Macaronesia as a Fruitful Arena for Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology

Abstract

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.

Assembly of functional diversity in an oceanic island flora

“…Tenerife is the largest (2058 km 2 ) and tallest (3715 m a.s.l.) of the Canary Islands, an archipelago that belongs to the meta-archipelago Macaronesia, a floristic region off the coast of Northern Africa and Western Europe in the Atlantic Ocean 33 . The island is of volcanic origin and its oldest substrate is about 8 million years old 50 .…”

Monitoring Arthropods in Azorean Agroecosystems: the project AGRO-ECOSERVICES

“…1 ). Similar to all islands in Azores, Terceira is volcanic and of recent origin (0.4 Ma, see Florencio et al 2021 ). The climate is temperate oceanic, with regular and abundant rainfall, high levels of relative humidity and persistent winds, mainly during the winter and autumn seasons.…”

Towards a mechanistic explanation of Island biogeography using subterranean animal communities

“…Except for Lanzarote and Fuerteventura, each island represents an independent volcanic building separated by oceanic depths, so they were never superficially connected to one another or to Africa (Troll & Carracedo 2016). Therefore, the Canary Islands can be regarded as oceanic islands that have been biologically colonised across the ocean, mainly through the marine channel separating the islands from North Africa (Florencio et al 2021). Most subterranean species in the Canary Islands are single-island endemics, with speciation trajectories that happenedin situ from surface ancestors (Arnedo et al 2007).…”