PDF(Pubmed)
Abstract：
Island vertebrates have evolved a number of morphological, physiological, and life history characteristics that set them apart from their mainland relatives. However, to date, the evolution of metabolism and its impact on the vulnerability to extinction of insular vertebrates remains poorly understood. This study used metabolic data from 2813 species of tetrapod vertebrates, including 695 ectothermic and 2118 endothermic species, to reveal that island mammals and birds evolved convergent metabolic strategies toward a slow pace of life. Insularity was associated with shifts toward slower metabolic rates and greater generation lengths in endotherms, while insularity just drove the evolution of longer generation lengths in ectotherms. Notably, a slow pace of life has exacerbated the extinction of insular endemic species in the face of anthropogenic threats. These findings have important implications for understanding physiological adaptations associated with the island syndrome and formulating conservation strategies across taxonomic groups with different metabolic modes.
摘要：
岛屿脊椎动物已经进化了许多形态，生理,以及使他们与大陆亲戚区分开来的生活史特征。然而,到目前为止,新陈代谢的演变及其对岛屿脊椎动物灭绝脆弱性的影响仍然知之甚少。这项研究使用了2813种四足脊椎动物的代谢数据，包括695个放热物种和2118个吸热物种，揭示了岛屿哺乳动物和鸟类进化出趋同的代谢策略，以缓慢的生活节奏。绝缘与吸热中代谢速率较慢和世代长度较长的转变有关，而孤立性只是推动了外热中更长世代长度的进化。值得注意的是,面对人为威胁，缓慢的生活节奏加剧了岛屿特有物种的灭绝。这些发现对于理解与岛综合征相关的生理适应以及制定具有不同代谢模式的分类群体的保护策略具有重要意义。
