Madagascar’s extraordinary biodiversity: Evolution, distribution, and use.

Madagascar’s biota is hyperdiverse and includes exceptional levels of endemicity. We review the current state of knowledge on Madagascar’s past and current terrestrial and freshwater biodiversity by compiling and presenting comprehensive data on species diversity, endemism, and rates of species description and human uses, in addition to presenting an updated and simplified map of vegetation types. We report a substantial increase of records and species new to science in recent years; however, the diversity and evolution of many groups remain practically unknown (e.g., fungi and most invertebrates). Digitization efforts are increasing the resolution of species richness patterns and we highlight the crucial role of field- and collections-based research for advancing biodiversity knowledge and identifying gaps in our understanding, particularly as species richness corresponds closely to collection effort. Phylogenetic diversity patterns mirror that of species richness and endemism in most of the analyzed groups. We highlight humid forests as centers of diversity and endemism because of their role as refugia and centers of recent and rapid radiations. However, the distinct endemism of other areas, such as the grassland-woodland mosaic of the Central Highlands and the spiny forest of the southwest, is also biologically important despite lower species richness. The documented uses of Malagasy biodiversity are manifold, with much potential for the uncovering of new useful traits for food, medicine, and climate mitigation. The data presented here showcase Madagascar as a unique “living laboratory” for our understanding of evolution and the complex interactions between people and nature. The gathering and analysis of biodiversity data must continue and accelerate if we are to fully understand and safeguard this unique subset of Earth’s biodiversity. Madagascar has been isolated from mainland Africa and Asia for more than 80 million years and has developed a distinctive flora and fauna, with more than 90% of its species endemic to the island nation. It is also home to the Malagasy people, with a population of about 30 million, and was first colonized by humans around the first century BCE. The island’s biodiverse wildlife is highly threatened, and much of its human population lives below the poverty line. In Reviews, Antonelli . and Ralimanana . characterize the biological history and diversity of the island and examine conservation status and actions required to protect biodiversity and improve living standards and well-being for the Malagasy people. —SNV A review explains that Madagascar’s biodiversity is the product of complex processes that produced remarkable life-forms, many remaining undocumented.

Project(s)

Priority 4: Accelerated Taxonomy

Priority 2: Trait Diversity and Function

Priority 1: Ecosystem Stewardship

Funder

Funder name	Awards
Vetenskapsrådet, Sweden	2019-05191 - 2017-04980 - 2016-00796 - 2017-03862 - VR: 2019-04739
Stiftelsen för Strategisk Forskning, Sweden	FFL15-0196
Kew Foundation, United Kingdom
Science for Life Laboratory, Sweden
Wallenberg Data Driven Life Science Program	KAW 2020.0239
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, Portugal	PD/BD/128493/2017 - 2020.00823.CEECIND - PTDC/BIA-EVL/31254/2017
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, United Kingdom	Future Leader Fellowship
Horizon 2020, European Union	H2020 MSCA-ITN-ETN Plant.ID, under grant agreement 765000 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement, grant 838998
Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung, Switzerland	P400PB_186733 - P4P4PB_199187 - Early Postdoc Mobility Grant, grant P2LAP2_187745 - PCEFP3_187012
VINNOVA, Sweden	2019-02717
National Science Foundation, United States	DEB-1655076
Operational Programme Research, Development and Education, European Union	MEMOVA project, grant CZ.02.2.69/0.0/0.0/18_053/0016982
Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo, Brazil	#2021/07161-6 - #2022/09428-2
Natural Environment Research Council, Unite Kingdom	London NERC DTP (NERC Ref: NE/L002485/1) - NE/R001081/1
Grantová Agentura České Republiky, Czechia	GJ20-18566Y
Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior, Brazil	PDSE 88881.132750/2016-01
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, Germany	iDiv funded by DFG–FZT 118, 202548816
Instituto de Ecología y Biodiversidad, Chile	Beca de doctorado
Universidad Católica del Norte, Universidad de La Serena, La Serena, Chile	Programa de Doctorado en Biología y Ecología Aplicada
Agencia Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo, Chile	National Scholarship (grant 21181931) - ANID FB210006
National Research Foundation, South Africa	NRF / SASSCAL (Southern African Science Service Centre), grant 118589 - NRF / African Origins Platform, grant 117666
Global Biodiversity Information Facility, Denmark	Biodiversity Information for Development grant
Arts and Humanities Research Council, United States	Techne Doctoral Training Partnership
Darwin Initiative, United Kingsom	22-005 - EIDPO049