Impacts of climate and land-use dynamics on endemic plant distributions
in a Mediterranean island hotspot: The case of Evvia (Aegean, Greece)
Abstract
Anthropogenic climate and land-use change pose major threats to island
floras worldwide, yet few studies integrate these drivers in a single
vulnerability assessment. Here, we examine the endemic flora of Evvia,
the second largest Aegean island in Greece and an important biodiversity
hotspot, as a model system to address how these disturbances may reshape
biodiversity patterns. We used species distribution models integrating
climate projections and dynamic land-use data to forecast potential
range shifts, habitat fragmentation, and biodiversity patterns for 74
endemic taxa through 2100. Our findings reveal pronounced projected
range contractions and increased habitat fragmentation for all studied
taxa, with more severe impacts on single-island endemics. Current
biodiversity hotspots, primarily located in mountainous regions, are
expected to shift towards lowland areas, probably becoming extinction
hotspots. Emerging hotspot analysis identified new biodiversity centres
in lowland zones, while high-altitude areas showed sporadic hotspot
patterns. Temporal beta diversity analysis indicated higher species
turnover of distantly related taxa at higher elevations, with closely
related species clustering at lower altitudes. This pattern suggests a
homogenisation of plant communities in lowland areas. Assessment of
protected area effectiveness revealed that while 94.6% of current
biodiversity hotspots are within protected zones, this coverage is
projected to decline by 2100. Our analysis identified conservation gaps,
highlighting areas requiring urgent protection to preserve future
biodiversity. Our study reveals valuable information regarding the
vulnerability of island endemic floras to global change, offering a
framework applicable to other insular systems. Our findings demonstrate
that adaptive conservation strategies should account for projected
biodiversity shifts and serve as a warning for other insular
biodiversity hotspots, urging immediate actions to maintain the unique
evolutionary heritage of islands