TY - JOUR

T1 - Madagascar's extraordinary biodiversity: Evolution, distribution, and use

AU - Antonelli, Alexandre

AU - Smith, Rhian J

AU - Perrigo, Allison L

AU - Crottini, Angelica

AU - Hackel, Jan

AU - Testo, Weston

AU - Farooq, Harith

AU - Torres Jiménez, Maria F

AU - Andela, Niels

AU - Andermann, Tobias

AU - Andriamanohera, Andotiana M

AU - Andriambololonera, Sylvie

AU - Bachman, Steven P

AU - Bacon, Christine D

AU - Baker, William J

AU - Belluardo, Francesco

AU - Birkinshaw, Chris

AU - Borrell, James S

AU - Cable, Stuart

AU - Canales, Nataly A

AU - Carrillo, Juan D

AU - Clegg, Rosie

AU - Clubbe, Colin

AU - Cooke, Robert S C

AU - Damasco, Gabriel

AU - Dhanda, Sonia

AU - Edler, Daniel

AU - Faurby, Søren

AU - de Lima Ferreira, Paola

AU - Fisher, Brian L

AU - Forest, Félix

AU - Gardiner, Lauren M

AU - Goodman, Steven M

AU - Grace, Olwen M

AU - Guedes, Thaís B

AU - Henniges, Marie C

AU - Hill, Rowena

AU - Lehmann, Caroline E R

AU - Lowry, Porter P

AU - Marline, Lovanomenjanahary

AU - Matos-Maraví, Pável

AU - Moat, Justin

AU - Neves, Beatriz

AU - Nogueira, Matheus G C

AU - Onstein, Renske E

AU - Papadopulos, Alexander S T

AU - Perez-Escobar, Oscar A

AU - Phelps, Leanne N

AU - Phillipson, Peter B

AU - Pironon, Samuel

AU - Przelomska, Natalia A S

AU - Rabarimanarivo, Marina

AU - Rabehevitra, David

AU - Raharimampionona, Jeannie

AU - Rajaonah, Mamy Tiana

AU - Rajaonary, Fano

AU - Rajaovelona, Landy R

AU - Rakotoarinivo, Mijoro

AU - Rakotoarisoa, Amédée A

AU - Rakotoarisoa, Solofo E

AU - Rakotomalala, Herizo N

AU - Rakotonasolo, Franck

AU - Ralaiveloarisoa, Berthe A

AU - Ramirez-Herranz, Myriam

AU - Randriamamonjy, Jean Emmanuel N

AU - Randriamboavonjy, Tianjanahary

AU - Randrianasolo, Vonona

AU - Rasolohery, Andriambolantsoa

AU - Ratsifandrihamanana, Anitry N

AU - Ravololomanana, Noro

AU - Razafiniary, Velosoa

AU - Razanajatovo, Henintsoa

AU - Razanatsoa, Estelle

AU - Rivers, Malin

AU - Sayol, Ferran

AU - Silvestro, Daniele

AU - Vorontsova, Maria S

AU - Walker, Kim

AU - Walker, Barnaby E

AU - Wilkin, Paul

AU - Williams, Jenny

AU - Ziegler, Thomas

AU - Zizka, Alexander

AU - Ralimanana, Hélène

PY - 2022/12/2

Y1 - 2022/12/2

N2 - 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.

AB - 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.

KW - Humans

KW - Biodiversity

KW - Biota

KW - Forests

KW - Madagascar

KW - Phylogeny

KW - Biological Evolution

U2 - 10.1126/science.abf0869

DO - 10.1126/science.abf0869

M3 - Article

C2 - 36454829

VL - 378

JO - Science

JF - Science

SN - 0036-8075

IS - 6623

M1 - eabf0869

ER -