BayCEER Workshop 2024

Speciation happens in company – not in isolation

Islands are known as hotspots of endemism. This is mostly explained by their spatial isolation. Endemism is seen as a proxy for speciation processes. Speciation results from intraspecific selection processes within populations, and interspecific interactions. Both refer to habitats and ecosystems, and not to mere spatial conditions or isolation.

Species are not equally distributed across islands. Their populations are aggregated in certain ecosystems and/or elevational zones. In consequence, it is not the entire area or total elevational range of an island, which is relevant for species but the area and isolation of their habitat.