Species coextinctions and the biodiversity crisis.
To assess the coextinction of species (the loss of a species upon the loss of another), we present a probabilistic model, scaled with empirical data. The model examines the relationship between coextinction levels (proportion of species extinct) of affiliates and their hosts across a wide range of coevolved interspecific systems: pollinating Ficus wasps and Ficus, parasites and their hosts, butterflies and their larval host plants, and ant butterflies and their host ants. Applying a nomographic method based on mean host specificity (number of host species per affiliate species), we estimate that 6300 affiliate species are "coendangered" with host species currently listed as endangered. Current extinction estimates need to be recalibrated by taking species coextinctions into account.
Koh
Lian Pin
LP
Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, 14 Science Drive 4, Singapore 117543.
Dunn
Robert R
RR
Sodhi
Navjot S
NS
Colwell
Robert K
RK
Proctor
Heather C
HC
Smith
Vincent S
VS
D000818:Animals; D044822:Biodiversity; D001717:Birds / Q000254:growth & development; D002080:Butterflies / Q000254:growth & development; D017753:Ecosystem; D004777:Environment; D030681:Ficus / Q000254:growth & development; D008018:Life Cycle Stages; D008433:Mathematics; D008925:Mites / Q000254:growth & development; D008954:Models, Biological; D015233:Models, Statistical; D010271:Parasites / Q000254:growth & development; D008003:Phthiraptera / Q000254:growth & development; D063245:Plant Development; D011010:Pneumocystis / Q000254:growth & development; D011156:Population Density; D011157:Population Dynamics; D014863:Wasps / Q000254:growth & development