Endemism

As endemics ( from Ancient Greek ἔνδημος éndēmos, indigenous '; inaccurate often endemic in the plural) plants or animals are referred to in biology, which only occur in a specific, spatially well-defined environment. These are endemic to this area.

It may be species, genera or families of creatures that are native only to certain islands or groups of islands, mountains, valleys or in individual water systems. Example: the Darwin finches are endemic to the Galapagos Islands, as they occur nowhere else worldwide.

A defining up to which area size, this term is used, it is not. For an entire continent endemic species, but also higher taxonomic units, can be found about the two Americas ( " New World " species ), or Australia. Supracontinental deposits are then found, for example, in the plant family Bromeliaceae, originally in America, and otherwise only in a region of West Africa.

Classification

Especially in botany is the distinction between " Paläoendemiten " (also: Reliktendemiten ) and " Neoendemiten " (also: Entstehungsendemismus ) usual.

Paläoendemiten are species originally probably more widespread, that have been, forced by changing the living conditions or new competitors in a relic area, usually an island or a mountain range. An example would be the Kettenfarn radicans ( Woodwardia radicans ), the (mostly on the islands ) occurs today in the laurel forests of the Canary Islands and in limited areas on the Mediterranean with similar precipitation rich local climate. It is believed that this is the relic site under a warmer and wetter conditions of life redistribute in tertiary type.

Neoendemiten are species that have evolved only recently ( geologically ) short period of widespread plant taxa under specific site conditions. This one takes the example of the numerous species of the genus Dianthus carnation on mountain tops in the Mediterranean or for the numerous Astragalus ( Astragalus ) species in demarcated regions of Central Anatolia. As a curiosity, even so-called homeless species occur. These are neophyte neo- endemics that have (mostly by hybridization ) developed for only a few hundred years in their new home from originally introduced by people from other continents types. This is known as of small species of evening primrose (Oenothera ) from the biennis - Artkomplex.

Threat

The smaller the available habitat, the greater the risk to the most endemic taxa. Even small changes in the habitat can lead to the extinction of the entire taxon.

The use of the term " endemic " political boundaries is common only in the context of the Red List of Threatened Species.

Inselendemiten

As Inselendemiten refers to species which have adapted to the habitat of a particular island. As a Inselendemit an animal / plant is to indicate which drives on an island (usually further away from the mainland) and will be subject to certain events of the selfsame, and consequently is native only to this. Interestingly, among these, among other things, that in some species targeted subspecies have evolved in order to attract different habitats of the island for themselves. Most of these subtypes, however, go back in a manner which achieved the island. Interesting examples of this include the Anolis lizards in the Caribbean islands, the finches on some Pacific islands ( Galapagos, Hawaii) or the giant tortoises of the Galapagos Islands. Another special feature under Inselendemiten is the slow reproductive cycle, a kind of population regulation of evolution, to prevent the home island has too many representatives of the species. So can lay only one egg per year, many endemic birds.

Here are some examples of Inselendemiten:

• The Hawaiian dresses birds
• Darwin's finches of the Galapagos Islands
• The Kiwis in New Zealand
• The Anolis Cuba

Inselgigantismus and Inselverzwergung

In some endemic species it has come to Inselgigantismus due to the absence of predators or other threats. Inselgigantismus occurs when a certain type gets on an island, is on the sameness of little danger, or an ideal habitat. As a result, in part, huge species have arisen on some islands.

Here are some examples:

• The Moa in New Zealand ( extinct)
• The Galapagos giant tortoises
• The Dodos on La Réunion and Mauritius ( extinct)
• The Seychelles giant tortoise
• The Saint Helena giant earwig ( extinct)
• The elephant birds in Madagascar ( extinct).

Inselverzwergung occurs, however, if it is more advantageous for the species due to a lower food supply or the influence of predators to become smaller. Here are some examples:

• Homo floresiensis on Flores Island ( extinct)
• The island gray fox on the California Channel Islands
• Malagasy Hippos ( extinct)
• The pygmy sloth on the island of Isla escudo de Veraguas Panama before.

Examples endemitenreicher regions

• Hawaii - Emperor chain of islands
• Galapagos Islands
• Socotra (Island )
• In the Malay Archipelago
• Madagascar
• The highlands of Abyssinia

Examples of endemic species in Germany

• The Rhön spring snail ( Bythinella compressa ) is only found in the Rhön and Vogelsberg (Hessen).
• The Badische giant earthworm ( Lumbricus badensis ) is the largest Lumbricus species of Europe and inhabited a small area in the southern Black Forest.
• The Bavarian scurvy grass ( Cochlearia bavarica ) is only in the southern part of Bavaria endemic occurring member of the cabbage family ( Brassicaceae).
• The Violet calamine pansy ( Viola guestphalica ) is worldwide in a growing area in the border area in front of the circles Paderborn, Hoexter and Hochsauerlandkreis.
• The Ammersee whitefish (Coregonus bavaricus ) is a rare species of the genus Coregonus. It is endemic in Bavaria Ammersee along the villages Unterdießen, Utting and early village.