Pettorelli, N;
Patino, J;
Whittaker, RJ;
Borges, PAV;
Fernandez-Palacios, JM;
Ah-Peng, C;
Araujo, M;
... Emerson, BC; + view all
(2017)
A roadmap for island biology: 50 fundamental questions after 50 years of The Theory of Island Biogeography.
Journal of Biogeography
, 44
(5)
pp. 963-983.
10.1111/jbi.12986.
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Abstract
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.
| Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Title: | A roadmap for island biology: 50 fundamental questions after 50 years of The Theory of Island Biogeography |
| Open access status: | An open access version is available from UCL Discovery |
| DOI: | 10.1111/jbi.12986 |
| Publisher version: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jbi.12986 |
| Language: | English |
| Additional information: | This version is the author accepted manuscript. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher’s terms and conditions. |
| Keywords: | Biodiversity conservation, community ecology, extinction, global change, island biology, island biogeography theory, island evolution, island macroecology, research priorities |
| UCL classification: | UCL UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Life Sciences UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Life Sciences > Div of Biosciences |
| URI: | https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/1538577 |
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