilience. Halting reorganisation of the biosphere via the loss of range-restricted species and spread of wide-ranged generalists will require improved efforts to reduce the impacts of deforestation particularly in regions with high endemism.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1111/ecog.05990
Additional information: Funded by Newton Fund Wallacea Programme, NERC and Indonesian Ministry for Research and Technology
Subjects: Q Science > QH Natural history > QH541 Ecology
Q Science > QH Natural history > QH75 Conservation (Biology)
Q Science > QL Zoology
S Agriculture > SD Forestry
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Human and Social Sciences > School of Anthropology and Conservation > DICE (Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology)
Funders: Natural Environment Research Council (https://ror.org/02b5d8509)
Depositing User: Matthew Struebig
Date Deposited: 05 May 2022 13:46 UTC
Last Modified: 27 Feb 2024 12:15 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/94891 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

Mitchell, Simon L..

Creator's ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8826-4868
CReDIT Contributor Roles:

Deere, Nicolas J..

Creator's ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1299-2126
CReDIT Contributor Roles:

Voigt, Maria.

Creator's ORCID:
CReDIT Contributor Roles:

Davies, Zoe G..

Creator's ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0767-1467
CReDIT Contributor Roles:

Struebig, Matthew J..

Creator's ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2058-8502
CReDIT Contributor Roles:
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