Insular communities are particularly vulnerable to anthropogenic extinctions and introductions. C... more Insular communities are particularly vulnerable to anthropogenic extinctions and introductions. Changes in composition of island frugivore communities may affect seed dispersal within the native plant community, risking ecological shifts and ultimately co-extinction cascades. Introduced species could potentially mitigate these risks by replacing ecological functions of extinct species, but conclusive evidence is lacking. Here, we investigate changes in plant–frugivore interactions involving frugivorous birds, mammals and reptiles in Mauritius, an oceanic island with an exceptionally well-specified frugivore community and well-described species introduction history. We demonstrate substantial losses of binary interaction partnerships (at the species level) resulting from native species extinctions, but also gains of equal numbers of novel interactions with introduced species, potentially supporting the idea that non-native species might compensate for lost seed dispersal. However, cl...
A prominent feature of the modern era is the increasing spread of invasive species, particularly ... more A prominent feature of the modern era is the increasing spread of invasive species, particularly within island and urban ecosystems, and these occurrences provide valuable natural experiments by which evolutionary and invasion hypotheses can be tested. In this study, we used the invasion route of guttural toads (Sclerophrys gutturalis) from natural-native and urban-native populations (Durban, South Africa) to their urban-invasive and natural-invasive populations (Mauritius and Réunion) to determine whether phenotypic changes that arose once the toads became urbanized in their native range have increased their invasive potential before they were transported (i.e., prior adaptation) or whether the observed changes are unique to the invasive populations. This urban/natural by native/invasive gradient allowed us to examine differences in guttural toad morphology (i.e., body size, hindlimb, and hindfoot length) and performance capacity (i.e., escape speed, endurance, and climbing ability...
We present a taxonomic revision of the genus Jumellea (Angraecinae; Orchidaceae) in the Mascarene... more We present a taxonomic revision of the genus Jumellea (Angraecinae; Orchidaceae) in the Mascarenes based on morphological study and field observations. We examined 328 specimens mostly from the MAU, P and REU, and recognise nine species. We provide a key, morphological descriptions, distributions, habitats, phenologies and conservation assessments following the Red List categories and criteria (IUCN). All nine species are present on Réunion with two being endemic there, and five have been confirmed on Mauritius, none of them endemic. The single species recorded for Rodrigues is also the only one found on all three islands of the Mascarenes and Madagascar. Five species are endemic to the Mascarene Archipelago, whereas the other four also occur in Madagascar. All nine species qualify as threatened with extinction on at least one of the islands of the Mascarenes. Two species are probably extinct on one island, and only two species on Réunion are not threatened.
ABSTRACT Wetlands are biologically important elements of landscapes and among the most threatened... more ABSTRACT Wetlands are biologically important elements of landscapes and among the most threatened ecosystems on Earth. On the island of Mauritius, many remaining wetlands are being rapidly converted and fragmented by intense land-use demands. We surveyed 209 coastal wetlands on Mauritius to assess their biophysical attributes, land-use activities, and patterns of disturbance, to help identify factors that threaten wetland biodiversity. Most wetlands exhibited severe edge-related disturbances and more than half were fragmented. Plant species richness was highest in larger, unfragmented wetlands and lower in wetlands with degraded margins. Urban wetlands were smaller and more likely to be fragmented than those adjoining other land uses such as grazing and agriculture. Flooding of urban homes and infrastructure was more likely to occur near fragmented than natural wetlands. Ongoing wetland decline in Mauritius not only contributes to the loss of local biodiversity but reduces the larger ecosystem role these habitats play in regulating surface water and protecting adjacent marine habitats.
The dodo Raphus cucullatus Linnaeus, 1758, an extinct and flightless, giant pigeon endemic to Mau... more The dodo Raphus cucullatus Linnaeus, 1758, an extinct and flightless, giant pigeon endemic to Mauritius, has fascinated people since its discovery, yet has remained surprisingly poorly known. Until the mid-19th century, almost all that was known about the dodo was based on illustrations and written accounts by 17th century mariners, often of questionable accuracy. Furthermore, only a few fragmentary remains of dodos collected prior to the bird’s extinction exist. Our understanding of the dodo’s anatomy was substantially enhanced by the discovery in 1865 of subfossil bones in a marsh called the Mare aux Songes, situated in southeastern Mauritius. However, no contextual information was recorded during early excavation efforts, and the majority of excavated material comprised larger dodo bones, almost all of which were unassociated. Here we present a modern interdisciplinary analysis of the Mare aux Songes, a 4200-year-old multitaxic vertebrate concentration Lagerstatte. Our analysis o...
The colonization of Mauritius exemplifies the role played by humans in altering the ecosystems of... more The colonization of Mauritius exemplifies the role played by humans in altering the ecosystems of remote oceanic islands. This paper focuses on how we study those islands first colonized under the global mantle of colonialism. Here we aim to provide a theoretical framework for historical ecological investigations to disentangle the processes, impacts, and outcomes of colonization during colonialism, considering local, regional, and global drivers. The paper provides a review of existing literature, outlines a proposed research program encompassing paleoecology, paleoclimatology, archeology, and history, and offers details of potential research sites. We present “historical ecology” as a framework to aid future work, and argue that a refined understanding of the impact of human colonization can help create a nuanced chronology of environmental degradation that typifies Mauritius. Such detailed assessment is necessary to inform contemporary ecological conservation efforts. Finally, we...
FIGURE 1. A. Tree; B–C. Bark; D. Leaf, adaxial surface; E. Leaf, abaxial leaf; F. Foliage with fl... more FIGURE 1. A. Tree; B–C. Bark; D. Leaf, adaxial surface; E. Leaf, abaxial leaf; F. Foliage with flower buds; G. Flower bud (A–C Le Pouce, others Brise Fer).
FIGURE 3. A. Foliage with unripe fruits; B. Ripe fruit; C. Variation in external surface of the w... more FIGURE 3. A. Foliage with unripe fruits; B. Ripe fruit; C. Variation in external surface of the woody endocarp (all from a single plant); D. Longitudinal cross-section of the endocarp; E. Seed, showing bullate outer surface on the left and smooth adaxial surface of cotyledon on the right (dark brown); F. Seedling still attached to endocarp (A-Le Pouce, others Brise Fer).
FIGURE 5. Size class distribution of all known Eugenia alletiana in diameter at breast height (db... more FIGURE 5. Size class distribution of all known Eugenia alletiana in diameter at breast height (dbh), showing a paucity of younger plants indicative of a weak regeneration.
FIGURE 2. A. Flower bud showing fused apex; B. Flower bud showing teeth (bottom left); C. Flower ... more FIGURE 2. A. Flower bud showing fused apex; B. Flower bud showing teeth (bottom left); C. Flower with irregularly ruptured hypanthium lobes (5 lobes on the left, 4 lobes on the right). D. Stamens distribution on the inner surface of a split hypanthium; E. Side view of flower showing diminutive white petals at ends of split hypanthium lobes; F. Detail of stamens and a petal (all Brise Fer).
FIGURE 1. Jumellea exilis from Mauritius. A. Side view of flower showing the long spur. B. Front ... more FIGURE 1. Jumellea exilis from Mauritius. A. Side view of flower showing the long spur. B. Front view of flower. C. The largest known colony on Mauritius, growing near the summit of Le Pouce Mountain in steep cliffs inaccessible to introduced monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) which are known to rip and chew on Jumellea in Mauritius.
Insular communities are particularly vulnerable to anthropogenic extinctions and introductions. C... more Insular communities are particularly vulnerable to anthropogenic extinctions and introductions. Changes in composition of island frugivore communities may affect seed dispersal within the native plant community, risking ecological shifts and ultimately co-extinction cascades. Introduced species could potentially mitigate these risks by replacing ecological functions of extinct species, but conclusive evidence is lacking. Here, we investigate changes in plant–frugivore interactions involving frugivorous birds, mammals and reptiles in Mauritius, an oceanic island with an exceptionally well-specified frugivore community and well-described species introduction history. We demonstrate substantial losses of binary interaction partnerships (at the species level) resulting from native species extinctions, but also gains of equal numbers of novel interactions with introduced species, potentially supporting the idea that non-native species might compensate for lost seed dispersal. However, cl...
A prominent feature of the modern era is the increasing spread of invasive species, particularly ... more A prominent feature of the modern era is the increasing spread of invasive species, particularly within island and urban ecosystems, and these occurrences provide valuable natural experiments by which evolutionary and invasion hypotheses can be tested. In this study, we used the invasion route of guttural toads (Sclerophrys gutturalis) from natural-native and urban-native populations (Durban, South Africa) to their urban-invasive and natural-invasive populations (Mauritius and Réunion) to determine whether phenotypic changes that arose once the toads became urbanized in their native range have increased their invasive potential before they were transported (i.e., prior adaptation) or whether the observed changes are unique to the invasive populations. This urban/natural by native/invasive gradient allowed us to examine differences in guttural toad morphology (i.e., body size, hindlimb, and hindfoot length) and performance capacity (i.e., escape speed, endurance, and climbing ability...
We present a taxonomic revision of the genus Jumellea (Angraecinae; Orchidaceae) in the Mascarene... more We present a taxonomic revision of the genus Jumellea (Angraecinae; Orchidaceae) in the Mascarenes based on morphological study and field observations. We examined 328 specimens mostly from the MAU, P and REU, and recognise nine species. We provide a key, morphological descriptions, distributions, habitats, phenologies and conservation assessments following the Red List categories and criteria (IUCN). All nine species are present on Réunion with two being endemic there, and five have been confirmed on Mauritius, none of them endemic. The single species recorded for Rodrigues is also the only one found on all three islands of the Mascarenes and Madagascar. Five species are endemic to the Mascarene Archipelago, whereas the other four also occur in Madagascar. All nine species qualify as threatened with extinction on at least one of the islands of the Mascarenes. Two species are probably extinct on one island, and only two species on Réunion are not threatened.
ABSTRACT Wetlands are biologically important elements of landscapes and among the most threatened... more ABSTRACT Wetlands are biologically important elements of landscapes and among the most threatened ecosystems on Earth. On the island of Mauritius, many remaining wetlands are being rapidly converted and fragmented by intense land-use demands. We surveyed 209 coastal wetlands on Mauritius to assess their biophysical attributes, land-use activities, and patterns of disturbance, to help identify factors that threaten wetland biodiversity. Most wetlands exhibited severe edge-related disturbances and more than half were fragmented. Plant species richness was highest in larger, unfragmented wetlands and lower in wetlands with degraded margins. Urban wetlands were smaller and more likely to be fragmented than those adjoining other land uses such as grazing and agriculture. Flooding of urban homes and infrastructure was more likely to occur near fragmented than natural wetlands. Ongoing wetland decline in Mauritius not only contributes to the loss of local biodiversity but reduces the larger ecosystem role these habitats play in regulating surface water and protecting adjacent marine habitats.
The dodo Raphus cucullatus Linnaeus, 1758, an extinct and flightless, giant pigeon endemic to Mau... more The dodo Raphus cucullatus Linnaeus, 1758, an extinct and flightless, giant pigeon endemic to Mauritius, has fascinated people since its discovery, yet has remained surprisingly poorly known. Until the mid-19th century, almost all that was known about the dodo was based on illustrations and written accounts by 17th century mariners, often of questionable accuracy. Furthermore, only a few fragmentary remains of dodos collected prior to the bird’s extinction exist. Our understanding of the dodo’s anatomy was substantially enhanced by the discovery in 1865 of subfossil bones in a marsh called the Mare aux Songes, situated in southeastern Mauritius. However, no contextual information was recorded during early excavation efforts, and the majority of excavated material comprised larger dodo bones, almost all of which were unassociated. Here we present a modern interdisciplinary analysis of the Mare aux Songes, a 4200-year-old multitaxic vertebrate concentration Lagerstatte. Our analysis o...
The colonization of Mauritius exemplifies the role played by humans in altering the ecosystems of... more The colonization of Mauritius exemplifies the role played by humans in altering the ecosystems of remote oceanic islands. This paper focuses on how we study those islands first colonized under the global mantle of colonialism. Here we aim to provide a theoretical framework for historical ecological investigations to disentangle the processes, impacts, and outcomes of colonization during colonialism, considering local, regional, and global drivers. The paper provides a review of existing literature, outlines a proposed research program encompassing paleoecology, paleoclimatology, archeology, and history, and offers details of potential research sites. We present “historical ecology” as a framework to aid future work, and argue that a refined understanding of the impact of human colonization can help create a nuanced chronology of environmental degradation that typifies Mauritius. Such detailed assessment is necessary to inform contemporary ecological conservation efforts. Finally, we...
FIGURE 1. A. Tree; B–C. Bark; D. Leaf, adaxial surface; E. Leaf, abaxial leaf; F. Foliage with fl... more FIGURE 1. A. Tree; B–C. Bark; D. Leaf, adaxial surface; E. Leaf, abaxial leaf; F. Foliage with flower buds; G. Flower bud (A–C Le Pouce, others Brise Fer).
FIGURE 3. A. Foliage with unripe fruits; B. Ripe fruit; C. Variation in external surface of the w... more FIGURE 3. A. Foliage with unripe fruits; B. Ripe fruit; C. Variation in external surface of the woody endocarp (all from a single plant); D. Longitudinal cross-section of the endocarp; E. Seed, showing bullate outer surface on the left and smooth adaxial surface of cotyledon on the right (dark brown); F. Seedling still attached to endocarp (A-Le Pouce, others Brise Fer).
FIGURE 5. Size class distribution of all known Eugenia alletiana in diameter at breast height (db... more FIGURE 5. Size class distribution of all known Eugenia alletiana in diameter at breast height (dbh), showing a paucity of younger plants indicative of a weak regeneration.
FIGURE 2. A. Flower bud showing fused apex; B. Flower bud showing teeth (bottom left); C. Flower ... more FIGURE 2. A. Flower bud showing fused apex; B. Flower bud showing teeth (bottom left); C. Flower with irregularly ruptured hypanthium lobes (5 lobes on the left, 4 lobes on the right). D. Stamens distribution on the inner surface of a split hypanthium; E. Side view of flower showing diminutive white petals at ends of split hypanthium lobes; F. Detail of stamens and a petal (all Brise Fer).
FIGURE 1. Jumellea exilis from Mauritius. A. Side view of flower showing the long spur. B. Front ... more FIGURE 1. Jumellea exilis from Mauritius. A. Side view of flower showing the long spur. B. Front view of flower. C. The largest known colony on Mauritius, growing near the summit of Le Pouce Mountain in steep cliffs inaccessible to introduced monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) which are known to rip and chew on Jumellea in Mauritius.
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