Biological images of geological history: through a glass darkly or brightly face to face?

Abstract

Aim To explore the implications for historical biogeography of a recent review of island biogeographical theory in three main thematic areas and to suggest ways in which a synthesis between the two approaches might be achieved to the benefit of both. Location The Indo‐Australian tropics. Theme 1 discusses the relationship of species number to area, and how the nestedness of faunas may influence the methodology used for some types of analysis and also the quality of data expected from an archipelago embracing an extreme range of island sizes. Theme 2 examines the way in which the processes of speciation may lead to development of biogeographical patterns through a complex archipelago, illustrated in particular with reference to Sulawesi where biotic enrichment from different lepidopteran groups follows predictions from island biogeographical theory. This also has implications for patterns of endemism in the archipelago, another constraint on the quality of data available for historical biogeography. Theme 3 addresses ecological determinism as an influence in development of biogeographical pattern, focusing on the theme of specificity in insect–plant relationships and the potential for parallel development of pattern in an insect group and its particular plant host group. This theme is developed with particular reference to moth and plant groups that may represent Gondwanan elements in the Oriental fauna, with an analysis of Sarcinodes, a geometrid moth genus associated with Proteaceae. Main conclusions Prospects are assessed for the synthesis of the two approaches of island biogeography and historical biogeography. Modelling pattern development with the former may complement the methods of analysis of the latter, particularly if some satisfactory method for dating events of pattern development can also be incorporated.

Species diversity and endemism of five major Malesian islands: diversity–area relationships

“…This should be tested in future phylogenetic research. Some phylogenies of particular taxa may indicate support for Heaney's model with regard to Borneo (Ridder‐Numan, 1996), Sulawesi (Holloway, 2003) and New Guinea (Van Welzen, 1990; Turner, 1995; B. Gravendeel, unpublished data; Schot, in press), whereas Haegens’ (2000) results are more indicative for the vicariant model.…”

Panbiogeografía, componentes bióticos y zonas de transición

“…Esta dicotomía historia/ ecología es semejante a otras dicotomías que oponen factores internos y externos, planteadas en la biología e incluso fuera del ámbito biológico (OYAMA 2000). En el caso de la biogeografía, varios autores han criticado la falta de integración entre la biogeografía histórica y la ecológica, llegando a sostener que sería deseable integrarlas en un programa de investigación unificado (GRAY 1989;SMITH 1989;HENDERSON 1991;VARGAS 1992a;MORRONE 1993a;ZUNINO & ZULLINI 1995;HOLLOWAY 2003). HAYDON et al (1994) conceptualizaron a la biogeografía a partir de una estructura triangular, donde los patrones biogeográficos resultan de la interacción entre procesos ecológicos, históricos y estocásticos, lo cual parece un buen punto de partida para una futura síntesis.…”

Barsine podbolotskayae sp. n. from Flores Island, Lesser Sunda Archipelago, Indonesia (Lepidoptera, Erebidae, Arctiinae)

“…Mainland Southeast Asia is considered the most probable evolutionary hotspot of this group (Holloway 2001; Černý and Pinratana 2009; Bucsek 2012). Possible sister relationships between Barsine and Cyme (Holloway 2001) are in need of future research using a molecular approach as this may uncover putative ancient connections between the Oriental and Australasian faunas (Holloway 2003). …”

“…This region consists of two mostly distinct transition zones between the Oriental and Australasian biotas, i.e., a humid forest northerly zone from the Philippines to Sulawesi and the Moluccas, and a seasonal forest and savannah southerly zone along the Lesser Sunda chain from Java to Timor (Holloway and Jardine 1968). Contacts between the two zones has mostly been through Sulawesi, whose fauna is mainly Oriental, whereas the Moluccas are predominantly Australasian (Holloway 2003). The major discontinuity between the Oriental and Australasian Lepidoptera is Weber’s Line of Faunal Balance that runs between Sulawesi and the Moluccas and then south to east of Timor (Holloway and Jardine 1968).…”

“…The major discontinuity between the Oriental and Australasian Lepidoptera is Weber’s Line of Faunal Balance that runs between Sulawesi and the Moluccas and then south to east of Timor (Holloway and Jardine 1968). There is a continuum of species turnover from Oriental to Australasian affinity from Java to Timor, but there is also some endemism within the Lesser Sunda Islands (Holloway 2003; Lohman et al 2011; Bolotov et al 2017, 2018; Spitsyn et al 2018). …”