Southeast Asia as One of World’s Primary Sources of Biotic Recolonization Following Anthropocene Extinctions
The plight of Southeast Asia’s animals, plants and ecosystems in the face of unsustainable exploitation and habitat destruction has been illustrated in several recent studies, despite often falling outside the global discourse on global conservation priorities. Here, we collate biogeographic and phy...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2021-03-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2021.634711/full |
| _version_ | 1818573884752920576 |
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| author | Şerban Procheş Syd Ramdhani Alice C. Hughes Lian Pin Koh |
| author_facet | Şerban Procheş Syd Ramdhani Alice C. Hughes Lian Pin Koh |
| author_sort | Şerban Procheş |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The plight of Southeast Asia’s animals, plants and ecosystems in the face of unsustainable exploitation and habitat destruction has been illustrated in several recent studies, despite often falling outside the global discourse on global conservation priorities. Here, we collate biogeographic and phylogenetic information to argue that this beleaguered region is one of world’s primary macrorefugia, and possibly its best chance of regaining its natural biodiversity distribution patterns after the current Anthropocene upheaval. The region uniquely combines top diversity values in (a) ancient lineage diversity and (b) cosmopolitan lineage diversity, suggesting that it has acted in the past as a biodiversity museum and source of global colonization. This is at least partly due to the interplay between latitudinal diversity gradients and continental connectivity patterns. However, the peak values in South China/North Indochina for cosmopolitan tetrapods and their sister lineages suggest that a key feature is also the availability of diverse climatic conditions. In particular, the north-south orientation of the mountain ranges here has allowed for rapid recolonization within the region following past climatic changes, resulting in high survival values and overall exceptional relict lineage diversity. From this starting point, global colonization occurred on multiple occasions. It is hoped that, with urgent action, the region can once again fulfill this function. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-15T00:18:52Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-efc8599962bb41dd87230948a49e8772 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-701X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-15T00:18:52Z |
| publishDate | 2021-03-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution |
| spelling | doaj.art-efc8599962bb41dd87230948a49e87722022-12-21T22:42:22ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution2296-701X2021-03-01910.3389/fevo.2021.634711634711Southeast Asia as One of World’s Primary Sources of Biotic Recolonization Following Anthropocene ExtinctionsŞerban Procheş0Syd Ramdhani1Alice C. Hughes2Lian Pin Koh3Centre for Functional Biodiversity and Discipline of Geography, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South AfricaSchool of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South AfricaCenter for Integrative Conservation, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Mengla, ChinaDepartment of Biological Sciences, Centre for Nature-Based Climate Solutions, National University of Singapore, Singapore, SingaporeThe plight of Southeast Asia’s animals, plants and ecosystems in the face of unsustainable exploitation and habitat destruction has been illustrated in several recent studies, despite often falling outside the global discourse on global conservation priorities. Here, we collate biogeographic and phylogenetic information to argue that this beleaguered region is one of world’s primary macrorefugia, and possibly its best chance of regaining its natural biodiversity distribution patterns after the current Anthropocene upheaval. The region uniquely combines top diversity values in (a) ancient lineage diversity and (b) cosmopolitan lineage diversity, suggesting that it has acted in the past as a biodiversity museum and source of global colonization. This is at least partly due to the interplay between latitudinal diversity gradients and continental connectivity patterns. However, the peak values in South China/North Indochina for cosmopolitan tetrapods and their sister lineages suggest that a key feature is also the availability of diverse climatic conditions. In particular, the north-south orientation of the mountain ranges here has allowed for rapid recolonization within the region following past climatic changes, resulting in high survival values and overall exceptional relict lineage diversity. From this starting point, global colonization occurred on multiple occasions. It is hoped that, with urgent action, the region can once again fulfill this function.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2021.634711/fullancient lineagesAnthropocene extinctionSoutheast Asiawidespread lineagesrecolonization |
| spellingShingle | Şerban Procheş Syd Ramdhani Alice C. Hughes Lian Pin Koh Southeast Asia as One of World’s Primary Sources of Biotic Recolonization Following Anthropocene Extinctions Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution ancient lineages Anthropocene extinction Southeast Asia widespread lineages recolonization |
| title | Southeast Asia as One of World’s Primary Sources of Biotic Recolonization Following Anthropocene Extinctions |
| title_full | Southeast Asia as One of World’s Primary Sources of Biotic Recolonization Following Anthropocene Extinctions |
| title_fullStr | Southeast Asia as One of World’s Primary Sources of Biotic Recolonization Following Anthropocene Extinctions |
| title_full_unstemmed | Southeast Asia as One of World’s Primary Sources of Biotic Recolonization Following Anthropocene Extinctions |
| title_short | Southeast Asia as One of World’s Primary Sources of Biotic Recolonization Following Anthropocene Extinctions |
| title_sort | southeast asia as one of world s primary sources of biotic recolonization following anthropocene extinctions |
| topic | ancient lineages Anthropocene extinction Southeast Asia widespread lineages recolonization |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2021.634711/full |
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