Article
Ecology
Tyrone H. Lavery, Lucas H. DeCicco, Karen V. Olson, Piokera S. Holland, Robert G. Moyle
Summary: The study aims to investigate the influence of sea level changes and land bridges on the phylogeographic patterns of bats in the Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea.
JOURNAL OF BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Christian Kehlmaier, Eva Gracia, Jason R. Ali, Patrick D. Campbell, Sandra D. Chapman, V. Deepak, Flora Ihlow, Nour-Eddine Jalil, Laure Pierre-Huyet, Karen E. Samonds, Miguel Vences, Uwe Fritz
Summary: By integrating ancient DNA data with other evidence, such as radiocarbon dating and paleogeographic evidence, we were able to uncover the diversity and biogeography of giant tortoises in the western Indian Ocean islands. Our findings suggest that the extinct Mascarene tortoises originated in Africa and then spread to now-sunken islands northeast of Madagascar. We also discovered a new species of tortoise using nuclear and mitochondrial DNA analysis.
Article
Biology
Helena Teixeira, Vincent Montade, Jordi Salmona, Julia Metzger, Laurent Bremond, Thomas Kasper, Gerhard Daut, Sylvie Rouland, Sandratrinirainy Ranarilalatiana, Romule Rakotondravony, Lounes Chikhi, Hermann Behling, Ute Radespiel
Summary: Teixeira et al. combined genomic and palaeoecological datasets to infer the demographic history of a forest-dwelling lemur in Madagascar. Their findings indicate that historical environmental changes drove population demographic changes prior to anthropogenic impact, which was detected in the study region during the last millennium.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Xingfeng Si, Marc W. Cadotte, T. Jonathan Davies, Alexandre Antonelli, Ping Ding, Jens-Christian Svenning, Soren Faurby
Summary: Island mammal assemblages are shaped by eco-evolutionary processes, including evolutionary history clustering and functional trait clustering. The intensity of these clustering phenomena is determined by island size and isolation. In situ speciation and dispersal filtering play important roles in the formation of island mammal assemblages.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Maeva Gabrielli, Thibault Leroy, Jordi Salmona, Benoit Nabholz, Borja Mila, Christophe Thebaud
Summary: This study investigates the demographic history of three species of passerine birds from volcanic oceanic islands and suggests that local events may have played a role in shaping population trajectories of these island species. Differences in population dynamics were observed between species living on different islands, while species or populations from the same island showed consistent demographic trajectories.
Article
Zoology
Nicolas Gompel
Summary: This study describes six new species of the genus Mixaderus from La Reunion and Mauritius, as well as providing an updated key for identifying Mixaderus species in the Mascarene archipelago.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
R. E. Major, K. M. Ewart, D. J. Portelli, A. King, L. R. Tsang, T. O'Dwyer, N. Carlile, C. Haselden, H. Bower, D. E. Alquezar-Planas, R. N. Johnson, M. D. B. Eldridge
Summary: Maintaining genetic diversity within species is crucial for biodiversity conservation, especially for small, isolated populations at risk of genetic erosion. Research on the Lord Howe woodhen revealed restricted dispersal, genetic structure, and a decline in genetic diversity over time, highlighting the importance of ongoing genetic monitoring and management for conservation efforts.
ANIMAL CONSERVATION
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Veronica van der Schyff, Marinus du Preez, Karin Blom, Nee Sun Choong Kwet Yive, Jana Klanova, Petra Pribylova, Ondrej Audy, Jakub Martinik, Hindrik Bouwman
Summary: Persistent halogenated compounds were found in coral reef biota from tropical islands in the western Indian Ocean, including traditional organic pollutants and new compounds. Different species of corals and fish showed varying concentrations and patterns of PHCs, indicating the need for targeted sampling in future surveys. Agalega and St. Brandon's Atoll can serve as monitoring sites for changes in pollutant concentrations due to their remoteness.
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Mahomoodally Mohamad Fawzi, Jugreet Bibi Sharmeen, Haddad Juliano, El Kalamouni Chaker
Summary: This review summarizes the antiviral properties of Mascarene endemic and indigenous medicinal plants. The findings highlight the inhibitory effects and selectivity of these plants against various viruses.
CURRENT DRUG TARGETS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Martha Paola Barajas Barbosa, Dylan Craven, Patrick Weigelt, Pierre Denelle, Rudiger Otto, Sandra Diaz, Jonathan Price, Jose Maria Fernandez-Palacios, Holger Kreft
Summary: Oceanic island floras are known for their unique morphological characteristics and provide examples of trait evolution. These morphological shifts are believed to be influenced by the biogeographical processes and evolutionary histories of oceanic islands. However, the mechanisms behind the distribution and diversity of plant functional traits remain unclear.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Daishi Yamazaki, Shun Ito, Osamu Miura, Tetsuro Sasaki, Satoshi Chiba
Summary: By using high resolution genetic markers, this study demonstrated the genetic differentiation of the marine gastropod Monodonta sp. in the peripheral oceanic islands and identified sea level fluctuation associated with past climatic change and temporal oceanographic conditions as the factors shaping the genetic structure.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Geography, Physical
A. Rodriguez-Gonzalez, J. L. Fernandez-Turiel, M. Aulinas, M. C. Cabrera, C. Prieto-Torrell, G. A. Rodriguez, H. Guillou, F. J. Perez-Torrado
Summary: This study analyzes the volcanic rocky coast setting and assesses the effects of volcanic construction and erosion on the coast at the scale of a volcanic edifice. El Hierro Island exemplifies an active sea-cliff profile, reflecting its early evolutionary stage as a young ocean volcanic island. The age of eruptions forming lava deltas affecting the coastal landform was constrained using a contemporary insular shelf. The study provides valuable insights for coastal planning and volcanic risk assessment.
Article
Ecology
Severin D. H. Irl, Andreas H. Schweiger, Manuel J. Steinbauer, Claudine Ah-Peng, Jose Ramon Arevalo, Carl Beierkuhnlein, Alessandro Chiarucci, Curtis C. Daehler, Jose Maria Fernandez-Palacios, Olivier Flores, Christoph Kueffer, Petr Madera, Rudiger Otto, Julienne M. -I. Schweiger, Dominique Strasberg, Anke Jentsch
Summary: Plant invasion on tropical and subtropical islands seems to be mainly driven by precipitation and human impact, while temperature seems to be of little importance. Furthermore, anemochory and anthropochory are dispersal strategies associated with large niche widths of non-native species.
JOURNAL OF BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
V Deepak, Simon T. Maddock, Rhiannon Williams, Zoltan T. Nagy, Werner Conradie, Sara Rocha, D. James Harris, Ana Perera, Vaclav Gvozdik, Thomas M. Doherty-Bone, Rachunliu G. Kamei, Michele Menegon, Jim Labisko, Charles Morel, Natalie Cooper, Julia J. Day, David J. Gower
Summary: The phylogenetic relationships of sub-Saharan African natricine snakes, including the Seychelles endemic Lycognathophis seychellensis, are not well-understood. Genetic analysis suggests a close relationship between L. seychellensis and mainland sub-Saharan natricines, with low genetic variation. The lineage of L. seychellensis is estimated to have dispersed to the Seychelles from mainland Africa approximately 43-25 million years ago, challenging the idea that it is a Gondwanan relic.
MOLECULAR PHYLOGENETICS AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Noam S. Vogt-Vincent, April J. Burt, David M. Kaplan, Satoshi Mitarai, Lindsay A. Turnbull, Helen L. Johnson
Summary: Vast quantities of debris are washing up on remote islands in the western Indian Ocean. Using marine dispersal simulations, researchers have identified the sources of this debris and found that most of it originates from Indonesia, India, and Sri Lanka. Fisheries and shipping activities also contribute significantly to the problem. The study highlights the vulnerability of small island states to marine plastic pollution and offers important insights for improved management strategies.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2023)