Linking Plant Functional Ecology to Island Biogeography
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2020 |
| Type | Article in Periodical |
| Magazine / Source | TRENDS in Plant Science |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Web | https://www.cell.com/action/showPdf?pii=S1360-1385%2819%2930347-4 |
| Doi | http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.tplants.2019.12.022 |
| Keywords | colonization; eco-evolutionary processes; functional island biogeography; functional traits; island syndrome; persistence |
| Description | The study of insular systems has a long history in ecology and biogeography. Island plants often differ remarkably from their noninsular counterparts, constituting excellent models for exploring eco-evolutionary processes. Trait-based approaches can help to answer important questions in island biogeography, yet plant trait patterns on islands remain understudied. We discuss three key hypotheses linking functional ecology to island biogeography: (i) plants in insular systems are characterized by distinct functional trait syndromes (compared with noninsular environments); (ii) these syndromes differ between true islands and terrestrial habitat islands; and (iii) island characteristics influence trait syndromes in a predictable manner. We are convinced that implementing trait-based comparative approaches would considerably further our understanding of plant ecology and evolution in insular systems. |
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