Abstract

Understanding how quickly, where, and why biodiversity is changing remains a key question in ecology. Observations show that the pace of change varies widely across different regions. Palaeoecological research contributes valuable insights by revealing long-term patterns and helping to interpret the effects of drivers such as human activity and erosion.

Drawing on examples from islands around the world, we examine how biodiversity has shifted significantly, particularly following human settlement and other environmental pressures. Our findings suggest that islands colonised within the past 1500 years tend to experience more rapid ecological changes than those settled earlier. We also explore the long-term introduction and spread of non-native species, along with the resulting trends in biotic homogenisation.

These examples show how standardised palaeoecological records can help create a more complete understanding of long-term changes in island ecosystems.