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Island disharmony revisited using orchids as a model group
Amanda Taylor1, Patrick Weigelt1, Christian König1
1Biodiversity, Macroecology & Biogeography, Faculty for Forest Sciences and Forest Ecology, University of Goettingen, Büsgenweg 1, Göttingen, 37077, Germany.
The New Phytologist
|March 9, 2019
Summary
Island orchids are under-represented and show functional trait shifts, like shorter nectar spurs, indicating functional disharmony. Understanding species traits and interactions is key to island biology.
Area of Science:
- Island biology
- Evolutionary ecology
- Plant speciation
Background:
- Island biogeography posits that island species assemblages are subsets of mainland pools, often exhibiting taxonomic disharmony.
- Traditional explanations focus on taxon-specific colonization abilities, but functional disharmony offers deeper insights into island assembly processes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the formation of functionally disharmonic island floras using orchids as a model system.
- To explore the roles of filtering effects and speciation in shaping island plant communities.
- To demonstrate the importance of species traits over broad taxonomic groups in understanding island colonization.
Main Methods:
- A comprehensive dataset of 27,637 orchid species was compiled.
- A literature review was conducted to synthesize existing knowledge.
- Exploratory analyses were performed to assess taxonomic and functional representation on islands.
Main Results:
- Orchids are significantly under-represented on islands compared to mainland regions.
- Insular orchids exhibit functional trait shifts, including shortened nectar spurs and altered flower coloration.
- These shifts suggest adaptations for pollination by birds (ornithophily) and generalist insects.
Conclusions:
- Island flora composition is shaped by functional traits and ecological interactions, not just taxonomic representation.
- Filtering effects and speciation processes drive functional disharmony in island orchid communities.
- Considering species traits and biotic interactions is crucial for a comprehensive understanding of island plant assembly.
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