Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Franklyn Cala-Riquelme, Patrick Wiencek, Eduardo Florez-Daza, Greta J. Binford, Ingi Agnarsson
Summary: The Caribbean Archipelago is a biodiversity hotspot that contributes to our understanding of species formation, particularly in relation to dispersal ability. This study investigates the Antillattus clade, a group of spiders endemic to the Caribbean, using molecular phylogenetics to infer its evolutionary history and biogeography. The results suggest that land connections and overwater dispersal events have played crucial roles in the diversification of the Antillattus clade within the Greater Antilles.
Article
Plant Sciences
Thibaud F. E. Messerschmid, Stefan Abrahamczyk, Angel Banares-Baudet, Miguel A. Brilhante, Urs Eggli, Philipp Huehn, Joachim W. Kadereit, Patricia dos Santos, Jurriaan M. de Vos, Gudrun Kadereit
Summary: This study aims to quantify intra- and inter-island speciation events in the evolution of Aeonium and explore their consequences. The researchers found that intra-island diversification resulted in stronger ecological divergence of sister lineages, and islands with a longer history of habitation by Aeonium showed stronger ecological differentiation and produced fewer natural hybrids.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Chinta Sidharthan, K. Praveen Karanth
Summary: This study aims to investigate the origins and dispersal pathways of typhlopoids in India. Results indicate that Gerrhopilus is an ancient lineage, while the other three genera are more recent arrivals from Africa and Asia. Biogeographic reconstructions suggest an East Gondwanan origin for typhlopoids, with India harboring a combination of ancient and more recently dispersed lineages.
MOLECULAR PHYLOGENETICS AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Review
Ecology
Jan Hackel, Isabel Sanmartin
Summary: Lineage dispersal is a fundamental macroevolutionary process that shapes the distribution of biodiversity. Current modeling methods have advanced in explaining the variation of lineage dispersal over space, time, and phylogenetic branches, aiding in answering fundamental questions about the tempo and mode of lineage dispersal. Methodological improvements guided by a focus on model adequacy will lead to more realistic models that can further answer key questions about lineage dispersal.
TRENDS IN ECOLOGY & EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ixchel F. Mandagi, Bayu K. A. Sumarto, Handung Nuryadi, Daniel F. Mokodongan, Sjamsu A. Lawelle, Kawilarang W. A. Masengi, Atsushi J. Nagano, Ryo Kakioka, Jun Kitano, Satoshi Ansai, Junko Kusumi, Kazunori Yamahira
Summary: Repeated colonizations and resultant hybridization have increased lineage diversity on Muna Island. The history of multiple colonizations and hybridization events were reconstructed using genetic analyses. These mutual colonizations and introgressive hybridizations shaped the current biodiversity of the Oryzias woworae species group in this area.
MOLECULAR PHYLOGENETICS AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Wenpan Dong, Yanlei Liu, Enze Li, Chao Xu, Jiahui Sun, Wenying Li, Shiliang Zhou, Zhixiang Zhang, Zhili Suo
Summary: This study reconstructed the phylogenetic relationships within Catalpa using a large genomic dataset, revealing that Catalpa is monophyletic with two main clades. Biogeographic analysis suggested three main dispersal events in the evolutionary history of Catalpa, highlighting the impact of incomplete lineage sorting.
MOLECULAR PHYLOGENETICS AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Julien Malem, Tony Robillard, Dominique Cluzel, Loic Bellier, Romain Nattier, Philippe Grandcolas, Frederic Legendre
Summary: The study aimed to test the hypothesis of island-hopping for the origin of old lineages of cockroaches in New Caledonia. The results suggest that indirect dispersal from Australia or New Zealand through now disappeared islands may explain the presence of these old groups in NC.
JOURNAL OF BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Tammy Iwasa-Arai, Silvana G. L. Siqueira, Juliana L. Segadilha, Fosca P. P. Leite
Summary: This study conducted the first survey on the biodiversity of Peracarida from Trindade Island in Brazil, revealing new species and suggesting an Indo-Pacific origin for the genus based on phylogenetic and biogeographical analyses. A comparison with the closest Abrolhos Archipelago showed a high percentage of endemic species on Trindade Island.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Cynthia Skema, Lucile Jourdain-Fievet, Jean-Yves Dubuisson, Timothee Le Pechon
Summary: The dispersal of plants has played a crucial role in the evolution of the diverse flora in Madagascar and the surrounding islands of the western Indian Ocean. Understanding the biogeography of this region is important for studying the Dombeyoideae subfamily, which has a high species richness in the western Indian Ocean region. The study found that Madagascar was a source for colonization of continents and emphasized the importance of narrow sympatry in the evolution of the subfamily.
MOLECULAR PHYLOGENETICS AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Julian Schrader, Ian J. Wright, Holger Kreft, Kingsley Dixon, Rachael V. Gallagher, Samuel C. Andrew, Patrick Weigelt, Mark Westoby
Summary: This study examines the role of dispersal and environmental filtering processes in plant species colonisation on islands based on functional traits. It finds evidence for selective filters on seed mass and leaf area but not plant height. Using individual trait analysis provides more insight into island floras than multivariate functional diversity indices or trait spaces. The study is important for understanding species colonisation and filtering processes on islands.
JOURNAL OF BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ales Bucek, Menglin Wang, Jan Sobotnik, Simon Hellemans, David Sillam-Dusses, Nobuaki Mizumoto, Petr Stiblik, Crystal Clitheroe, Tomer Lu, Juan Jose Gonzalez Plaza, Alma Mohagan, Jean-Jacques Rafanomezantsoa, Brian Fisher, Michael S. Engel, Yves Roisin, Theodore A. Evans, Rudolf Scheffrahn, Thomas Bourguignon
Summary: This study inferred the phylogenetic tree of Kalotermitidae using mitochondrial genomes and revealed that early-diverging kalotermitid lineages had disjunctions predating the breakup of Gondwana. Most of the disjunctions between biogeographic realms occurred in the last 50 million years, indicating that transoceanic and human-mediated dispersals have driven the global distribution of Kalotermitidae. The study also suggests that early-diverging kalotermitids had the ability to forage among multiple wood pieces.
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Biology
Julian Schrader, Ian J. Wright, Holger Kreft, Mark Westoby
Summary: Island biogeography focuses on the distribution of species on islands and isolated habitats, with five key processes shaping island diversity. The classical approach emphasizes species richness as the outcome, but functional traits can provide new insights into species colonization and persistence on islands. These traits are influenced by dispersal, establishment, extinction, evolutionary pathways, and ecological interactions, contributing to the unique characteristics of island species.
BIOLOGICAL REVIEWS
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Alan Fecchio, Henrique Batalha-Filho, Janice H. Dispoto, Jeffrey A. Bell, Jason D. Weckstein
Summary: Amazonia serves as the main source of diversity for haemosporidian parasites in South America, but our understanding of their biogeographical processes and contributions from different areas of endemism is incomplete. This study investigates the spatiotemporal evolution of Plasmodium and Parahaemoproteus parasites and finds that dispersal is the main driver of Plasmodium diversification, while duplication is more frequent in Parahaemoproteus. The results show that the Inambari area is the primary source of Plasmodium diversity on Marajó Island, but the island receives more Parahaemoproteus lineages from Cerrado habitats than any Amazonian area. The unique dispersal patterns and host-shifting ability of each parasite genus may have facilitated their diversification across Amazonia, with deep evolutionary history potentially constraining their colonization of Marajó Island.
MOLECULAR PHYLOGENETICS AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Anthropology
Thomas P. Leppard, Ethan E. Cochrane, Dylan Gaffney, Corinne L. Hofman, Jason E. Laffoon, Magdalena M. E. Bunbury, Cyprian Broodbank
Summary: This paper analyzes the spatial and temporal structure of global island colonization, summarizes the global patterns of island colonization, and explores the biogeographic and environmental factors that affect island colonization. The research found that island colonization is influenced by various factors such as cultural traditions, technological levels, and population growth.
JOURNAL OF WORLD PREHISTORY
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Julian Schrader, Dylan Craven, Cornelia Sattler, Rodrigo Camara-Leret, Soetjipto Moeljono, Holger Kreft
Summary: Research on island communities has shown that non-random assembly processes are influenced by different life-history dimensions, with smaller islands having fewer dispersal and growth strategy traits but more light acquisition traits. As island area increases, the impact of non-random assembly processes grows, leading to increased diversity of dispersal and acquisition strategies in island communities.