Which host-dependent insects are most prone to coextinction under changed climates?
Coextinction (loss of dependent species with their host or partner species) presents a threat to untold numbers of organisms. Climate change may act synergistically to accelerate rates of coextinction. In this review, we present the first synthesis of the available literature and propose a novel schematic diagram that can be used when assessing the potential risk climate change represents for dependent species. We highlight traits that may increase the susceptibility of insect species to coextinction induced by climate change, suggest the most influential host characteristics, and identify regions where climate change may have the greatest impact on dependent species. The aim of this review was to provide a platform for future research, directing efforts toward taxa and habitats at greatest risk of species loss through coextinction accelerated by climate change.
School of Plant Biology, University of Western Australia Crawley, Western Australia, 6009, Australia ; School of Botany, University of Melbourne Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia.
Melinda L
ML
Moir
Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University North Ryde, New South Wales, 2109, Australia.
Lesley
L
Hughes
School of Botany, University of Melbourne Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia.
Peter A
PA
Vesk
School of Plant Biology, University of Western Australia Crawley, Western Australia, 6009, Australia.
Mei Chen
MC
Leng
Altitude; coextinction; extinction cascade; parasites; plant–insect interactions; secondary extinction; species loss; wetlands