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Atributos ecológicos de las especies proclives a la extinción: la pérdida de los peces de agua dulce de Virginia
Author(s) -
Angermeier Paul L.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
conservation biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.2
H-Index - 222
eISSN - 1523-1739
pISSN - 0888-8892
DOI - 10.1046/j.1523-1739.1995.09010143.x
Subject(s) - extinction (optical mineralogy) , ecology , habitat , biodiversity , umbrella species , range (aeronautics) , habitat destruction , geography , extinction debt , trophic level , abundance (ecology) , biology , threatened species , paleontology , materials science , composite material
I examined patterns of extirpation among Virginia’s 197 historically native freshwater fish species to address the following questions: (1) Are extinction‐prone species ecologically distinct? and (2) Are distinctive features similar to those identified for extinction‐prone species in terrestrial systems? All species were assigned to categories for a series of attributes reflecting geographical distribution, habitat use, trophic habits, life history, size, and reproductive behavior. Associations between species that had been extirpated and those that had not were examined for each attribute. Univariate associations were observed between extirpation and three ecological attributes: diadromy, limited physiographic range, and limited range of water sizes. Species specialized with respect to multiple ecological attributes also were especially likely to be extirpated. These associations reflected the effects of reduced habitat area and increased isolation (insularization), which are also important determinants of extinction in terrestrial systems. Multivariate analyses suggested that extirpated species were ecologically similar to each other, but were not completely distinct from the nonextirpated fauna. My results suggest that ecological knowledge of species can help identify extinction‐prone species and provide a basis for proactive conservation. Current approaches to conservation, which are largely reactive and piecemeal, are inadequate to protect biodiversity. Because aquatic degradation is complex and pervasive, conservation of aquatic biodiversity requires proactive comprehensive approaches to water resource management, including emphasis on protecting the ecological integrity of entire systems.