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Adaptation and diversification on islands

Author

Listed:
  • Jonathan B. Losos

    (Museum of Comparative Zoology, 26 Oxford Street, Harvard University)

  • Robert E. Ricklefs

    (University of Missouri - St. Louis)

Abstract

Charles Darwin's travels on HMS Beagle taught him that islands are an important source of evidence for evolution. Because many islands are young and have relatively few species, evolutionary adaptation and species proliferation are obvious and easy to study. In addition, the geographical isolation of many islands has allowed evolution to take its own course, free of influence from other areas, resulting in unusual faunas and floras, often unlike those found anywhere else. For these reasons, island research provides valuable insights into speciation and adaptive radiation, and into the relative importance of contingency and determinism in evolutionary diversification.

Suggested Citation

  • Jonathan B. Losos & Robert E. Ricklefs, 2009. "Adaptation and diversification on islands," Nature, Nature, vol. 457(7231), pages 830-836, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:457:y:2009:i:7231:d:10.1038_nature07893
    DOI: 10.1038/nature07893
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    Cited by:

    1. Langle-Flores, Alfonso & Quijas, Sandra, 2020. "A systematic review of ecosystem services of Islas Marietas National Park, Mexico, an insular marine protected area," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 46(C).
    2. Joan Garcia-Porta & Daniel Sol & Matt Pennell & Ferran Sayol & Antigoni Kaliontzopoulou & Carlos A. Botero, 2022. "Niche expansion and adaptive divergence in the global radiation of crows and ravens," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-11, December.

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