Role reversal: when insular endemics become invasive species

I think Cuba and Madagascar might be large enough to the point that an invasive species originating from them isn’t all that surprising compared to a tiny island like Mo’orea. New Zealand is a more interesting case as it is also very large, but its native diversity faces significantly more threats from introduced species compared to those other two.

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In the scientific literature, “insular endemics” would refer to endemics specific to islands and “montane endemics” would refer to those isolated on mountain ranges. There are certainly similarities between the two situations (and some mountain ranges are referred to colloquially/metaphorically as "sky islands), but the use of insular is pretty clear.

Ecologically speaking, insular and montane endemics are generally maintained as endemics due to quite different factors. Montane endemics are generally such because they are restricted from moving off of their home mountains due to some type of climatic barrier associated with elevation differences (like higher temps at lower elevations, lack of snow, vegetation changes, etc.) though physical barriers (like a river) may contribute. Insular/island endemics are often restricted due to the physical inability of the organism to cross large expanses of water.

Of course, it’s also possible to have montane endemic species on islands with large enough mountains! Those species generally only occupy higher elevations on the island and are restricted by multiple factors and consequently are some of the most vulnerable species.

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