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Mónica Moura

Other affiliations: University of Porto
Bio: Mónica Moura is an academic researcher from University of the Azores. The author has contributed to research in topics: Population & Tolpis. The author has an hindex of 15, co-authored 48 publications receiving 824 citations. Previous affiliations of Mónica Moura include University of Porto.


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TL;DR: It is indicated that isolation does not significantly influence endangerment, but plant endemics from very small islands are more often critically endangered, and the synergistic action of many threat factors can induce major ecological disturbances, leading to multiple extinctions.
Abstract: Current threats to the planet's biodiversity are unprecedented, and they particularly imperil insular floras. In this investigation, we use the threat factors identified by the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment as the main drivers of biodiversity loss on islands to define and rank 13 current, continuing threats to the plant diversity of nine focal archipelagos where volcanic origin (or in the Seychelles a prolonged isolation after a continental origin) has produced a high degree of endemicity and fragility in the face of habitat alteration. We also conduct a global endangerment assessment based on the numbers of insular endemic plants in the endangered (EN) and critically endangered (CR) IUCN categories for 53 island groups with an estimated 9951 endemic plant species, providing a representative sample of the world's insular systems and their floristic richness. Our analyses indicate that isolation does not significantly influence endangerment, but plant endemics from very small islands are more often critically endangered. We estimate that between 3500 and 6800 of the estimated 70,000 insular endemic plant species worldwide might be highly threatened (CR+EN) and between ca. 2000 and 2800 of them in critical danger of extinction (CR). Based on these analyses, and on a worldwide literature review of the biological threat factors considered, we identify challenging questions for conservation research, asking (i) what are the most urgent priorities for the conservation of insular species and floras, and (ii) with the knowledge and assets available, how can we improve the impact of conservation science and practice on the preservation of island biodiversity? Our analysis indicates that the synergistic action of many threat factors can induce major ecological disturbances, leading to multiple extinctions. We review weaknesses and strengths in conservation research and management in the nine focal archipelagos, and highlight the urgent need for conservation scientists to share knowledge and expertise, identify and discuss common challenges, and formulate multi-disciplinary conservation objectives for insular plant endemics worldwide. To our knowledge, this is the most up-to-date and comprehensive survey yet to review the threat factors to native plants on oceanic islands and define priority research questions.

304 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Molecular variation within a range of Azorean endemic plant lineages was analysed to determine whether inadequacies in the current taxonomy of endemics might be an explanation for the unusual diversity patterns observed in the endemic flora of the Azores.
Abstract: Aim Speciation processes on islands are still poorly understood. Previous studies based on the analysis of distribution data from checklists found that the flora of the Azores archipelago differs from other island floras in the exceptionally low number of radiations and the low number of single-island endemics. The general mechanism(s) responsible for these apparently unique patterns remained unclear. One possible explanation for the distinctiveness of the Azorean endemic flora is the lack of a consistent and critical taxonomic framework for the floras of the Atlantic archipelagos. In this study, molecular variation within a range of Azorean endemic plant lineages was analysed to determine whether inadequacies in the current taxonomy of endemics might be an explanation for the unusual diversity patterns observed in the endemic flora of the Azores. Location Azores archipelago. Method Sixty-nine populations of eight endemic species or subspecies belonging to five genetic lineages were sampled from all Azorean islands but one. Nuclear and plastid DNA regions were sequenced, and relationships among internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region ribotypes established using statistical parsimony. Results Molecular diversity patterns differ from current taxonomic groupings, with all lineages comprising previously overlooked genetic entities. Main conclusions Recognition as distinct taxa of the genetically distinct entities discovered in this study would drastically change the diversity patterns and make them more similar to those of other Atlantic archipelagos. The results serve to highlight that current knowledge of endemic diversity on oceanic islands may be far from complete, even in relatively well-known groups such as angiosperms. This limitation is rarely considered in macroecological and evolutionary studies that make use of data from taxonomic checklists to draw inferences about oceanic island biogeographic processes.

72 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The degree of population genetic differentiation in J. brevifolia was relatively high compared with other species, including Juniperus spp, and suggests that provenance should be considered when formulating augmentation or reintroduction strategies.
Abstract: 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 differentiation among populations suggests that provenance should be considered when formulating augmentation or reintroduction strategies.

41 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The utility of multiplexed shotgun genotyping (MSG) for resolving relationships in lineages that have undergone recent, rapid diversification resulting in extensive ecological and morphological diversity is illustrated.
Abstract: PREMISE OF THE STUDY Endemic plants on oceanic islands have long served as model systems for studying patterns and processes of evolution. However, phylogenetic studies of island plants frequently illustrate a decoupling of molecular divergence and ecological/morphological diversity, resulting in phylogenies lacking the resolution required to interpret patterns of evolution in a phylogenetic context. The current study uses the primarily Macaronesian flowering plant genus Tolpis to illustrate the utility of multiplexed shotgun genotyping (MSG) for resolving relationships at relatively deep (among archipelagos) and very shallow (within archipelagos) nodes in this small, yet diverse insular plant lineage that had not been resolved with other molecular markers. METHODS Genomic libraries for 27 accessions of Macaronesian Tolpis were generated for genotyping individuals using MSG, a form of reduced-representation sequencing, similar to restriction-site-associated DNA markers (RADseq). The resulting data files were processed using the program pyRAD, which clusters MSG loci within and between samples. Phylogenetic analyses of the aligned data matrix were conducted using RAxML. KEY RESULTS Analysis of MSG data recovered a highly resolved phylogeny with generally strong support, including the first robust inference of relationships within the highly diverse Canary Island clade of Tolpis. CONCLUSIONS The current study illustrates the utility of MSG data for resolving relationships in lineages that have undergone recent, rapid diversification resulting in extensive ecological and morphological diversity. We suggest that a similar approach may prove generally useful for other rapid plant radiations where resolving phylogeny has been difficult.

37 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
31 Mar 2016-PLOS ONE
TL;DR: The results support the Betoideae as a monophyletic group and provide a detailed inference of relationships within this subfamily, revealing a deep genetic differentiation between Beta and Patellifolia species, indicating that the Mediterranean species probably differentiated by the end of the Miocene.
Abstract: The Western Mediterranean Region and Macaronesian Islands are one of the top biodiversity hotspots of Europe, containing a significant native genetic diversity of global value among the Crop Wild Relatives (CWR). Sugar beet is the primary crop of the genus Beta (subfamily Betoideae, Amaranthaceae) and despite the great economic importance of this genus, and of the close relative Patellifolia species, a reconstruction of their evolutionary history is still lacking. We analyzed nrDNA (ITS) and cpDNA gene (matK, trnH-psbA, trnL intron, rbcL) sequences to: (i) investigate the phylogenetic relationships within the Betoideae subfamily, and (ii) elucidate the historical biogeography of wild beet species in the Western Mediterranean Region, including the Macaronesian Islands. The results support the Betoideae as a monophyletic group (excluding the Acroglochin genus) and provide a detailed inference of relationships within this subfamily, revealing: (i) a deep genetic differentiation between Beta and Patellifolia species, which may have occurred in Late Oligocene; and (ii) the occurrence of a West-East genetic divergence within Beta, indicating that the Mediterranean species probably differentiated by the end of the Miocene. This was interpreted as a signature of species radiation induced by dramatic habitat changes during the Messinian Salinity Crisis (MSC, 5.96–5.33 Mya). Moreover, colonization events during the Pleistocene also played a role in shaping the current diversity patterns among and within the Macaronesian Islands. The origin and number of these events could not be revealed due to insufficient phylogenetic resolution, suggesting that the diversification was quite recent in these archipelagos, and unravelling potential complex biogeographic patterns with hybridization and gene flow playing an important role. Finally, three evolutionary lineages were identified corresponding to major gene pools of sugar beet wild relatives, which provide useful information for establishing in situ and ex situ conservation priorities in the hotspot area of the Macaronesian Islands.

34 citations


Cited by
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TL;DR: Preface to the Princeton Landmarks in Biology Edition vii Preface xi Symbols used xiii 1.
Abstract: Preface to the Princeton Landmarks in Biology Edition vii Preface xi Symbols Used xiii 1. The Importance of Islands 3 2. Area and Number of Speicies 8 3. Further Explanations of the Area-Diversity Pattern 19 4. The Strategy of Colonization 68 5. Invasibility and the Variable Niche 94 6. Stepping Stones and Biotic Exchange 123 7. Evolutionary Changes Following Colonization 145 8. Prospect 181 Glossary 185 References 193 Index 201

14,171 citations

01 Jan 2010
TL;DR: It is found that women over 50 are more likely to have a family history of diabetes, especially if they are obese, than women under the age of 50.
Abstract: Hypertension 66 (20.3%) 24 (24.2%) 30 (16.3%) NS Diabetes 20 (6.2%) 7 (7.1%) 10 (5.4%) NS Excess weight 78 (24%) 27 (27.3%) 44 (23.9%) NS Smokers 64 (19.7%) 17 (17.2%) 35 (19.0%) NS Age >50 years 137 (42.2%) 54 (54.5%) 67 (36.4%) <0.02 Kidney disease 7 (2.2%) 1 (1%) 5 (2.7%) NS Family history, DM 102 (31.4%) 28 (28.3%) 66 (35.9%) NS

1,369 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Elton's "The Ecology of Invasions by Animals and Plants" as mentioned in this paper is one of the most cited books on invasion biology, and it provides an accessible, engaging introduction to the most important environmental crises of our time.
Abstract: Much as Rachel Carson's \"Silent Spring\" was a call to action against the pesticides that were devastating bird populations, Charles S. Elton's classic \"The Ecology of Invasions by Animals and Plants\" sounded an early warning about an environmental catastrophe that has become all too familiar today-the invasion of nonnative species. From kudzu to zebra mussels to Asian long-horned beetles, nonnative species are colonizing new habitats around the world at an alarming rate thanks to accidental and intentional human intervention. One of the leading causes of extinctions of native animals and plants, invasive species also wreak severe economic havoc, causing $79 billion worth of damage in the United States alone. Elton explains the devastating effects that invasive species can have on local ecosystems in clear, concise language and with numerous examples. The first book on invasion biology, and still the most cited, Elton's masterpiece provides an accessible, engaging introduction to one of the most important environmental crises of our time. Charles S. Elton was one of the founders of ecology, who also established and led Oxford University's Bureau of Animal Population. His work has influenced generations of ecologists and zoologists, and his publications remain central to the literature in modern biology. \"History has caught up with Charles Elton's foresight, and \"The Ecology of Invasions\" can now be seen as one of the central scientific books of our century.\"-David Quammen, from the Foreword to \"Killer Algae: The True Tale of a Biological Invasion\

1,321 citations