Madagascar’s extraordinary biodiversity : Evolution, distribution, and use
(2022) In Science 378(6623).- Abstract
Madagascar’s biota is hyperdiverse and includes exceptional levels of endemicity. We review the current state of knowledge on Madagascar’s past and current terrestrial and freshwater biodiversity by compiling and presenting comprehensive data on species diversity, endemism, and rates of species description and human uses, in addition to presenting an updated and simplified map of vegetation types. We report a substantial increase of records and species new to science in recent years; however, the diversity and evolution of many groups remain practically unknown (e.g., fungi and most invertebrates). Digitization efforts are increasing the resolution of species richness patterns and we highlight the crucial role of field- and... (More)
Madagascar’s biota is hyperdiverse and includes exceptional levels of endemicity. We review the current state of knowledge on Madagascar’s past and current terrestrial and freshwater biodiversity by compiling and presenting comprehensive data on species diversity, endemism, and rates of species description and human uses, in addition to presenting an updated and simplified map of vegetation types. We report a substantial increase of records and species new to science in recent years; however, the diversity and evolution of many groups remain practically unknown (e.g., fungi and most invertebrates). Digitization efforts are increasing the resolution of species richness patterns and we highlight the crucial role of field- and collections-based research for advancing biodiversity knowledge and identifying gaps in our understanding, particularly as species richness corresponds closely to collection effort. Phylogenetic diversity patterns mirror that of species richness and endemism in most of the analyzed groups. We highlight humid forests as centers of diversity and endemism because of their role as refugia and centers of recent and rapid radiations. However, the distinct endemism of other areas, such as the grassland-woodland mosaic of the Central Highlands and the spiny forest of the southwest, is also biologically important despite lower species richness. The documented uses of Malagasy biodiversity are manifold, with much potential for the uncovering of new useful traits for food, medicine, and climate mitigation. The data presented here showcase Madagascar as a unique “living laboratory” for our understanding of evolution and the complex interactions between people and nature. The gathering and analysis of biodiversity data must continue and accelerate if we are to fully understand and safeguard this unique subset of Earth’s biodiversity.
(Less)
- author
- publishing date
- 2022-12-02
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- in
- Science
- volume
- 378
- issue
- 6623
- article number
- eabf0869
- publisher
- American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
- external identifiers
-
- pmid:36454829
- scopus:85143185679
- ISSN
- 0036-8075
- DOI
- 10.1126/science.abf0869
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- no
- additional info
- Publisher Copyright: © 2022 American Association for the Advancement of Science. All rights reserved.
- id
- c3ef31b3-81b3-42cb-981a-171c29ccd663
- date added to LUP
- 2023-02-22 11:48:24
- date last changed
- 2024-04-18 19:49:33
@article{c3ef31b3-81b3-42cb-981a-171c29ccd663,
abstract = {{<p>Madagascar’s biota is hyperdiverse and includes exceptional levels of endemicity. We review the current state of knowledge on Madagascar’s past and current terrestrial and freshwater biodiversity by compiling and presenting comprehensive data on species diversity, endemism, and rates of species description and human uses, in addition to presenting an updated and simplified map of vegetation types. We report a substantial increase of records and species new to science in recent years; however, the diversity and evolution of many groups remain practically unknown (e.g., fungi and most invertebrates). Digitization efforts are increasing the resolution of species richness patterns and we highlight the crucial role of field- and collections-based research for advancing biodiversity knowledge and identifying gaps in our understanding, particularly as species richness corresponds closely to collection effort. Phylogenetic diversity patterns mirror that of species richness and endemism in most of the analyzed groups. We highlight humid forests as centers of diversity and endemism because of their role as refugia and centers of recent and rapid radiations. However, the distinct endemism of other areas, such as the grassland-woodland mosaic of the Central Highlands and the spiny forest of the southwest, is also biologically important despite lower species richness. The documented uses of Malagasy biodiversity are manifold, with much potential for the uncovering of new useful traits for food, medicine, and climate mitigation. The data presented here showcase Madagascar as a unique “living laboratory” for our understanding of evolution and the complex interactions between people and nature. The gathering and analysis of biodiversity data must continue and accelerate if we are to fully understand and safeguard this unique subset of Earth’s biodiversity.</p>}},
author = {{Antonelli, Alexandre and Smith, Rhian J. and Perrigo, Allison L. and Crottini, Angelica and Hackel, Jan and Testo, Weston and Farooq, Harith and Torres Jiménez, Maria F. and Andela, Niels and Andermann, Tobias and Andriamanohera, Andotiana M. and Andriambololonera, Sylvie and Bachman, Steven P. and Bacon, Christine D. and Baker, William J. and Belluardo, Francesco and Birkinshaw, Chris and Borrell, James S. and Cable, Stuart and Canales, Nataly A. and Carrillo, Juan D. and Clegg, Rosie and Clubbe, Colin and Cooke, Robert S.C. and Damasco, Gabriel and Dhanda, Sonia and Edler, Daniel and Faurby, Søren and de Lima Ferreira, Paola and Fisher, Brian L. and Forest, Félix and Gardiner, Lauren M. and Goodman, Steven M. and Grace, Olwen M. and Guedes, Thaís B. and Henniges, Marie C. and Hill, Rowena and Lehmann, Caroline E.R. and Lowry, Porter P. and Marline, Lovanomenjanahary and Matos-Maraví, Pável and Moat, Justin and Neves, Beatriz and Nogueira, Matheus G.C. and Onstein, Renske E. and Papadopulos, Alexander S.T. and Perez-Escobar, Oscar A. and Phelps, Leanne N. and Phillipson, Peter B. and Pironon, Samuel and Przelomska, Natalia A.S. and Rabarimanarivo, Marina and Rabehevitra, David and Raharimampionona, Jeannie and Rajaonah, Mamy Tiana and Rajaonary, Fano and Rajaovelona, Landy R. and Rakotoarinivo, Mijoro and Rakotoarisoa, Amédée A. and Rakotoarisoa, Solofo E. and Rakotomalala, Herizo N. and Rakotonasolo, Franck and Ralaiveloarisoa, Berthe A. and Ramirez-Herranz, Myriam and Randriamamonjy, Jean Emmanuel N. and Randriamboavonjy, Tianjanahary and Randrianasolo, Vonona and Rasolohery, Andriambolantsoa and Ratsifandrihamanana, Anitry N. and Ravololomanana, Noro and Razafiniary, Velosoa and Razanajatovo, Henintsoa and Razanatsoa, Estelle and Rivers, Malin and Sayol, Ferran and Silvestro, Daniele and Vorontsova, Maria S. and Walker, Kim and Walker, Barnaby E. and Wilkin, Paul and Williams, Jenny and Ziegler, Thomas and Zizka, Alexander and Ralimanana, Hélène}},
issn = {{0036-8075}},
language = {{eng}},
month = {{12}},
number = {{6623}},
publisher = {{American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)}},
series = {{Science}},
title = {{Madagascar’s extraordinary biodiversity : Evolution, distribution, and use}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.abf0869}},
doi = {{10.1126/science.abf0869}},
volume = {{378}},
year = {{2022}},
}