Ecological networks and their fragility

Article Abstract:

Ecological networks display well-defined, similar patterns of organization, and their assembly follows specific rules, with the processes of predation, competition and mutualism constraining them in unique ways. Although theory predicts that complex ecological networks are likely to be fragile, species persist in complex webs when disturbances propagate quickly and apparently strongly, and models incorporating the relationships between link strength, abundance and trophic specialization are likely to provide the reasons.

United States, Environmental aspects, Predation (Biology), Competition (Biology), Mutualism (Biology)

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Relative risk of extinction of passerine birds on continents and islands

Article Abstract:

Many recent species extinctions have occurred on islands rather than on continents, but predictions of major future extinctions stem from the clearing of continental, tropical forests. The majority of threatened species have small geographic ranges. The ranges of the passerine birds of the Americas have been compiled and an unexpected vulnerability of continental species with small ranges was used to produce a map showing where species loss may occur in the long term.

Islands, Birds

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Extinction by numbers

Article Abstract:

Myers and colleagues have reported an uneven, highly clumped distribution of vulnerable species throughout the world's land surface. They have demonstrated that around 30-50% of plant, amphibian, reptile, mammal and bird species arise in 25 hotspots, individually occupying no more than 2% of ice-free land.

Biological diversity, Biodiversity

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