Florencio, M., Patiño, J., Nogué, S., Traveset, A., Borges, P.A.V., Schaefer, H., Amorim, I.R., Arnedo, M., Ávila, S.P., Cardoso, P., de Nascimento, L., Fernández-Palacios, J.M., Gabriel, S.I., Gil, A., Gonçalves, V., Haroun, R., Illera, J.C., López-Darias, M., Martínez, A., Martins, G.M., Neto, A.I., Nogales, M., Oromí, P., Rando, J.C., Raposeiro, P.M., Rigal, F., Romeiras, M.M., Silva, L., Valido, A., Vanderpoorten, A., Vasconcelos, R. & Santos, A.M.C. (2021) Macaronesia as a fruitful arena for ecology, evolution and conservation biology.
Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, 9, 718169. DOI:10.3389/fevo.2021.718169 (IF2021 4,496; Q2 Ecology)Research in Macaronesia has led to substantial advances in ecology, evolution and conservation biology. We review the scientific developments achieved in this region, and outline promising research avenues enhancing conservation. Some of these discoveries indicate that the Macaronesian flora and fauna are composed of rather young lineages, not Tertiary relicts, predominantly of European origin. Macaronesia also seems to be an important source region for back-colonisation of continental fringe regions on both sides of the Atlantic. This group of archipelagos (Azores, Madeira, Selvagens, Canary Islands, and Cabo Verde) has been crucial to learn about the particularities of macroecological patterns and interaction networks on islands, providing evidence for the development of the General Dynamic Model of oceanic island biogeography and subsequent updates. However, in addition to exceptionally high richness of endemic species, Macaronesia is also home to a growing number of threatened species, along with invasive alien plants and animals. Several innovative conservation and management actions are in place to protect its biodiversity from these and other drivers of global change. The Macaronesian Islands are a well-suited field of study for island ecology and evolution research, mostly due to its special geological layout with 40 islands grouped within five archipelagos differing in geological age, climate and isolation. A large amount of data is now available for several groups of organisms on and around many of these islands. However, continued efforts should be made toward compiling new information on their biodiversity, to pursue various fruitful research avenues and develop appropriate conservation management tools.
Alain Vanderpoorten Island Biodiversity, Biogeography & Conservation - IBBC
Ana Isabel de Melo Azevedo Neto Island Aquatic Ecology
Ana M. C. Santos Island Biodiversity, Biogeography & Conservation - IBBC
Ana M. C. Santos Conservation in Socio-Ecological Systems - CSES
Artur Gil Island Environmental Risks & Society - IERS
Artur Gil Island Environmental Risks & Society - IERS
François Rigal Island Biodiversity, Biogeography & Conservation - IBBC
Isabel R. Amorim Island Environmental Risks & Society - IERS
Isabel R. Amorim Island Environmental Risks & Society - IERS
Jairo Patiño Island Biodiversity, Biogeography & Conservation - IBBC
Margarita Patricia Florencio Diaz Island Arthropod Macroecology
Maria Manuel Cordeiro Salgueiro Romeiras Environmental Stress & Functional Ecology - ESFE
Paulo A. V. Borges Island Arthropod Macroecology
Pedro Cardoso Tropical and Mediterranean Biodiversity - TMB
