Oceanic islands are at the core of research on biogeography and many other biological issues. Rou... more Oceanic islands are at the core of research on biogeography and many other biological issues. Roughly halfway between Europe and North America, lies the archipelago of the Azores, the most remote archipelago of the North Atlantic Ocean. Composed of nine islands, divided into eastern, central and western groups, it is home to approximately 250.000 inhabitants and more than 6000 species (terrestrial and marine), including about 500 endemics. Islands have long been recognized as of special scientific interest, especially in respect to their formation and development mechanisms, means of biotic colonization, evolution of unique biotas and ecosystems, and extensive loss of endemics, making island research and conservation an attractive and very active area of research. The Island Biology 2016 international conference brings together the expertise of a wide spectrum of research fields, in order to expand knowledge and achieve a unified view of island biology. The conference includes poster presentations, plenary and regular sessions, and hosts 24 specialized symposia, aimed to accommodate in-depth discussions in topical areas in Island Biology. Biodiversity, Global Changes, Conservation, Invasive Species, Evolutionary Biology, Species Interactions and Networks, Paleobiology and Biogeography are the key conference themes. We expect that the pioneering ideas, leading theories, novel methodological approaches and recent groundbreaking results presented at this conference will provide advances in island biology research and guidelines for the future development of this field. In addition, the interdisciplinary expertise of participants is expected to contribute to inform decisionmakers concerning effective conservation planning strategies in island ecosystems, following the inspiration provided by the Declaration of the Guadeloupe 2014 International Conference on Biodiversity and Climate Change. We look forward to welcome you all in the Azores!
En dos parcelas de naranjo en el Norte de la isla de Sao Miguel se ha estudiado la dinámica pobla... more En dos parcelas de naranjo en el Norte de la isla de Sao Miguel se ha estudiado la dinámica poblacional de /. purchasi y R. cardinalis. El muestreo se realizó quincenal-mente en 16 árboles desde Mayo a Noviembre de 1.997 y desde Abril a Octubre de 1.998. /. purchasi ha desarrollado dos generaciones anuales, una al final de la primavera y otra en otoño. Las hembras jóvenes son las mas abundantes en invierno. Los estadios larvares del predador se observan al principio del verano y la actividad del vuelo de los adultos es máxima al final de verano. Este máximo contribuye de forma acusada para la disminución de la densidad de /. purchasi durante el verano con los valores más bajos al final de la estación. En este momento se observa una elevada sincronización entre la proporción de hembras jóvenes de /. purchasi y larvas de R. cardinalis. En el otoño la abundancia poblacional de R. cardinalis es muy baja coincidiendo con la 2a generación de /. purchasi. Después de Noviembre no se han enc...
submetid como requisito parcial para obtenção do grau de Mestre em Biodiversidade e Biotecnologia... more submetid como requisito parcial para obtenção do grau de Mestre em Biodiversidade e Biotecnologia "The pattern of variation shown by the distribution of species among quadrats of the earth's surface chosen at random hovers in a tantalizing manner between the continuous and the discontinuous." Webb 1954 Agradecimentos Uma palavra de apreço e agradecimento, aos meus orientadores Professor Doutor Luís Silva e Professor Doutor Rui Elias, pela sua paciência e disponibilidade prestada na execução deste projeto. A sua dedicação e interesse que me orientaram não só à elaboração do trabalho, mas para além disso, a uma jornada construtiva de aprendizagem, é algo que ficará marcado em mim para sempre. Ao Professor Doutor Luís Silva um especial agradecimento pela ajuda prestada na análise estatística e na organização e execução do projeto, e que apesar de todas as suas ocupações, tinha sempre tempo para me ouvir, criticar e orientar. E ao Professor Doutor Rui Elias, que apesar de início não me conhecer, cedeu-me os seus dados e orientou-me, com o seu conhecimento, na interpretação dos mesmos, também como a sua constante boa disposição foi algo contagiante que me fez gostar ainda mais de investigação científica. Um agradecimento também, a toda a equipa do projeto Forest-ECO 2 , em especial à minha colega Lurdes Silva, pelo apoio a nível científico e ajuda a gerir o tempo no projeto e na elaboração da tese. Minha namorada e amiga, Joana Rocha, que me acompanhou sempre e em todos os momentos. Nunca desistiu de mim e esteve sempre a incentivar-me para dar o melhor. Devote a ti, esta conquista, por todos os momentos de carinho, amizade, mas também de trabalho e estudo. Nunca deixaste de acreditar em mim, nem nunca duvidaste de mim. És tu, principalmente, que me fazes provar aquilo que valho e foi muito vezes nisso, que me apoiei em momentos menos bons. Não só por esta fase académica, mas por tudo, és a melhor. Conseguimos ultrapassar esta fase juntos! Uma palavra também, aos meus amigos (eles sabem quem são), que tanto da área científica ou fora, souberam se preocupar com minha vida académica, mas ao mesmo souberam quando me fazer abstrair e clarear a mente sempre que necessário. Também, aos meus colegas de mestrado, pela interajuda e insistência do grupo para que tudo corresse por melhor. Por fim, agradeço a toda a minha família, em particular a meus pais, que com a sua simplicidade, ingenuidade, carinho, paciência e muita luta, conseguiram moldar-me e preocuparem-se para que fizesse e desse sempre o melhor de mim. A todos os que se cruzaram nesta minha fase, o meu sincero obrigado!
The Azorean endemic gymnosperm Juniperus brevifolia (Seub.) Antoine is a top priority species for... more The Azorean endemic gymnosperm Juniperus brevifolia (Seub.) Antoine is a top priority species for conservation in Macaronesia, based on its ecological significance in natural plant communities. To evaluate genetic variability and differentiation among J. brevifolia populations from the Azorean archipelago, we studied 15 ISSR and 15 RAPD markers in 178 individuals from 18 populations. The average number of polymorphic bands per population was 65 for both ISSR and RAPD. The majority of genetic variability was found within populations and among populations within islands, and this partitioning of variability was confirmed by AMOVA. The large majority of population pairwise FST values were above 0.3 and below 0.6. The degree of population genetic differentiation in J. brevifolia was relatively high compared with other species, including Juniperus spp. The genetic
This article evaluates the seed dispersal systems of two congeneric and endemic fleshy-fruited pl... more This article evaluates the seed dispersal systems of two congeneric and endemic fleshy-fruited plants in the context of two relatively close oceanic archipelagos. For this purpose, representative populations of the endangered junipers Juniperus cedrus in the Canary Islands and Madeira, and Juniperus brevifolia in the Azores were studied. Despite both species sharing the same biogeographic region, we set out to test whether different conditions of the islands and biological characteristics of each juniper species determine the distinctive guilds of seed dispersers involved. We assessed the quantitative and qualitative role of the potential frugivores, showing that the wintering Turdus torquatus and the native Turdus merula were the main seed dispersers for J. cedrus and J. brevifolia, respectively (Frequency of occurrence: 74.9%, 80.2%; germination increase with respect to controls: 11.6%, 15.5%; for J. cedrus and J. brevifolia, respectively). The endemic lizard Gallotia galloti was ...
We assess if the structural and floristic diversity of Juniperus-Ilex forests from Pico Island (A... more We assess if the structural and floristic diversity of Juniperus-Ilex forests from Pico Island (Azores) corresponds to a mosaic of different phases of a forest cycle, by identifying the phases of that cycle and the dynamic relations between them. Eight 100 m 2 plots were placed randomly in areas with structural and floristic differences but having in common the presence of live and/or dead individuals of the dominant tree species ( Juniperus brevifolia ). In each plot the number of seedlings, saplings, and adults as well as canopy height and width and maximum height of live Juniperus brevifolia and Ilex azorica adults were recorded. The floristic composition was determined in a 25 m 2 plot, placed inside each 100 m 2 plot. Juniperus-Ilex forests show a cyclic patch dynamic triggered by the senescence and death of even-aged individuals of J. brevifolia . In this forest cycle, five phases were identified, such as gap, building, mature, initial degenerative and final degenerative. The first two phases are do...
We present a list of coccinellids collected in Madeira archipelago and notice the presence of two... more We present a list of coccinellids collected in Madeira archipelago and notice the presence of two new species; of Scymnini; Scymnus (Scymnus) abietis (Paykull) and Nephus hiekei Fürsch. We analyse the distribution and abundance at the community level, using the following measures: species richness index, abundance and relative abundance, similarity index, diversity, and evenness. 13 species from 3 families were recorded. Hippodamia variegata was the most abundant one with 29.7 % of the 141 specimens collected. Two main groups of relative abundance were identified. The first group included the 6 most common H. variegata, S. interruptus, C. arcuatus, C. septempunctata, S. levaillanti and R. litura and the second one included S. abietis, L. lophante and R. chrysomeloides. Diversity index values are relatively high. The 6 most common species comprised more than 90 % of the individuals without a very different relative abundance. Many factors other than extinction and immigration could explain the variation of the number of species on islands. The highest number of species collected in Madeira island, compared to Porto Santo, could be related with its higher elevation, soil and substrate types, plant species richness, number of habitat, habitats diversity, structure and heterogeneity of the former.
Question: What are the consequences of frequently occurring landslides on vegetation dynamics, fl... more Question: What are the consequences of frequently occurring landslides on vegetation dynamics, floristic and structural diversity? Location: 39127 0 N; 31113
Questions: Are the vegetation attributes significantly different among lava domes and among geomo... more Questions: Are the vegetation attributes significantly different among lava domes and among geomorphologic units as a result of age and soil features? Are the successional rates equal in all the geomorphologic units of the domes? Are the colonizer species of lava domes totally replaced by other species in the late successional stages? Location: Terceira Island, Azores (Portugal). Methods: Three comparable domes of 240, 370 and 2080 yr old were selected. Data on floristic composition, vegetation bioarea (area occupied by plant species in transects), structure, demography and soil nutrients were collected. Quantitative and qualitative changes along the succession gradient were also analyzed. Results: Vegetation attributes were consistent with the successional stage of each dome in the primary sere; however, the geomorphologic units did not follow the same pattern. The influence of the rates of plant colonization and soil formation are responsible for the decrease of the successional rates from footslopes, to summits, to slopes. The vegetation successionally changes from Juniperus scrub, to Juniperus wood and forest, and there is little species replacement since the similarity in species composition is high between the 3 domes. Conclusions: This is a special type of direct succession that takes place mainly through an increase in biomass and structural complexity. We observed small wooded areas in the fissures of very young domes that are samples of later successional forests-a phenomenon that we call 'zoom effect'.
There is a growing interest in academia to provide biodiversity data to both the scientific commu... more There is a growing interest in academia to provide biodiversity data to both the scientific community and the public (see also the European Directive INSPIRE; http://inspire.jrc.ec.europa.eu/). Currently the total number of coastal marine taxa (species and subspecies) in the Azores is estimated of about 1885 taxa belonging to 16 Phyla. However, the information currently available in the Azorean ATLANTIS database and in the Azorean Biodiversity Portal includes very few data on coastal and marine invertebrates and vertebrates. In addition a new platform, ATLANTIS 3.0, is now available to manage the current database on Macaronesian biodiversity. The main aims of the current project are: i) To gather “all” the biodiversity literature and unpublished reports on Azorean marine invertebrates and vertebrates and digitize this information into the new ATLANTIS 3.0 database; ii) To create a completely new version of the Azorean Biodiversity Portal to include the marine habitats and new facili...
Oceanic islands are at the core of research on biogeography and many other biological issues. Rou... more Oceanic islands are at the core of research on biogeography and many other biological issues. Roughly halfway between Europe and North America, lies the archipelago of the Azores, the most remote archipelago of the North Atlantic Ocean. Composed of nine islands, divided into eastern, central and western groups, it is home to approximately 250.000 inhabitants and more than 6000 species (terrestrial and marine), including about 500 endemics. Islands have long been recognized as of special scientific interest, especially in respect to their formation and development mechanisms, means of biotic colonization, evolution of unique biotas and ecosystems, and extensive loss of endemics, making island research and conservation an attractive and very active area of research. The Island Biology 2016 international conference brings together the expertise of a wide spectrum of research fields, in order to expand knowledge and achieve a unified view of island biology. The conference includes poster presentations, plenary and regular sessions, and hosts 24 specialized symposia, aimed to accommodate in-depth discussions in topical areas in Island Biology. Biodiversity, Global Changes, Conservation, Invasive Species, Evolutionary Biology, Species Interactions and Networks, Paleobiology and Biogeography are the key conference themes. We expect that the pioneering ideas, leading theories, novel methodological approaches and recent groundbreaking results presented at this conference will provide advances in island biology research and guidelines for the future development of this field. In addition, the interdisciplinary expertise of participants is expected to contribute to inform decisionmakers concerning effective conservation planning strategies in island ecosystems, following the inspiration provided by the Declaration of the Guadeloupe 2014 International Conference on Biodiversity and Climate Change. We look forward to welcome you all in the Azores!
En dos parcelas de naranjo en el Norte de la isla de Sao Miguel se ha estudiado la dinámica pobla... more En dos parcelas de naranjo en el Norte de la isla de Sao Miguel se ha estudiado la dinámica poblacional de /. purchasi y R. cardinalis. El muestreo se realizó quincenal-mente en 16 árboles desde Mayo a Noviembre de 1.997 y desde Abril a Octubre de 1.998. /. purchasi ha desarrollado dos generaciones anuales, una al final de la primavera y otra en otoño. Las hembras jóvenes son las mas abundantes en invierno. Los estadios larvares del predador se observan al principio del verano y la actividad del vuelo de los adultos es máxima al final de verano. Este máximo contribuye de forma acusada para la disminución de la densidad de /. purchasi durante el verano con los valores más bajos al final de la estación. En este momento se observa una elevada sincronización entre la proporción de hembras jóvenes de /. purchasi y larvas de R. cardinalis. En el otoño la abundancia poblacional de R. cardinalis es muy baja coincidiendo con la 2a generación de /. purchasi. Después de Noviembre no se han enc...
submetid como requisito parcial para obtenção do grau de Mestre em Biodiversidade e Biotecnologia... more submetid como requisito parcial para obtenção do grau de Mestre em Biodiversidade e Biotecnologia "The pattern of variation shown by the distribution of species among quadrats of the earth's surface chosen at random hovers in a tantalizing manner between the continuous and the discontinuous." Webb 1954 Agradecimentos Uma palavra de apreço e agradecimento, aos meus orientadores Professor Doutor Luís Silva e Professor Doutor Rui Elias, pela sua paciência e disponibilidade prestada na execução deste projeto. A sua dedicação e interesse que me orientaram não só à elaboração do trabalho, mas para além disso, a uma jornada construtiva de aprendizagem, é algo que ficará marcado em mim para sempre. Ao Professor Doutor Luís Silva um especial agradecimento pela ajuda prestada na análise estatística e na organização e execução do projeto, e que apesar de todas as suas ocupações, tinha sempre tempo para me ouvir, criticar e orientar. E ao Professor Doutor Rui Elias, que apesar de início não me conhecer, cedeu-me os seus dados e orientou-me, com o seu conhecimento, na interpretação dos mesmos, também como a sua constante boa disposição foi algo contagiante que me fez gostar ainda mais de investigação científica. Um agradecimento também, a toda a equipa do projeto Forest-ECO 2 , em especial à minha colega Lurdes Silva, pelo apoio a nível científico e ajuda a gerir o tempo no projeto e na elaboração da tese. Minha namorada e amiga, Joana Rocha, que me acompanhou sempre e em todos os momentos. Nunca desistiu de mim e esteve sempre a incentivar-me para dar o melhor. Devote a ti, esta conquista, por todos os momentos de carinho, amizade, mas também de trabalho e estudo. Nunca deixaste de acreditar em mim, nem nunca duvidaste de mim. És tu, principalmente, que me fazes provar aquilo que valho e foi muito vezes nisso, que me apoiei em momentos menos bons. Não só por esta fase académica, mas por tudo, és a melhor. Conseguimos ultrapassar esta fase juntos! Uma palavra também, aos meus amigos (eles sabem quem são), que tanto da área científica ou fora, souberam se preocupar com minha vida académica, mas ao mesmo souberam quando me fazer abstrair e clarear a mente sempre que necessário. Também, aos meus colegas de mestrado, pela interajuda e insistência do grupo para que tudo corresse por melhor. Por fim, agradeço a toda a minha família, em particular a meus pais, que com a sua simplicidade, ingenuidade, carinho, paciência e muita luta, conseguiram moldar-me e preocuparem-se para que fizesse e desse sempre o melhor de mim. A todos os que se cruzaram nesta minha fase, o meu sincero obrigado!
The Azorean endemic gymnosperm Juniperus brevifolia (Seub.) Antoine is a top priority species for... more The Azorean endemic gymnosperm Juniperus brevifolia (Seub.) Antoine is a top priority species for conservation in Macaronesia, based on its ecological significance in natural plant communities. To evaluate genetic variability and differentiation among J. brevifolia populations from the Azorean archipelago, we studied 15 ISSR and 15 RAPD markers in 178 individuals from 18 populations. The average number of polymorphic bands per population was 65 for both ISSR and RAPD. The majority of genetic variability was found within populations and among populations within islands, and this partitioning of variability was confirmed by AMOVA. The large majority of population pairwise FST values were above 0.3 and below 0.6. The degree of population genetic differentiation in J. brevifolia was relatively high compared with other species, including Juniperus spp. The genetic
This article evaluates the seed dispersal systems of two congeneric and endemic fleshy-fruited pl... more This article evaluates the seed dispersal systems of two congeneric and endemic fleshy-fruited plants in the context of two relatively close oceanic archipelagos. For this purpose, representative populations of the endangered junipers Juniperus cedrus in the Canary Islands and Madeira, and Juniperus brevifolia in the Azores were studied. Despite both species sharing the same biogeographic region, we set out to test whether different conditions of the islands and biological characteristics of each juniper species determine the distinctive guilds of seed dispersers involved. We assessed the quantitative and qualitative role of the potential frugivores, showing that the wintering Turdus torquatus and the native Turdus merula were the main seed dispersers for J. cedrus and J. brevifolia, respectively (Frequency of occurrence: 74.9%, 80.2%; germination increase with respect to controls: 11.6%, 15.5%; for J. cedrus and J. brevifolia, respectively). The endemic lizard Gallotia galloti was ...
We assess if the structural and floristic diversity of Juniperus-Ilex forests from Pico Island (A... more We assess if the structural and floristic diversity of Juniperus-Ilex forests from Pico Island (Azores) corresponds to a mosaic of different phases of a forest cycle, by identifying the phases of that cycle and the dynamic relations between them. Eight 100 m 2 plots were placed randomly in areas with structural and floristic differences but having in common the presence of live and/or dead individuals of the dominant tree species ( Juniperus brevifolia ). In each plot the number of seedlings, saplings, and adults as well as canopy height and width and maximum height of live Juniperus brevifolia and Ilex azorica adults were recorded. The floristic composition was determined in a 25 m 2 plot, placed inside each 100 m 2 plot. Juniperus-Ilex forests show a cyclic patch dynamic triggered by the senescence and death of even-aged individuals of J. brevifolia . In this forest cycle, five phases were identified, such as gap, building, mature, initial degenerative and final degenerative. The first two phases are do...
We present a list of coccinellids collected in Madeira archipelago and notice the presence of two... more We present a list of coccinellids collected in Madeira archipelago and notice the presence of two new species; of Scymnini; Scymnus (Scymnus) abietis (Paykull) and Nephus hiekei Fürsch. We analyse the distribution and abundance at the community level, using the following measures: species richness index, abundance and relative abundance, similarity index, diversity, and evenness. 13 species from 3 families were recorded. Hippodamia variegata was the most abundant one with 29.7 % of the 141 specimens collected. Two main groups of relative abundance were identified. The first group included the 6 most common H. variegata, S. interruptus, C. arcuatus, C. septempunctata, S. levaillanti and R. litura and the second one included S. abietis, L. lophante and R. chrysomeloides. Diversity index values are relatively high. The 6 most common species comprised more than 90 % of the individuals without a very different relative abundance. Many factors other than extinction and immigration could explain the variation of the number of species on islands. The highest number of species collected in Madeira island, compared to Porto Santo, could be related with its higher elevation, soil and substrate types, plant species richness, number of habitat, habitats diversity, structure and heterogeneity of the former.
Question: What are the consequences of frequently occurring landslides on vegetation dynamics, fl... more Question: What are the consequences of frequently occurring landslides on vegetation dynamics, floristic and structural diversity? Location: 39127 0 N; 31113
Questions: Are the vegetation attributes significantly different among lava domes and among geomo... more Questions: Are the vegetation attributes significantly different among lava domes and among geomorphologic units as a result of age and soil features? Are the successional rates equal in all the geomorphologic units of the domes? Are the colonizer species of lava domes totally replaced by other species in the late successional stages? Location: Terceira Island, Azores (Portugal). Methods: Three comparable domes of 240, 370 and 2080 yr old were selected. Data on floristic composition, vegetation bioarea (area occupied by plant species in transects), structure, demography and soil nutrients were collected. Quantitative and qualitative changes along the succession gradient were also analyzed. Results: Vegetation attributes were consistent with the successional stage of each dome in the primary sere; however, the geomorphologic units did not follow the same pattern. The influence of the rates of plant colonization and soil formation are responsible for the decrease of the successional rates from footslopes, to summits, to slopes. The vegetation successionally changes from Juniperus scrub, to Juniperus wood and forest, and there is little species replacement since the similarity in species composition is high between the 3 domes. Conclusions: This is a special type of direct succession that takes place mainly through an increase in biomass and structural complexity. We observed small wooded areas in the fissures of very young domes that are samples of later successional forests-a phenomenon that we call 'zoom effect'.
There is a growing interest in academia to provide biodiversity data to both the scientific commu... more There is a growing interest in academia to provide biodiversity data to both the scientific community and the public (see also the European Directive INSPIRE; http://inspire.jrc.ec.europa.eu/). Currently the total number of coastal marine taxa (species and subspecies) in the Azores is estimated of about 1885 taxa belonging to 16 Phyla. However, the information currently available in the Azorean ATLANTIS database and in the Azorean Biodiversity Portal includes very few data on coastal and marine invertebrates and vertebrates. In addition a new platform, ATLANTIS 3.0, is now available to manage the current database on Macaronesian biodiversity. The main aims of the current project are: i) To gather “all” the biodiversity literature and unpublished reports on Azorean marine invertebrates and vertebrates and digitize this information into the new ATLANTIS 3.0 database; ii) To create a completely new version of the Azorean Biodiversity Portal to include the marine habitats and new facili...
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Books by Rui Elias
halfway between Europe and North America, lies the archipelago of the Azores, the most remote
archipelago of the North Atlantic Ocean. Composed of nine islands, divided into eastern, central and
western groups, it is home to approximately 250.000 inhabitants and more than 6000 species (terrestrial
and marine), including about 500 endemics.
Islands have long been recognized as of special scientific interest, especially in respect to their
formation and development mechanisms, means of biotic colonization, evolution of unique biotas and
ecosystems, and extensive loss of endemics, making island research and conservation an attractive and
very active area of research.
The Island Biology 2016 international conference brings together the expertise of a wide spectrum of
research fields, in order to expand knowledge and achieve a unified view of island biology. The
conference includes poster presentations, plenary and regular sessions, and hosts 24 specialized
symposia, aimed to accommodate in-depth discussions in topical areas in Island Biology.
Biodiversity, Global Changes, Conservation, Invasive Species, Evolutionary Biology, Species
Interactions and Networks, Paleobiology and Biogeography are the key conference themes. We expect
that the pioneering ideas, leading theories, novel methodological approaches and recent groundbreaking
results presented at this conference will provide advances in island biology research and
guidelines for the future development of this field.
In addition, the interdisciplinary expertise of participants is expected to contribute to inform decisionmakers
concerning effective conservation planning strategies in island ecosystems, following the
inspiration provided by the Declaration of the Guadeloupe 2014 International Conference on
Biodiversity and Climate Change.
We look forward to welcome you all in the Azores!
Papers by Rui Elias
halfway between Europe and North America, lies the archipelago of the Azores, the most remote
archipelago of the North Atlantic Ocean. Composed of nine islands, divided into eastern, central and
western groups, it is home to approximately 250.000 inhabitants and more than 6000 species (terrestrial
and marine), including about 500 endemics.
Islands have long been recognized as of special scientific interest, especially in respect to their
formation and development mechanisms, means of biotic colonization, evolution of unique biotas and
ecosystems, and extensive loss of endemics, making island research and conservation an attractive and
very active area of research.
The Island Biology 2016 international conference brings together the expertise of a wide spectrum of
research fields, in order to expand knowledge and achieve a unified view of island biology. The
conference includes poster presentations, plenary and regular sessions, and hosts 24 specialized
symposia, aimed to accommodate in-depth discussions in topical areas in Island Biology.
Biodiversity, Global Changes, Conservation, Invasive Species, Evolutionary Biology, Species
Interactions and Networks, Paleobiology and Biogeography are the key conference themes. We expect
that the pioneering ideas, leading theories, novel methodological approaches and recent groundbreaking
results presented at this conference will provide advances in island biology research and
guidelines for the future development of this field.
In addition, the interdisciplinary expertise of participants is expected to contribute to inform decisionmakers
concerning effective conservation planning strategies in island ecosystems, following the
inspiration provided by the Declaration of the Guadeloupe 2014 International Conference on
Biodiversity and Climate Change.
We look forward to welcome you all in the Azores!