Link Between Bird Wing Shape and Island Biodiversity
Scientists have unveiled a surprising link betweenas bird wing shape and the biodiversity found on islands. The shape of a bird’s wings,
which tells us about their ability to fly long distances, can actually predict how many different species live on an island.
This came to light through the work of researchers from Washington University in St. Louis. They found that islands with many bird species that can travel long distances include more species overall.
This discovery challenges old ideas about what creates diverse ecosystems. Usually,
scientists think islands’ sizes and isolation levels shape biodiversity. Larger islands generally support more species because of
their size and lower chance of extinction.
But, these researchers found that wing shape played a crucial role. They
observed that in areas where birds have less developed flying abilities, island size had a massive influence on species count. For islands with lots of strong fliers, however, the impact
of size was less important.
These findings suggest we now must consider bird
flight patterns when predicting biodiversity in Island
