Island extinctions: processes, patterns, and potential for ecosystem restoration

• Published in: Environmental conservation Vol. 44; no. 4; pp. 348 - 358
• Main Authors: WOOD, JAMIE R., ALCOVER, JOSEP A., BLACKBURN, TIM M., BOVER, PERE, DUNCAN, RICHARD P., HUME, JULIAN P., LOUYS, JULIEN, MEIJER, HANNEKE J.M., RANDO, JUAN C., WILMSHURST, JANET M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge, UK Cambridge University Press 01.12.2017
• Subjects: anthropogenic activities; Anthropogenic factors; Archaeology; Birds; Climate change; Conservation biology; Ecological effects; Ecological function; ecological restoration; Ecosystem biology; Ecosystem restoration; Ecosystems; Endangered & extinct species; Endemic species; Environmental changes; Environmental restoration; Extinction; habitat destruction; Habitat loss; Human influences; humans; Hunting; Islands; Land development; land use; Mus musculus; Museums; Natural history; natural resources conservation; paleoecology; Predators; Prehistoric era; Quaternary; Rattus rattus; Recovery of function; Reintroduction; Species extinction; SUBJECT REVIEWS; Vegetation; prehistory; habitat loss; human settlement; ecological restoration; archaeology; predation; hunting; conservation biology; introduced species; palaeoecology

Extinctions have altered island ecosystems throughout the late Quaternary. Here, we review the main historic drivers of extinctions on islands, patterns in extinction chronologies between islands, and the potential for restoring ecosystems through reintroducing extirpated species. While some extinct...