The general dynamic model: towards a unified theory of island biogeography?

TY - JOUR

T1 - The general dynamic model

T2 - towards a unified theory of island biogeography?

AU - Borregaard, Michael K.

AU - Matthews, Thomas J.

AU - Whittaker, Robert James

N1 - Special Issue: New Directions in Island Biogeography

PY - 2016/7/1

Y1 - 2016/7/1

N2 - Aim: Island biogeography focuses on understanding the processes that underlie a set of well-described patterns on islands, but it lacks a unified theoretical framework for integrating these processes. The recently proposed general dynamic model (GDM) of oceanic island biogeography offers a step towards this goal. Here, we present an analysis of causality within the GDM and investigate its potential for the further development of island biogeographical theory. Further, we extend the GDM to include subduction-based island arcs and continental fragment islands. Location: A conceptual analysis and a simulation of oceanic islands. Methods: We describe the causal relationships between evolutionary and ecological processes implied by the GDM, implement them as a computer simulation and use this to simulate two alternative geological scenarios. Results: The dynamics of species richness and rates of evolutionary processes in simulations derived from the mechanistic assumptions of the GDM corresponded broadly to those initially suggested, with the exception of trends in extinction rates. Expanding the model to incorporate different scenarios of island ontogeny and isolation revealed a sensitivity of evolutionary dynamics to attributes of island geology. Main conclusions: We argue that the GDM of oceanic island biogeography has the potential to provide a unified framework for island biogeography, integrating geological, ecological and evolutionary processes. Our simulations highlight how the geological dynamics of distinct island types are predicted to lead to markedly different evolutionary dynamics. This sets the stage for a more predictive theory incorporating the processes governing temporal dynamics of species diversity on islands.

AB - Aim: Island biogeography focuses on understanding the processes that underlie a set of well-described patterns on islands, but it lacks a unified theoretical framework for integrating these processes. The recently proposed general dynamic model (GDM) of oceanic island biogeography offers a step towards this goal. Here, we present an analysis of causality within the GDM and investigate its potential for the further development of island biogeographical theory. Further, we extend the GDM to include subduction-based island arcs and continental fragment islands. Location: A conceptual analysis and a simulation of oceanic islands. Methods: We describe the causal relationships between evolutionary and ecological processes implied by the GDM, implement them as a computer simulation and use this to simulate two alternative geological scenarios. Results: The dynamics of species richness and rates of evolutionary processes in simulations derived from the mechanistic assumptions of the GDM corresponded broadly to those initially suggested, with the exception of trends in extinction rates. Expanding the model to incorporate different scenarios of island ontogeny and isolation revealed a sensitivity of evolutionary dynamics to attributes of island geology. Main conclusions: We argue that the GDM of oceanic island biogeography has the potential to provide a unified framework for island biogeography, integrating geological, ecological and evolutionary processes. Our simulations highlight how the geological dynamics of distinct island types are predicted to lead to markedly different evolutionary dynamics. This sets the stage for a more predictive theory incorporating the processes governing temporal dynamics of species diversity on islands.

KW - Carrying capacity

KW - Causal model

KW - GDM

KW - General dynamic theory

KW - Island biogeography

KW - Oceanic islands

KW - Simulation model

KW - Species richness

KW - Theory of ecology

KW - Volcanic islands

U2 - 10.1111/geb.12348

DO - 10.1111/geb.12348

M3 - Journal article

AN - SCOPUS:84938631439

SN - 1466-822X

VL - 25

SP - 805

EP - 816

JO - Global Ecology and Biogeography

JF - Global Ecology and Biogeography

IS - 7

ER -