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Secrets of the Island: Why are some species more likely to become extinct on islands than on the mainland?
In the hidden corners of the earth, unique and fragile species live on islands. These species may thrive on the mainland, but they are often at risk of extinction on the islands. What causes this phenomenon? This is an issue that many ecologists and environmentalists continue to explore.
The key question to clarify is why island ecosystems are so fragile and susceptible to a variety of environmental changes.
First, we need to recognize that islands often have low biodiversity. Due to geographical constraints, the number of species on an island is often limited by its area. Over the past few thousand years, as climate change and sea levels rose, many newly formed islands were unable to maintain high levels of species diversity. This means they are vulnerable to threats from invasive species, which often cause damage to local ecosystems.
Some species have an inherent capacity for extinction, which makes them more susceptible to extinction in certain circumstances.
The unique ecological environment on the island will cause some species to survive only in specific habitats. For example, many plants and animals may be unable to adapt when they encounter environmental changes such as extreme climate events such as droughts, fires or floods, leading to their local extinction. In addition, due to their isolated nature, repetitive resource competition and mating behaviors of species on islands will affect the continuation of biodiversity.
Further analysis reveals that species on many islands are highly specialized. For example, some New Zealand birds, such as the kiwi, have lost the ability to fly, making them less resistant to predators. In this case, these specialized species are more likely to face extinction on the islands if exotic predators are introduced.
Unexpected invasive species often have catastrophic effects on island ecosystems. For example, the introduction of mammals such as cats and rats has had a devastating impact on native bird species on many islands.
However, ecologists point out that localized extinctions are not necessarily permanent. As the reintroduction case of wolves shows, these once-lost species can be artificially reintroduced to restore ecological balance. This is not a simple process and factors to be considered include the suitability of the local environment and active conservation measures.
As conservation efforts increase, more and more island projects are being implemented to save native species there. These actions are not limited to the reintroduction of species, but may also include efforts to maintain natural habitats and remove alien species. These initiatives hope to effectively restore local biodiversity and prevent future extinction events.
Many studies of local extinctions have provided deeper insights and allowed scientists to better understand how species respond to environmental changes.
As climate change and the impacts of human activities become more apparent, we cannot ignore the importance of protecting island ecosystems. Many species are already facing local extinction on many islands around the world. Therefore, solving this problem requires international collaboration and sustained efforts.
Future conservation measures will not only focus on the protection of biodiversity, but also need to rethink the overall health of ecosystems and the human communities living in these ecological environments. In this case, how to build a bridge between protecting species and protecting humans?
