A Comparative Analysis of Island vs. Mainland Arthropod Communities in Coastal Grasslands Belonging to Two Distinct Regions: São Miguel Island (Azores) and Mainland Portugal

Diversity, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 16(10), С. 624 - 624

Опубликована: Окт. 9, 2024

Coastal grasslands host diverse arthropod communities and provide important ecosystem services. Islands, being isolated environments, are expected to have simpler ecosystems than continental areas, with the few successful colonizing species often attaining high densities; however, these patterns still poorly documented for coastal grassland arthropods. We conducted a comparative study of biodiversity in two distinct (Portugal mainland Azores) following objectives: (a) investigate community composition both locations; (b) compare diversity profiles (c) potential density compensation island’s communities. For four months, arthropods were collected on Island São Miguel, Setúbal Peninsula, Sine’s region subsequently classified into taxonomic groups. With data collected, Hill Numbers calculated each region. confirmed that richness was higher Azores, we found some apparent abundance Azores. At same time, also observed many Azores present Portugal.

Язык: Английский

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AVOTREX: A Global Dataset of Extinct Birds and Their Traits

Global Ecology and Biogeography, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 33(12)

Опубликована: Окт. 24, 2024

ABSTRACT Motivation Human activities have been reshaping the natural world for tens of thousands years, leading to extinction hundreds bird species. Past research has provided evidence selectivity towards certain groups species, but trait information is lacking majority clades, especially prehistoric extinctions identified only through subfossil remains. This incomplete knowledge potentially obscures structure communities, undermining our ability infer changes in biodiversity across space and time, including trends functional phylogenetic diversity. Biases currently available data also limit identify drivers processes extinction. Here we present AVOTREX, an open‐access database species traits all birds known gone extinct last 130,000 years. provides detailed morphological 610 along with a pipeline build trees that include these Main Types Variables Contained For each provide on taxonomy, geographic location, period We island endemicity, flight ability, body mass, as well standard measurements external (matching AVONET extant birds) skeletal morphology from museum specimens where available. To ensure comprehensive coverage, estimate missing using imputation technique based machine learning. Finally, R package graft onto global phylogeny (BirdTree). Spatial Location Grain Global. Time Period All globally years ago up until 2024. Major Taxa Level Measurement Birds (Class Aves), level. Software Format Spreadsheets (.csv) stored Dryad.

Язык: Английский

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How Old Is the Presence of the Canary Pine Forests in the Canary Islands?

Journal of Biogeography, Год журнала: 2024, Номер unknown

Опубликована: Ноя. 26, 2024

ABSTRACT Aim The Neogene fossil record of Pinus canariensis C.Sm ex DC. suggests a wider past distribution in Europe, but due to extirpation by climatic events, today this taxon is restricted the Canary Islands. Remarkably, putative oldest P. for Islands, found Gran Canaria 13.3–13.0 Ma. This palaeobiogeographical information has been cited as proof deep‐time presence conifers, genus L., and pine forest ecosystems also justify long‐term evolution within an active insular volcanic environment. Here we present re‐evaluation from Island. Location Canaria, Spain. Taxon Methods We compiled citation mentions ‘bark fossil’ conducted review specimen. compared it with extant pyroclasts. Results analysis specimen demonstrates that lacks morphological or anatomical characters identify bark even plant fossil. best interpreted lapilli‐sized tube pumice, highly altered mineral deposition promoted percolating hydrothermal water. Main Conclusions reliable fossils Islands are 3.9–3.1 Ma ca. 9 10 younger than previously claimed. When did arrive at unknown, biogeographical question can be approached via focused volcano‐stratigraphical palaeobotanical research Archipelago.

Язык: Английский

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Human Impacts on the Vegetation of the Juan Fernández (Robinson Crusoe) Archipelago

Plants, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 12(23), С. 4038 - 4038

Опубликована: Ноя. 30, 2023

The human footprint on marine and terrestrial ecosystems of the planet has been substantial, largely due to increase in population with associated activities resource utilization. Oceanic islands have particularly susceptible such pressures, resulting high levels loss biodiversity reductions numbers sizes wild populations. One archipelago that suffered from impact Juan Fernández (Robinson Crusoe) Archipelago, a Chilean national park located 667 km west Valparaíso at 33° S. latitude. consists three principal islands: Robinson Crusoe Island (48 km2); Santa Clara (2.2 Alejandro Selkirk (50 km2). latter island lies 181 kms further into Pacific Ocean. No indigenous peoples ever visited or lived any these islands; they were first discovered by Spanish navigator, Fernández, 1574. From point onward, series European visitors arrived, especially Island. They began cut forests, activity increased establishment permanent colony 1750 persisted present day. Pressures native endemic flora introduction animals, as goats, rats, dogs, cats, pigs, rabbits. Numerous invasive plants also some deliberately introduced others arriving inadvertently. At present, more than three-quarters vascular species are either threatened endangered. vegetation resulted genetic variability populations reduced size go extinct. It is critical remaining diversity be conserved, genomic markers would provide guidelines for conservation flora. To preserve unique islands, measures needed, education phytosanitary monitoring.

Язык: Английский

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Flower size evolution in the Southwest Pacific

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Год журнала: 2023, Номер unknown

Опубликована: Дек. 13, 2023

Abstract Background and Aims Despite accelerating interest in island evolution, the general evolutionary trajectories of flowers remain poorly understood. In particular rule, which posits that small organisms become larger large to smaller after colonization, while tested various plant traits, has never been flower size. Here, we provide first test for rule size animal- wind- pollinated flowers, evidence generalized in-situ evolution on islands. Methods 10 archipelagos Southwest Pacific, amassed a dataset comprising 131 independent colonization events, by pairing each endemic its closest mainland relative. We then gigantism/dwarfism floral display wind-pollinated flowers. Key results Animal-pollinated followed did not, instead showing gigantism. Results remained consistent controlling breeding system, source pool, degree taxonomic differentiation, family, type. Conclusions While situ is widespread islands exhibited unexpected markedly different trajectories. Further studies are needed understand mechanisms behind these patterns.

Язык: Английский

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