Genomic signatures indicate biodiversity loss in an endemic island ant fauna.

Insect populations have declined worldwide, but the extent and drivers of these declines are debated. Most studies rely on field surveys performed in the past century, leaving gaps in our understanding of longer-term trends. Using a "community genomics" approach, we estimated community assembly over millions of years and more recent demographic trends of ant species in the Fijian archipelago. We found that 79% of endemic species are in decline, starting after the arrival of humans approximately 3000 years ago and accelerating in the past 300 years, whereas recent arrivals are expanding. The primary correlate of population decline among endemic species was found to be sensitivity to habitat disturbance. This study demonstrates the value of contemporary collections for estimating long-term community trends and highlights the vulnerability of endemic island species to anthropogenic change. Editor's summary: Recent research has revealed a worrisome, and seemingly increasing, decline in insect populations globally. That said, not all species have been shown to be declining, and the reasons for the differences are not always clear. Liu et al. looked at ant species, using a community genetics approach, on remote Fijian islands to determine susceptibility to human impacts and disturbance. They found that endemic species and those most sensitive to habitat disturbance began to decline as long as 3000 years ago, with the first arrival of humans. More recent arrivals to the islands display more resistance, likely due to their more generalist requirements. —Sacha Vignieri [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]