Models of oceanic island biogeography: changing perspectives on biodiversity dynamics in archipelagoes

Lawrence R Heaney,Eric A Rickart,Danilo S Balete

doi:10.21425/f5fbg18991

Abstract

Models of biogeographic processes can both enhance and inhibit our ability to ask questions that guide our understanding of patterns and processes. The two ‘traditional’ models of island biogeography, the Equilibrium Model and the Vicariance Model, raise important and insightful questions about relevant processes, but both fail to raise many crucial questions. An example involving the non-volant mammals of the Philippine archipelago shows that both models highlight some, but not all, relevant patterns and processes. The more recently proposed General Dynamic Model successfully combines many of the positive aspects of the two traditional models, but leaves some important questions unasked. We pose a number of questions here that may help guide further development of models of island biogeography.

Highlights

The progress of science is guided by the models that we use
A change in models may represent a simple shift from one model to another while remaining in the same paradigm, but sometimes a change in models is associated with a fundamentally differ‐ ent way of thinking—a paradigm shift
We have become convinced that such a paradigm shift is taking place in island biogeography, with some rather profound effects on how we can and do conceptualize the dynamics of the origin and maintenance of biological diversity on islands (Heaney 2007, 2011a)

Summary

Introduction

The progress of science is guided by the models that we use. Much useful science can be con‐ ducted that is ‘model‐free’, but by definition it is purely descriptive. We have become convinced that such a paradigm shift is taking place in island biogeography, with some rather profound effects on how we can and do conceptualize the dynamics of the origin and maintenance of biological diversity on islands (Heaney 2007, 2011a) This paradigm shift is asso‐ ciated with what we view as a movement away from the two ‘classical’ models of island biogeog‐ raphy, both of which came to prominence nearly simultaneously in the 1970s: the Equilibrium Model of MacArthur and Wilson (1963, 1967), and the Vicariance Model developed by Brundin, Croi‐ zat, Nelson, Platnick, Rosen, and others (e.g., Rosen 1978, Nelson and Platnick 1981). When island history is considered, usually it is in the context of rising

The Vicariance Model

Challenges to island models from an oceanic island biota

Findings

Further questions