The Latitudinal Reconfiguration of Island Biogeographic Principles

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Auteurs principaux: Revista, Zen, GEOGRAPHY, 10
Format: Recurso digital
Publié: Zenodo 2025
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author Revista, Zen
GEOGRAPHY, 10
author_facet Revista, Zen
GEOGRAPHY, 10
contents Island Biogeography Theory (IBT), a cornerstone of ecological understanding, posits that the number of species on an island is a dynamic equilibrium between immigration and extinction, influenced by island size and isolation. While remarkably predictive, IBT often operates under an implicit assumption of environmental homogeneity. This paper argues for a critical reconfiguration of IBT principles by explicitly integrating the pervasive influence of latitudinal gradients. These gradients, driven by variations in solar radiation, temperature, productivity, and historical factors, fundamentally alter the rates and processes of immigration, extinction, and speciation. We propose that species-area relationships, species-isolation relationships, and the very dynamics of community assembly exhibit significant latitudinal variability. Specifically, we hypothesize that extinction rates may be higher and immigration dynamics more constrained in higher latitudes due to harsher climatic conditions, while tropical islands might exhibit higher speciation rates and different saturation dynamics. By considering how latitudinal variations in climate stability, resource availability, disturbance regimes, and anthropogenic pressures modulate the core tenets of IBT, we aim to enhance its explanatory power and predictive utility, particularly in the context of global environmental change and biodiversity conservation. This integrated perspective offers a more nuanced understanding of island biodiversity patterns across the globe.
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publishDate 2025
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spellingShingle The Latitudinal Reconfiguration of Island Biogeographic Principles
Revista, Zen
GEOGRAPHY, 10
Island Biogeography Theory (IBT), a cornerstone of ecological understanding, posits that the number of species on an island is a dynamic equilibrium between immigration and extinction, influenced by island size and isolation. While remarkably predictive, IBT often operates under an implicit assumption of environmental homogeneity. This paper argues for a critical reconfiguration of IBT principles by explicitly integrating the pervasive influence of latitudinal gradients. These gradients, driven by variations in solar radiation, temperature, productivity, and historical factors, fundamentally alter the rates and processes of immigration, extinction, and speciation. We propose that species-area relationships, species-isolation relationships, and the very dynamics of community assembly exhibit significant latitudinal variability. Specifically, we hypothesize that extinction rates may be higher and immigration dynamics more constrained in higher latitudes due to harsher climatic conditions, while tropical islands might exhibit higher speciation rates and different saturation dynamics. By considering how latitudinal variations in climate stability, resource availability, disturbance regimes, and anthropogenic pressures modulate the core tenets of IBT, we aim to enhance its explanatory power and predictive utility, particularly in the context of global environmental change and biodiversity conservation. This integrated perspective offers a more nuanced understanding of island biodiversity patterns across the globe.
title The Latitudinal Reconfiguration of Island Biogeographic Principles
url https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18009902