Diversity of oceanic island floras: a functional and taxonomic approach along gradients of environmental heterogeneity and across spatial scales

Ozeanische Inseln sind bekannt für ihre einzigartige Biota, die bemerkenswerten Beispiele der Merkmalsentwicklung enthält. Dies macht sie zu ausgezeichneten Modellsystemen für das Testen biogeographischer und evolutionärer Hypothesen sowie für die Verknüpfung von Geodiversität mit Mustern der Pflanzendiversität. Die funktionale Inselbiogeographie ist ein aufstrebendes Forschungsfeld, das auf der Grundlage von merkmalsbasierten Ansätzen tiefere Einblicke in die Dynamik und Muster der insularen Pflanzendiversität liefern kann. Empirische Messungen von funktionalen Pflanzenmerkmalen sind für ozeanische Inseln jedoch rar. Folglich bleibt unser Wissen über die funktionelle Diversität insularer Umgebungen und Inselmerkmalssyndrome begrenzt. Um diese Forschungslücke zu schließen, habe ich Teneriffa (Spanien, Kanarische Inseln) als Modellsystem gewählt, eine ozeanische Insel mit hoher Umweltheterogenität und gut beschriebener Flora, und systematisch acht Pflanzenmerkmale für fast alle auf Teneriffa heimischen Samenpflanzen (80%) erfasst. Anschließend untersuchte ich, wie Biogeographie, Evolution und die Umwelt den Aufbau der Flora Teneriffas formen, indem ich einen auf funktionalen Merkmalen basierenden Ansatz angewendet habe. Anschließend untersuchte ich Pflanzenmerkmals-Syndrome der ozeanischen Insel und verglich sie mit globalen Pflanzenmerkmals-Syndromen. Darüber hinaus untersuchte ich die Skalenabhängigkeit der funktionellen Diversität auf Teneriffa, um die ökologischen Prozesse zu verstehen, die die Muster der Pflanzendiversität über den Raum hinweg formen, von regionalen bis zu lokalen Skalen. Zusätzlich untersuchte ich, wie die Komplexität und zeitliche Dynamik der insularen Umweltheterogenität die Pflanzenvielfalt auf ozeanischen Inseln global beeinflusst. Meine Ergebnisse erweitern das Verständnis über die Bedeutung der Biogeographie (durch Ausbreitung), der Evolution (durch Artbildung) und der Umwelt bei der Bestimmung der funktionellen Vielfalt der Inselflora. Die Ausbreitung, sowohl über große Entfernungen als auch zwischen Inseln, erhöht die funktionelle Vielfalt, während die Speziation sie begrenzt. Wichtig ist, dass die trockenen Umweltbedingungen auf Teneriffa, das ein überwiegend mediterranes Klima hat, dazu geführt haben, dass Pflanzenarten zu einer strauchartigen Wuchsform konvergieren. Ich zeige außerdem die Skalenabhängigkeit der funktionellen Diversität. Regionale Muster der funktionalen Diversität sickern bis zu lokalen Skalen hinunter, aber die Prozesse, die die entstehenden Muster der funktionalen Diversität bestimmen, unterscheiden sich zwischen den lokalen Körnern. Während auf großen räumlichen Körnern Klima und Topographie die funktionelle Diversität von Pflanzen beeinflussen, sind es auf feinen lokalen Körnern Arteninteraktionen. Schließlich zeige ich, dass die Umweltheterogenität ozeanischer Inseln im Laufe der geologischen Zeit sehr dynamisch ist. Die Umweltheterogenität erreicht ihr Maximum schneller als bisher angenommen, d.h. bei der Entstehung einer Insel aus dem Ozean, und nimmt mit der Zeit immer mehr ab. Diese Dynamik beeinflusst stark die insulare Pflanzenvielfalt und den Grad des Endemismus. Die Ergebnisse dieser Doktorarbeit zeigen, dass eigenschaftsbasierte Ansätze in der Inselbiogeographie-Forschung wichtige Einblicke in die räumlich-zeitlichen Muster der Inselflora liefern. Solche Ansätze erlauben es uns auch, die Bedeutung von Biogeographie, Evolution und Ökologie bei der Bestimmung des Aufbaus insularer Pflanzen zu entschlüsseln und zu verstehen. Die Bewertung der Muster der funktionalen und taxonomischen Vielfalt auf verschiedenen räumlichen Skalen ermöglicht es uns zu verstehen, welche Faktoren die Pflanzenvielfalt im Raum bestimmen. Um schließlich den Artenreichtum und Endemismus ozeanischer Inseln besser zu verstehen, ist es von entscheidender Bedeutung, die zeitliche Dynamik und die Auswirkungen der Heterogenität der Inselumwelt zu bewerten, da die ökologischen Möglichkeiten und die Tragfähigkeit der Insel mit dem Heterogenitätsgrad der Umwelt verbunden sind.Oceanic islands are recognized for their unique biota, which include remarkable examples of trait evolution. This makes them excellent model systems for testing biogeographical and evolutionary hypotheses, as well as for linking geodiversity to plant diversity patterns. Functional island biogeography is an emerging research field, which based on trait-based approaches can provide deeper insights about dynamics and patterns of insular plant diversity. Yet empirical measurements of plant functional traits are scarce for oceanic islands. Consequently, our knowledge about functional diversity of insular environments and island trait syndromes remains limited. To fill this research gap, I selected Tenerife (Spain, Canary Islands) as a model system, an oceanic island with high environmental heterogeneity and well-described flora, and systematically sampled eight plant traits for nearly all Tenerife native seed plants (80%). I investigated how biogeography, evolution, and the environment shape the assembly of Tenerife flora by applying a functional trait-based approach. I then explored plant trait syndromes of the oceanic island and compared them to global plant trait syndromes. Furthermore, I investigated the scale dependence of functional diversity of Tenerife to understand the ecological processes shaping plant diversity patterns across space, from regional to local scales. Additionally, I investigated how the complexity and temporal dynamics of insular environmental heterogeneity affect plant diversity on oceanic islands globally. My results expand the understanding about the importance of biogeography (via dispersal), evolution (via speciation), and the environment in determining the functional diversity of island flora. Dispersal, both long distance and among islands, increases functional diversity, while speciation limits it. Importantly, the arid environmental conditions of Tenerife, which has a predominantly Mediterranean climate, have resulted in plant species converging to a shrubby growth form. I further show the scale dependency of functional diversity. Regional patterns of functional diversity percolate down to local scales, but the processes that determine the emerging patterns of functional diversity differ among local grains. While at large spatial grains climate and topography affect plant functional diversity, at fine local grains species interactions affect it. Finally, I show that the environmental heterogeneity of oceanic islands is highly dynamic over geological time. Environmental heterogeneity reaches its maximum levels faster than previously thought, i.e., upon the emergence of an island from the ocean, and progressively decreases with time. This dynamic strongly influences insular plant diversity and endemism levels. The results of this PhD work evidence that trait-based approaches in island biogeography research provide key insights into the spatio-temporal patterns of insular floras. Such approaches also allow us to unravel and understand the importance of biogeography, evolution and ecology in determining how insular plants assemble. Assessing the patterns of functional and taxonomic diversity at different spatial scales, allow us to understand which factors govern plant diversity across space. Finally, to better understand species richness and endemism of oceanic islands, it is key to assess the temporal dynamic and the effect of insular environmental heterogeneity, because ecological opportunities and island carrying capacity are linked to heterogeneity levels of an environment.2021-12-0

Ecosistemas Estratégicos Y Disponibilidad De Hábitat De La Avifauna Del Piedemonte Llanero (Colombia), Como Posible Peligro Aviar

Dada la diversidad y oferta de áreas naturales o artificiales en el piedemonte Llanero y cuenca del Orinoco para la avifauna, se hace necesario llevar a cabo inspecciones y monitoreos de focos de concentración de aves como posible peligro para la aeronavegación. Para este propósito se tomó como referencia al municipio de Villavicencio (Meta, Colombia) estableciendo dos niveles diferentes de evaluación, incluyendo las áreas de aeropuertos y el Parque Ecológico Reciclante. En cada nivel identificado se realizaron visitas de inducción, ajuste de categorías de hábitats, caracterización de la cobertura y uso del suelo y la identificación de los ecosistemas estratégicos partiendo del concepto de servicios ambientales prestados, especialmente la oferta de hábitat. Las observaciones permitieron la categorización de hábitats de influencia de los niveles 1 y 2, en ecosistemas boscosos, pastizales, ecosistemas acuáticos, agroecosistemas y la presencia de infraestructura urbana y productiva, focos importantes para aves de importancia potencial en el peligro aviario. AbstarctGiven the diversity and range of natural or artificial areas for avifauna in the Plains piedmont and the Orinoco river basin, it is necessary to carry out inspections and monitoring of concentration of bird outbreaks as a potential hazard to air navigation. For this purpose, the municipality of Villavicencio (Meta, Colombia) was made reference to establish two different levels of evaluation, including the areas of airports and the Reciclante Ecological Park. At each level identified induction visits, adjustment of habitat categories, coverage characterization and land use, and identification of strategic ecosystems based on the concept of environmental services, especially habitat supply were performed. The observations allowed the categorization of level 1 and 2, habitats influence in forest ecosystems, grasslands, aquatic ecosystems, agro ecosystems and the presence of urban and productive infrastructure, central focus for birds of potential importance in aviary hazard.Dada la diversidad y oferta de áreas naturales o artificiales en el piedemonte Llanero y cuenca del Orinoco para la avifauna, se hace necesario llevar a cabo inspecciones y monitoreos de focos de concentración de aves como posible peligro para la aeronavegación. Para este propósito se tomó como referencia al municipio de Villavicencio (Meta, Colombia) estableciendo dos niveles diferentes de evaluación, incluyendo las áreas de aeropuertos y el Parque Ecológico Reciclante. En cada nivel identificado se realizaron visitas de inducción, ajuste de categorías de hábitats, caracterización de la cobertura y uso del suelo y la identificación de los ecosistemas estratégicos partiendo del concepto de servicios ambientales prestados, especialmente la oferta de hábitat. Las observaciones permitieron la categorización de hábitats de influencia de los niveles 1 y 2, en ecosistemas boscosos, pastizales, ecosistemas acuáticos, agroecosistemas y la presencia de infraestructura urbana y productiva, focos importantes para aves de importancia potencial en el peligro aviario. AbstarctGiven the diversity and range of natural or artificial areas for avifauna in the Plains piedmont and the Orinoco river basin, it is necessary to carry out inspections and monitoring of concentration of bird outbreaks as a potential hazard to air navigation. For this purpose, the municipality of Villavicencio (Meta, Colombia) was made reference to establish two different levels of evaluation, including the areas of airports and the Reciclante Ecological Park. At each level identified induction visits, adjustment of habitat categories, coverage characterization and land use, and identification of strategic ecosystems based on the concept of environmental services, especially habitat supply were performed. The observations allowed the categorization of level 1 and 2, habitats influence in forest ecosystems, grasslands, aquatic ecosystems, agro ecosystems and the presence of urban and productive infrastructure, central focus for birds of potential importance in aviary hazard

Assembly of functional diversity in an oceanic island flora

Oceanic island floras are well known for their morphological peculiarities and exhibit striking examples of trait evolution1–3. These morphological shifts are commonly attributed to insularity and are thought to be shaped by the biogeographical processes and evolutionary histories of oceanic islands2,4. However, the mechanisms through which biogeography and evolution have shaped the distribution and diversity of plant functional traits remain unclear5. Here we describe the functional trait space of the native flora of an oceanic island (Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain) using extensive field and laboratory measurements, and relate it to global trade-offs in ecological strategies. We find that the island trait space exhibits a remarkable functional richness but that most plants are concentrated around a functional hotspot dominated by shrubs with a conservative life-history strategy. By dividing the island flora into species groups associated with distinct biogeographical distributions and diversification histories, our results also suggest that colonization via long-distance dispersal and the interplay between inter-island dispersal and archipelago-level speciation processes drive functional divergence and trait space expansion. Contrary to our expectations, speciation via cladogenesis has led to functional convergence, and therefore only contributes marginally to functional diversity by densely packing trait space around shrubs. By combining biogeography, ecology and evolution, our approach opens new avenues for trait-based insights into how dispersal, speciation and persistence shape the assembly of entire native island floras.Fil: Barajas Barbosa, Martha Paola. Martin-luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg; Alemania. German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig; Alemania. Universität Göttingen; AlemaniaFil: Craven, Dylan. Data Observatory Foundation; Chile. Universidad Mayor; ChileFil: Weigelt, Patrick. Universität Göttingen; AlemaniaFil: Denelle, Pierre. Universität Göttingen; AlemaniaFil: Otto, Rüdiger. Universidad de La Laguna; EspañaFil: Díaz, Sandra Myrna. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal; ArgentinaFil: Price, Jonathan. University Of Hawaii At Hilo; Estados UnidosFil: Fernández Palacios, José María. Universidad de La Laguna; EspañaFil: Kreft, Holger. Universität Göttingen; Alemani

Climatic and biogeographical drivers of functional diversity in the flora of the Canary Islands

Aim Functional traits can help us to elucidate biogeographical and ecological processes driving assemblage structure. We analysed the functional diversity of plant species of different evolutionary origins across an island archipelago, along environmental gradients and across geological age, to assess functional aspects of island biogeographical theory. Location Canary Islands, Spain. Major taxa studied Spermatophytes. Time period Present day. Methods We collected data for four traits (plant height, leaf length, flower length and fruit length) associated with resource acquisition, competitive ability, reproduction and dispersal ability of 893 endemic, non-endemic native and alien plant species (c. 43% of the Canary Island flora) from the literature. Linking these traits to species occurrences and composition across a 500 m × 500 m grid, we calculated functional diversity for endemic, non-endemic native and alien assemblages using multidimensional functional hypervolumes and related the resulting patterns to climatic (humidity) and island biogeographical (geographical isolation, topographic complexity and geological age) gradients. Results Trait space of endemic and non-endemic native species overlapped considerably, and alien species added novel trait combinations, expanding the overall functional space of the Canary Islands. We found that functional diversity of endemic plant assemblages was highest in geographically isolated and humid grid cells. Functional diversity of non-endemic native assemblages was highest in less isolated and humid grid cells. In contrast, functional diversity of alien assemblages was highest in arid ecosystems. Topographic complexity and geological age had only a subordinate effect on functional diversity across floristic groups. Main conclusions We found that endemic and non-endemic native island species possess similar traits, whereas alien species tend to expand functional space in ecosystems where they have been introduced. The spatial distribution of the functional diversity of floristic groups is very distinct across environmental gradients, indicating that species assemblages of different evolutionary origins thrive functionally in dissimilar habitats.publishedVersio

Promoción de la investigación inclusiva sobre la biodiversidad: estrategias para prácticas equitativas e impacto colectivo

Biodiversity research is vital to understand the complexity and global scale of the biodiversity crisis, necessitating diverse participation and perspectives through collaborative efforts. However, the current state of biodiversity research highlights significant issues concerning inclusivity, representation, and equitable collaboration. Local expertise from biodiversity-rich countries and regions is often underrepresented, with Western institutions dominating the field. This imbalance hinders effective conservation initiatives and limits opportunities for local scientists to contribute to biodiversity knowledge. Addressing these challenges requires a collective effort, acknowledging the complexity and interplay of factors, such as linguistic bias and capacity constraints, across different levels of the research landscape. In this paper, we present a comprehensive set of strategies aimed at promoting and enhancing inclusivity in the biodiversity research community. These strategies encompass researchers, publishers, institutions, and funding bodies, and are designed to embrace diversity, dismantle barriers, and foster effective collaboration. We aim to advocate change by creating a research landscape that values and integrates diverse perspectives, empowers researchers from underrepresented regions, and bridges critical knowledge gaps hindering comprehensive biodiversity research. Together, these collective efforts can drive a paradigm shift fostering a more inclusive and impactful approach to biodiversity research that ensures equitable representation and maximizes the potential of our diverse and collective knowledge for conserving biodiversity and ecosystems.La investigación sobre la biodiversidad es vital para comprender la complejidad y la escala global de la crisis de la biodiversidad, lo cual requiere una participación y perspectivas diversas a través de esfuerzos de colaboración. Sin embargo, el estado actual de la investigación sobre la biodiversidad pone de relieve cuestiones importantes relacionadas con la inclusión, la representación y la colaboración equitativa. Los conocimientos locales de los países y regiones ricos en biodiversidad suelen tener menor representación, mientras que las instituciones occidentales dominan este campo. Este desequilibrio obstaculiza las iniciativas de conservación efectivas y limita las oportunidades para que los científicos locales contribuyan al conocimiento de la biodiversidad. Abordar estos desafíos requiere un esfuerzo colectivo, reconociendo la complejidad y la interacción de factores, como el sesgo lingüístico y las limitaciones de capacidad, en los diferentes niveles del panorama de la investigación. En este documento, presentamos un conjunto integral de estrategias destinadas a promover y mejorar la inclusión en la comunidad de investigación de la biodiversidad. Estas estrategias abarcan a investigadores, editores, instituciones y organismos de financiación y están diseñadas para abarcar la diversidad, desmantelar las barreras y fomentar una colaboración eficaz. Nuestro objetivo es abogar por el cambio mediante la creación de un panorama de investigación que valore e integre diversas perspectivas, empodere a los investigadores de regiones con menor representación y cierre las brechas críticas de conocimiento que obstaculizan la investigación integral de la biodiversidad. Estos esfuerzos colectivos impulsan un cambio de paradigma, lo cual fomentaría un enfoque más inclusivo que impacte la investigación de la biodiversidad y garantice la representación equitativa. Todo esto, maximiza el potencial de un conocimiento diverso y colectivo para conservar la biodiversidad y los ecosistemas de forma efectiva

Avançando a Pesquisa Inclusiva em Biodiversidade: Estratégias para Práticas Equitativas e Impacto Coletivo

Biodiversity research is vital to understand the complexity and global scale of the biodiversity crisis, necessitating diverse participation and perspectives through collaborative efforts. However, the current state of biodiversity research highlights significant issues concerning inclusivity, representation, and equitable collaboration. Local expertise from biodiversity-rich countries and regions is often underrepresented, with Western institutions dominating the field. This imbalance hinders effective conservation initiatives and limits opportunities for local scientists to contribute to biodiversity knowledge. Addressing these challenges requires a collective effort, acknowledging the complexity and interplay of factors, such as linguistic bias and capacity constraints, across different levels of the research landscape. In this paper, we present a comprehensive set of strategies aimed at promoting and enhancing inclusivity in the biodiversity research community. These strategies encompass researchers, publishers, institutions, and funding bodies, and are designed to embrace diversity, dismantle barriers, and foster effective collaboration. We aim to advocate change by creating a research landscape that values and integrates diverse perspectives, empowers researchers from underrepresented regions, and bridges critical knowledge gaps hindering comprehensive biodiversity research. Together, these collective efforts can drive a paradigm shift fostering a more inclusive and impactful approach to biodiversity research that ensures equitable representation and maximizes the potential of our diverse and collective knowledge for conserving biodiversity and ecosystems.A pesquisa em biodiversidade é vital para entender a complexidade e a escala da crise global da biodiversidade, exigindo participação e perspectivas diversas por meio de esforços colaborativos. No entanto, o estado atual da pesquisa em biodiversidade destaca questões significativas relativas à inclusão, representação e colaboração equitativa. A experiência local de países e regiões ricas em biodiversidade é frequentemente sub-representada, com as instituições ocidentais ricas dominando o a área de pesquisa. Esse desequilíbrio dificulta iniciativas efetivas de conservação e limita as oportunidades para os cientistas locais contribuírem para o conhecimento da biodiversidade. Enfrentar esses desafios requer um esforço coletivo, reconhecendo a complexidade e a interação de fatores, como viés linguístico e limitações de infra-estrutura, em diferentes níveis do cenário de pesquisa. Neste artigo, apresentamos um conjunto abrangente de estratégias destinadas a promover e aumentar a inclusão na comunidade de pesquisa em biodiversidade. Essas estratégias abrangem pesquisadores, editoras, instituições e órgãos de financiamento e são projetadas para abraçar a diversidade, desmantelar barreiras e promover uma colaboração efetiva. Nosso objetivo é defender a mudança criando um cenário de pesquisa que valorize e integre perspectivas diversas, capacite pesquisadores de regiões sub-representadas e preencha lacunas críticas de conhecimento que impedem a pesquisa abrangente sobre biodiversidade. Juntos, esses esforços coletivos podem impulsionar uma mudança de paradigma, promovendo uma abordagem mais inclusiva e impactante para a pesquisa em biodiversidade que garanta uma representação equitativa e maximize o potencial de nosso conhecimento diversificado e coletivo para conservar a biodiversidade e os ecossistemas

Scientific floras can be reliable sources for some trait data in a system with poor coverage in global trait databases

Aim: Trait‐based approaches are increasingly important in ecology and biogeography, but progress is often hampered by the availability of high‐quality quantitative trait data collected in the field. Alternative sources of trait information include scientific floras and taxonomic monographs. Here we test the reliability and usefulness of trait data acquired from scientific floras against trait values measured in the field, and those in TRY, the most comprehensive global plant trait database. Location: Tenerife and La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain. Methods: We measured leaf area and specific leaf area (SLA) in the field for 451 native vascular plant species and compared them with equivalent trait data digitised from the most recent and comprehensive guide of the Canarian flora, and data sourced from TRY. We regressed the field‐measured traits against their equivalents estimated from the literature and used the regression models from one island to predict the trait values on the other island. Results: For leaf area, linear models showed good agreement between values from the scientific flora and those measured in the field (r2 = 0.86). These models were spatially transferable across islands. In contrast, for SLA we found a weak relationship between field‐measured values and the best estimates from the scientific flora (r2 = 0.11). Insufficient data were available in the TRY database for our study area to calculate trait correlations with other data sources. Conclusions: Scientific floras can act as useful data sources for quantitative plant trait data for some traits but not others, whilst the TRY database contains many traits, but is incomplete in species coverage for our study region, and oceanic islands in general

Effects of climate change on the distribution of plant species and plant functional strategies on the Canary Islands

Aim Oceanic islands possess unique floras with high proportions of endemic species. Island floras are expected to be severely affected by changing climatic conditions as species on islands have limited distribution ranges and small population sizes and face the constraints of insularity to track their climatic niches. We aimed to assess how ongoing climate change affects the range sizes of oceanic island plants, identifying species of particular conservation concern. Location Canary Islands, Spain. Methods We combined species occurrence data from single-island endemic, archipelago endemic and nonendemic native plant species of the Canary Islands with data on current and future climatic conditions. Bayesian Additive Regression Trees were used to assess the effect of climate change on species distributions; 71% (n = 502 species) of the native Canary Island species had models deemed good enough. To further assess how climate change affects plant functional strategies, we collected data on woodiness and succulence. Results Single-island endemic species were projected to lose a greater proportion of their climatically suitable area (x ̃ = −0.36) than archipelago endemics (x ̃ = −0.28) or nonendemic native species (x ̃ = −0.26), especially on Lanzarote and Fuerteventura, which are expected to experience less annual precipitation in the future. Moreover, herbaceous single-island endemics were projected to gain less and lose more climatically suitable area than insular woody single-island endemics. By contrast, we found that succulent single-island endemics and nonendemic natives gain more and lose less climatically suitable area. Main Conclusions While all native species are of conservation importance, we emphasise single-island endemic species not characterised by functional strategies associated with water use efficiency. Our results are particularly critical for other oceanic island floras that are not constituted by such a vast diversity of insular woody species as the Canary Islands

Climatic and biogeographical drivers of functional diversity in the flora of the Canary Islands

Aim: Functional traits can help us to elucidate biogeographical and ecological processes driving assemblage structure. We analysed the functional diversity of plant species of different evolutionary origins across an island archipelago, along environmental gradients and across geological age, to assess functional aspects of island biogeographical theory. Location: Canary Islands, Spain. Major taxa studied: Spermatophytes. Time period: Present day. Methods: We collected data for four traits (plant height, leaf length, flower length and fruit length) associated with resource acquisition, competitive ability, reproduction and dispersal ability of 893 endemic, non-endemic native and alien plant species (c.43% of the Canary Island flora) from the literature. Linking these traits to species occurrences and composition across a 500m×500m grid, we calculated functional diversity for endemic, non-endemic native and alien assemblages using multidimensional functional hypervolumes and related the resulting patterns to climatic (humidity) and island biogeographical (geographical isolation, topographic complexity and geological age) gradients. Results: Trait space of endemic and non-endemic native species overlapped considerably, and alien species added novel trait combinations, expanding the overall functional space of the Canary Islands. We found that functional diversity of endemic plant assemblages was highest in geographically isolated and humid grid cells. Functional diversity of non-endemic native assemblages was highest in less isolated and humid grid cells. In contrast, functional diversity of alien assemblages was highest in arid ecosystems. Topographic complexity and geological age had only a subordinate effect on functional diversity across floristic groups. Main conclusions: We found that endemic and non-endemic native island species possess similar traits, whereas alien species tend to expand functional space in ecosystems where they have been introduced. The spatial distribution of the functional diversity of floristic groups is very distinct across environmental gradients, indicating that species assemblages of different evolutionary origins thrive functionally in dissimilar habitats

Effects of climate change on the distribution of plant species and plant functional strategies on the Canary Islands

peer reviewedAim Oceanic islands possess unique floras with high proportions of endemic species. Island floras are expected to be severely affected by changing climatic conditions as species on islands have limited distribution ranges and small population sizes and face the constraints of insularity to track their climatic niches. We aimed to assess how ongoing climate change affects the range sizes of oceanic island plants, identifying species of particular conservation concern. Location Canary Islands, Spain. Methods We combined species occurrence data from single-island endemic, archipelago endemic and nonendemic native plant species of the Canary Islands with data on current and future climatic conditions. Bayesian Additive Regression Trees were used to assess the effect of climate change on species distributions; 71% (n = 502 species) of the native Canary Island species had models deemed good enough. To further assess how climate change affects plant functional strategies, we collected data on woodiness and succulence. Results Single-island endemic species were projected to lose a greater proportion of their climatically suitable area (x ̃ = −0.36) than archipelago endemics (x ̃ = −0.28) or nonendemic native species (x ̃ = −0.26), especially on Lanzarote and Fuerteventura, which are expected to experience less annual precipitation in the future. Moreover, herbaceous single-island endemics were projected to gain less and lose more climatically suitable area than insular woody single-island endemics. By contrast, we found that succulent single-island endemics and nonendemic natives gain more and lose less climatically suitable area. Main Conclusions While all native species are of conservation importance, we emphasise single-island endemic species not characterised by functional strategies associated with water use efficiency. Our results are particularly critical for other oceanic island floras that are not constituted by such a vast diversity of insular woody species as the Canary Islands