Age, origins and extinctions of the avifauna of Macaronesia: a synthesis of phylogenetic and fossil information

摘要: Understanding the age, origins and extinction of oceanic island biota has captivated interest evolutionary biologists since Darwin Wallace. Because islands are discrete entities small geographical size but with considerable habitat diversity, they provide ideal templates within which to study processes. The peripheral North Atlantic islands, collectively referred as Macaronesia, considered a hot spot biodiversity due fact that contain large proportion endemic taxa (ca 25%). Recent molecular studies providing insight into patterns colonization radiation extant avifauna, while paleontological have described many extinct avian species, sometimes identifying causes chronology extinction. aim this review is develop an understanding biogeographic history macaronesian combining information from phylogenetic studies. We then compare for Macaronesia those other archipelagos evaluate what extent may be generalised across regions. Phylogenetic analyses confirmed close relationships between avifauna closest mainland areas (Europe Africa), however, in contrast similar we show most birds appear colonized relatively recently, last four million years, despite some being approximately 30 years old. Fossil records support idea higher species richness previously existed, recent dating on bone collagen selected suggesting their coincided arrival aboriginal people ca 2500 ago Canary Islands, or Europeans all 14th century. It plausible these human mediated extinctions selectively acted upon older lineages, there little evidence available this.