RT info:eu-repo/semantics/article T1 Global Island Monitoring Scheme (GIMS): a proposal for the long‑term coordinated survey and monitoring of native island forest biota A1 Fernández-Palacios, José María K1 Beta-diversity K1 Ecological gradients K1 Forest monitoring protocols K1 Island conservation K1 Long-term monitoring K1 Sampling standardization K1 diversidad-Beta K1 gradientes ecológicos K1 protocolos de supervisión forestal K1 conservación insular K1 supervisión de larga duración AB Abstract Islands harbour evolutionary and ecologically unique biota, which are currentlydisproportionately threatened by a multitude of anthropogenic factors, including habitat loss, invasive species and climate change. Native forests on oceanic islands are important refugiafor endemic species, many of which are rare and highly threatened. Long-term monitoringschemes for those biota and ecosystems are urgently needed: (i) to provide quantitativebaselines for detecting changes within island ecosystems, (ii) to evaluate the effectiveness ofconservation and management actions, and (iii) to identify general ecological patterns and processes using multiple island systems as repeated ‘natural experiments’. In this contribution,we call for a Global Island Monitoring Scheme (GIMS) for monitoring the remainingnative island forests, using bryophytes, vascular plants, selected groups of arthropods andvertebrates as model taxa. As a basis for the GIMS, we also present new, optimized monitoringprotocols for bryophytes and arthropods that were developed based on former standardizedinventory protocols. Effective inventorying and monitoring of native island forests willrequire: (i) permanent plots covering diverse ecological gradients (e.g. elevation, age of terrain,anthropogenic disturbance); (ii) a multiple-taxa approach that is based on standardizedand replicable protocols; (iii) a common set of indicator taxa and community properties thatare indicative of native island forests’ welfare, building on, and harmonized with existingsampling and monitoring efforts; (iv) capacity building and training of local researchers, collaborationand continuous dialogue with local stakeholders; and (v) long-term commitmentby funding agencies to maintain a global network of native island forest monitoring plots. PB Springer Netherlands YR 2018 FD 2018 LK http://riull.ull.es/xmlui/handle/915/18354 UL http://riull.ull.es/xmlui/handle/915/18354 LA en DS Repositorio institucional de la Universidad de La Laguna RD 25-nov-2024