title: Approximate Bayesian Computation Reveals the Crucial Role of Oceanic Islands for the Assembly of Continental Biodiversity.
abstract: The perceived low levels of genetic diversity, poor interspecific competitive and defensive ability, and loss of dispersal capacities of insular lineages have driven the view that oceanic islands are evolutionary dead ends. Focusing on the Atlantic bryophyte flora distributed across the archipelagos of the Azores, Madeira, the Canary Islands, Western Europe, and northwestern Africa, we used an integrative approach with species distribution modeling and population genetic analyses based on approximate Bayesian computation to determine whether this view applies to organisms with inherent high dispersal capacities. Genetic diversity was found to be higher in island than in continental populations, contributing to mounting evidence that, contrary to theoretical expectations, island populations are not necessarily genetically depauperate. Patterns of genetic variation among island and continental populations consistently fitted those simulated under a scenario of de novo foundation of continental populations from insular ancestors better than those expected if islands would represent a sink or a refugium of continental biodiversity. We, suggest that the northeastern Atlantic archipelagos have played a key role as a stepping stone for transoceanic migrants. Our results challenge the traditional notion that oceanic islands are the end of the colonization road and illustrate the significant role of oceanic islands as reservoirs of novel biodiversity for the assembly of continental floras.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Ecology and Evolution, University of Liège, Bât. B22, Boulevard du Rectorat 27, 4000, Liège, Belgium; Department of Plant Biology, University of La Laguna, c/ Astrofísico Francisco Sánches, s/n, 28071, Tenerife, Spain; Azorean Biodiversity Group (GBA, CE3C - Center for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes) and Platform for Enhancing Ecological Research & Sustainability (PEERS), Universidade dos Açores, Rua Capitão João d'Ávila, Pico da Urze, 9700-042 Angra do Heroísmo, Terceira, Açores, Portugal; Plants Division, Department of Life Sciences, The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD, UK; Evolutionary Biology and Ecology, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), CP 160/12, av FD Roosevelt 50, 1050, Brussels, Belgium; Department of Biology, Duke University, Box 90338, Durham, NC 27708, USA; and Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, CH-1015, Switzerland Department of Biology, Ecology and Evolution, University of Liège, Bât. B22, Boulevard du Rectorat 27, 4000, Liège, Belgium; Department of Plant Biology, University of La Laguna, c/ Astrofísico Francisco Sánches, s/n, 28071, Tenerife, Spain; Azorean Biodiversity Group (GBA, CE3C - Center for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes) and Platform for Enhancing Ecological Research & Sustainability (PEERS), Universidade dos Açores, Rua Capitão João d'Ávila, Pico da Urze, 9700-042 Angra do Heroísmo, Terceira, Açores, Portugal; Plants Division, Department of Life Sciences, The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD, UK; Evolutionary Biology and Ecology, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), CP 160/12, av FD Roosevelt 50, 1050, Brussels, Belgium; Department of Biology, Duke University, Box 90338, Durham, NC 27708, USA; and Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, CH-1015, Switzerland Department of Biology, Ecology and Evolution, University of Liège, Bât. B22, Boulevard du Rect
authors.forename: Jairo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Patiño
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Ecology and Evolution, University of Liège, Bât. B22, Boulevard du Rectorat 27, 4000, Liège, Belgium; Department of Plant Biology, University of La Laguna, c/ Astrofísico Francisco Sánches, s/n, 28071, Tenerife, Spain; Azorean Biodiversity Group (GBA, CE3C - Center for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes) and Platform for Enhancing Ecological Research & Sustainability (PEERS), Universidade dos Açores, Rua Capitão João d'Ávila, Pico da Urze, 9700-042 Angra do Heroísmo, Terceira, Açores, Portugal; Plants Division, Department of Life Sciences, The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD, UK; Evolutionary Biology and Ecology, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), CP 160/12, av FD Roosevelt 50, 1050, Brussels, Belgium; Department of Biology, Duke University, Box 90338, Durham, NC 27708, USA; and Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, CH-1015, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Carine
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Ecology and Evolution, University of Liège, Bât. B22, Boulevard du Rectorat 27, 4000, Liège, Belgium; Department of Plant Biology, University of La Laguna, c/ Astrofísico Francisco Sánches, s/n, 28071, Tenerife, Spain; Azorean Biodiversity Group (GBA, CE3C - Center for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes) and Platform for Enhancing Ecological Research & Sustainability (PEERS), Universidade dos Açores, Rua Capitão João d'Ávila, Pico da Urze, 9700-042 Angra do Heroísmo, Terceira, Açores, Portugal; Plants Division, Department of Life Sciences, The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD, UK; Evolutionary Biology and Ecology, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), CP 160/12, av FD Roosevelt 50, 1050, Brussels, Belgium; Department of Biology, Duke University, Box 90338, Durham, NC 27708, USA; and Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, CH-1015, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mardulyn
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Ecology and Evolution, University of Liège, Bât. B22, Boulevard du Rectorat 27, 4000, Liège, Belgium; Department of Plant Biology, University of La Laguna, c/ Astrofísico Francisco Sánches, s/n, 28071, Tenerife, Spain; Azorean Biodiversity Group (GBA, CE3C - Center for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes) and Platform for Enhancing Ecological Research & Sustainability (PEERS), Universidade dos Açores, Rua Capitão João d'Ávila, Pico da Urze, 9700-042 Angra do Heroísmo, Terceira, Açores, Portugal; Plants Division, Department of Life Sciences, The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD, UK; Evolutionary Biology and Ecology, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), CP 160/12, av FD Roosevelt 50, 1050, Brussels, Belgium; Department of Biology, Duke University, Box 90338, Durham, NC 27708, USA; and Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, CH-1015, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Devos
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Ecology and Evolution, University of Liège, Bât. B22, Boulevard du Rectorat 27, 4000, Liège, Belgium; Department of Plant Biology, University of La Laguna, c/ Astrofísico Francisco Sánches, s/n, 28071, Tenerife, Spain; Azorean Biodiversity Group (GBA, CE3C - Center for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes) and Platform for Enhancing Ecological Research & Sustainability (PEERS), Universidade dos Açores, Rua Capitão João d'Ávila, Pico da Urze, 9700-042 Angra do Heroísmo, Terceira, Açores, Portugal; Plants Division, Department of Life Sciences, The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD, UK; Evolutionary Biology and Ecology, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), CP 160/12, av FD Roosevelt 50, 1050, Brussels, Belgium; Department of Biology, Duke University, Box 90338, Durham, NC 27708, USA; and Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, CH-1015, Switzerland Department of Biology, Ecology and Evolution, University of Liège, Bât. B22, Boulevard du Rectorat 27, 4000, Liège, Belgium; Department of Plant Biology, University of La Laguna, c/ Astrofísico Francisco Sánches, s/n, 28071, Tenerife, Spain; Azorean Biodiversity Group (GBA, CE3C - Center for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes) and Platform for Enhancing Ecological Research & Sustainability (PEERS), Universidade dos Açores, Rua Capitão João d'Ávila, Pico da Urze, 9700-042 Angra do Heroísmo, Terceira, Açores, Portugal; Plants Division, Department of Life Sciences, The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD, UK; Evolutionary Biology and Ecology, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), CP 160/12, av FD Roosevelt 50, 1050, Brussels, Belgium; Department of Biology, Duke University, Box 90338, Durham, NC 27708, USA; and Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, CH-1015, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Rubén G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Mateo
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Ecology and Evolution, University of Liège, Bât. B22, Boulevard du Rectorat 27, 4000, Liège, Belgium; Department of Plant Biology, University of La Laguna, c/ Astrofísico Francisco Sánches, s/n, 28071, Tenerife, Spain; Azorean Biodiversity Group (GBA, CE3C - Center for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes) and Platform for Enhancing Ecological Research & Sustainability (PEERS), Universidade dos Açores, Rua Capitão João d'Ávila, Pico da Urze, 9700-042 Angra do Heroísmo, Terceira, Açores, Portugal; Plants Division, Department of Life Sciences, The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD, UK; Evolutionary Biology and Ecology, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), CP 160/12, av FD Roosevelt 50, 1050, Brussels, Belgium; Department of Biology, Duke University, Box 90338, Durham, NC 27708, USA; and Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, CH-1015, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Juana M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: González-Mancebo
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Ecology and Evolution, University of Liège, Bât. B22, Boulevard du Rectorat 27, 4000, Liège, Belgium; Department of Plant Biology, University of La Laguna, c/ Astrofísico Francisco Sánches, s/n, 28071, Tenerife, Spain; Azorean Biodiversity Group (GBA, CE3C - Center for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes) and Platform for Enhancing Ecological Research & Sustainability (PEERS), Universidade dos Açores, Rua Capitão João d'Ávila, Pico da Urze, 9700-042 Angra do Heroísmo, Terceira, Açores, Portugal; Plants Division, Department of Life Sciences, The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD, UK; Evolutionary Biology and Ecology, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), CP 160/12, av FD Roosevelt 50, 1050, Brussels, Belgium; Department of Biology, Duke University, Box 90338, Durham, NC 27708, USA; and Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, CH-1015, Switzerland.
authors.forename: A Jonathan
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Shaw
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Ecology and Evolution, University of Liège, Bât. B22, Boulevard du Rectorat 27, 4000, Liège, Belgium; Department of Plant Biology, University of La Laguna, c/ Astrofísico Francisco Sánches, s/n, 28071, Tenerife, Spain; Azorean Biodiversity Group (GBA, CE3C - Center for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes) and Platform for Enhancing Ecological Research & Sustainability (PEERS), Universidade dos Açores, Rua Capitão João d'Ávila, Pico da Urze, 9700-042 Angra do Heroísmo, Terceira, Açores, Portugal; Plants Division, Department of Life Sciences, The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD, UK; Evolutionary Biology and Ecology, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), CP 160/12, av FD Roosevelt 50, 1050, Brussels, Belgium; Department of Biology, Duke University, Box 90338, Durham, NC 27708, USA; and Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, CH-1015, Switzerland Department of Biology, Ecology and Evolution, University of Liège, Bât. B22, Boulevard du Rectorat 27, 4000, Liège, Belgium; Department of Plant Biology, University of La Laguna, c/ Astrofísico Francisco Sánches, s/n, 28071, Tenerife, Spain; Azorean Biodiversity Group (GBA, CE3C - Center for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes) and Platform for Enhancing Ecological Research & Sustainability (PEERS), Universidade dos Açores, Rua Capitão João d'Ávila, Pico da Urze, 9700-042 Angra do Heroísmo, Terceira, Açores, Portugal; Plants Division, Department of Life Sciences, The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD, UK; Evolutionary Biology and Ecology, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), CP 160/12, av FD Roosevelt 50, 1050, Brussels, Belgium; Department of Biology, Duke University, Box 90338, Durham, NC 27708, USA; and Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, CH-1015, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vanderpoorten
mesh_terms: D001499:Bayes Theorem; D044822:Biodiversity; D044002:Bryophyta / Q000145:classification* / Q000502:physiology; D062312:Islands; D009792:Oceans and Seas
keywords: Approximate Bayesian computation; bryophytes; colonization; island biogeography; last glacial maximum; long-distance dispersal