A roadmap for island biology: 50 fundamental questions after 50 years of The Theory of Island Biogeography
Author
Patiño, Jairo; Whittaker, Robert J.; Borges, Paulo A. V.; Fernández-Palacios, José María; Ah-Peng, Claudine; Ávila, Sergio P.; Cardoso, Pedro; Cornuault, Josselin; Boer, Erik J. de; Nascimento Reyes, Lea de; Gil, Artur; González Castro, Aarón; Gruner, Daniel S.; Heleno, Ruben; Hortal, Joaquín; Illera, Juan Carlos; Kaiser-Bunbury, Christopher N.; Matthews, Thomas J.; Papadopoulou, Anna; Pettorelli, Nathalie; Price, Jonathan; Santos, Ana M. C.; Steinbauer, Manuel J.; Triantis, Kostas A.; Valente, Luis M.; Vargas, Pablo; Weigelt, Patrick; Emerson, Brent C.Date
2017Abstract
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.