A roadmap for island biology: 50 fundamental questions after 50 years of The Theory of Island Biogeography

Abstract

Aims The 50th anniversary of the publication of the seminal book, The Theory of Island Biogeography, by Robert H. MacArthur and Edward O. Wilson, is a timely moment to review and identify key research foci that could advance island biology. Here, we take a collaborative horizon‐scanning approach to identify 50 fundamental questions for the continued development of the field. Location Worldwide. Methods We adapted a well‐established methodology of horizon scanning to identify priority research questions in island biology, and initiated it during the Island Biology 2016 conference held in the Azores. A multidisciplinary working group prepared an initial pool of 187 questions. A series of online surveys was then used to refine a list of the 50 top priority questions. The final shortlist was restricted to questions with a broad conceptual scope, and which should be answerable through achievable research approaches. Results Questions were structured around four broad and partially overlapping island topics, including: (Macro)Ecology and Biogeography, (Macro)Evolution, Community Ecology, and Conservation and Management. These topics were then subdivided according to the following subject areas: global diversity patterns (five questions in total); island ontogeny and past climate change (4); island rules and syndromes (3); island biogeography theory (4); immigration–speciation–extinction dynamics (5); speciation and diversification (4); dispersal and colonization (3); community assembly (6); biotic interactions (2); global change (5); conservation and management policies (5); and invasive alien species (4). Main conclusions Collectively, this cross‐disciplinary set of topics covering the 50 fundamental questions has the potential to stimulate and guide future research in island biology. By covering fields ranging from biogeography, community ecology and evolution to global change, this horizon scan may help to foster the formation of interdisciplinary research networks, enhancing joint efforts to better understand the past, present and future of island biotas.

Are island‐like systems biologically similar to islands? A review of the evidence

“…In fact, several important ideas in island biology, such as 'relaxation' (Brown 1971) and 'rescue effect' (Brown and Kodric-Brown 1977), derive from research on ILS. How patterns and processes of biological diversity compare across insular systems (true islands and ILS), has recently been identified as one of the 50 fundamental open questions in island biology (Q3 in Patiño et al 2017) and is of high importance to the field. in the 'Encyclopedia of islands'; Gillespie and Clague 2009).…”

Global Island Monitoring Scheme (GIMS): a proposal for the long-term coordinated survey and monitoring of native island forest biota

“…Kueffer et al 2014b;Borges et al 2016a;Patiño et al 2017) and montane environments (Huber et al 2006) to answer global questions about biodiversity, environmental change and sustainability (see Appendix S1 for a more detailed list of initiatives).…”

Biogeography of Sri Lanka

“…Exactly fifty years ago Robert MacArthur and Edward O. Wilson, in their seminal publication titled 'The Theory of Island Biogeography '(1967), introduced a general mathematical theory to predict the species richness of an island (or an isolated habitat), based on such factors as the rates of immigration and extinction determined by the size of the island and its distance from the mainland. They inferred that the island area and isolation eventually reach a dynamic equilibrium which they referred to as 'the equilibrium model of island biogeography Wilson, 1963, 1967;Patino et al 2017). They showed that the extent of decline in bird faunas distributed across the archipelagos of Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia, progressively increased from islands near to the mainland of New Guinea to intermediate and far islands (up to distance >3,200 km from the mainland) owing to their increasing geographical isolation, exhibiting typical island syndromes.…”

“…Fifty years on from its publication, MacArthur and Wilson's (1967) book remains one of the most influential texts on ecology and evolution, and continue to be a springboard for research on the origin and maintenance of biological communities. Coinciding with the 50 th anniversary of the publication of this landmark publication, Patino et al (2017) developed a roadmap for research on island biology. It identifies 50 fundamental questions in four key research foci through a collaborative horizon-scanning approach among the biogeographic community.…”