Extending the General Dynamic Model (GDM) of oceanic island biogeography from the terrestrial to the marine realm: a multidisciplinary approach for a global biogeographic theory

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Marine fossil molluscs from the Last Interglacial stage 5e in the Macaronesia : palaeoecology, palaeoclimatology, and palaeobiogeography

Publication . Melo, Carlos; Silva, Carlos Alberto Pires Fernandes Marques da; Marques, Sérgio Paulo Ávila Campos

Volcanic oceanic islands are prime locations to conduct (paleo)biogeographical studies. Spanning from 13º to 39ºN, the Macaronesian geographical region encompasses five archipelagos located within warm-temperate to tropical climatic zones and influenced by a surface water current regime that favours a N-S range expansion of marine species. During the Last Interglacial (LIG), range expansion of tropical species towards higher latitudes occurred, highlighting a shift in species behavior due to palaeoecological, palaeoclimatic, and palaeoceanographic variations. Understanding how, when, and why this range expansion happened is key to better comprehend the effect climate change will have on marine benthic communities. To tackle this theme, marine sediments containing fossils from several Macaronesian islands have been collected, and extensive bibliographic research have been done to compile for the first time a checklist composed by the records of the LIG marine molluscs from the Atlantic and Mediterranean. This extensive checklist allowed palaeobiogeographical studies that led to a better understanding on the range expansion of marine benthic communities towards higher latitudes during the LIG in the Macaronesia, as long as making a multi-epoch testing of the coherence of the Macaronesia as a biogeographical entity. Coupling data from the LIG with MIS11c widen our view and allows new interpretations on palaeoecological events that tend to happen upon interglacials.

2024-03Tese de doutoramento

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Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia

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6817 - DCRRNI ID

Número da atribuição

IF/00465/2015/CP1278/CT0002