RT info:eu-repo/semantics/article
T1 Diversity, distribution and conservation status of island conifers: a global review
A1 Rumeu, Beatriz
A1 Afonso, Virginia
A1 Fernández-Palacios, José María
A1 Nogales, Manuel
K1 Biogeography
K1 dispersal potential
K1 dispersal syndromes
K1 gymnosperms
K1 insular environments
K1 threat degree
K1 Biogeografía
K1 potencial de dispersión
K1 síndromes de dispersión
K1 gimnospermas
K1 ambientes insulares
K1 grado de amenaza
AB Aim Conifers comprise an ancient and diverse group of plants showing a widedistribution range. To better understand the general patterns of species successfullyestablished on islands, this review compiles information about the distribution,diversity, dispersal potential and conservation status of insular conifers,with special emphasis on those inhabiting remote oceanic islands.Location Global.Methods An exhaustive survey was made of world-wide databases and literature.We registered information on island distribution (including ocean region,extension and geological origin of the island), endemism and threat status foreach insular conifer.Results 285 of the 547 conifer species considered in this review show an insulardistribution (i.e. their distribution encompass insular territories). The familyPodocarpaceae is best represented, with 40% of the insular species. The importanceof endozoochory for long-distance dispersal is clear, because it was themost frequent dispersal syndrome among oceanic conifers. A high proportionof the total threatened conifers occur on islands (52%), and many of them areinsular endemics (72%). Among conifer families, Araucariaceae is the mostthreatened in insular territories.Main conclusions Our results highlight the wide diversity of insular conifers,as well as the key role of oceanic islands in catalysing speciation mechanisms.Pacific islands in particular harbour the greatest diversity levels, constituting amajor centre of diversification. The wide distribution of conifers reflects theirgreat potential for dispersal and colonization, endozoochory being the mostfavourable dispersal syndrome for reaching remote islands. The general threatstatus of insular conifers highlights the fragility of island biota and the urgentneed for policies focused on their preservation.
PB Wiley
YR 2014
FD 2014
LK http://riull.ull.es/xmlui/handle/915/18442
UL http://riull.ull.es/xmlui/handle/915/18442
LA en
NO Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia
DS Repositorio institucional de la Universidad de La Laguna
RD 25-nov-2024