A simple dynamic model explains the diversity of island birds worldwide.

Colonization, speciation and extinction are dynamic processes that influence global patterns of species richness1-6. Island biogeography theory predicts that the contribution of these processes to the accumulation of species diversity depends on the area and isolation of the island7,8. Notably, there has been no robust global test of this prediction for islands where speciation cannot be ignored9, because neither the appropriate data nor the analytical tools have been available. Here we address both deficiencies to reveal, for island birds, the empirical shape of the general relationships that determine how colonization, extinction and speciation rates co-vary with the area and isolation of islands. We compiled a global molecular phylogenetic dataset of birds on islands, based on the terrestrial avifaunas of 41 oceanic archipelagos worldwide (including 596 avian taxa), and applied a new analysis method to estimate the sensitivity of island-specific rates of colonization, speciation and extinction to island features (area and isolation). Our model predicts-with high explanatory power-several global relationships. We found a decline in colonization with isolation, a decline in extinction with area and an increase in speciation with area and isolation. Combining the theoretical foundations of island biogeography7,8 with the temporal information contained in molecular phylogenies10 proves a powerful approach to reveal the fundamental relationships that govern variation in biodiversity across the planet.

What can insects teach us about hearing loss?

Over the last three decades, insects have been utilized to provide a deep and fundamental understanding of many human diseases and disorders. Here, we present arguments for insects as models to understand general principles underlying hearing loss. Despite ∼600 million years since the last common ancestor of vertebrates and invertebrates, we share an overwhelming degree of genetic homology particularly with respect to auditory organ development and maintenance. Despite the anatomical differences between human and insect auditory organs, both share physiological principles of operation. We explain why these observations are expected and highlight areas in hearing loss research in which insects can provide insight. We start by briefly introducing the evolutionary journey of auditory organs, the reasons for using insect auditory organs for hearing loss research, and the tools and approaches available in insects. Then, the first half of the review focuses on auditory development and auditory disorders with a genetic cause. The second half analyses the physiological and genetic consequences of ageing and short- and long-term changes as a result of noise exposure. We finish with complex age and noise interactions in auditory systems. In this review, we present some of the evidence and arguments to support the use of insects to study mechanisms and potential treatments for hearing loss in humans. Obviously, insects cannot fully substitute for all aspects of human auditory function and loss of function, although there are many important questions that can be addressed in an animal model for which there are important ethical, practical and experimental advantages.

The burden of anthropogenic changes and mutation load in a critically endangered harrier from the Reunion biodiversity hotspot, Circus maillardi.

Anthropogenic impact is causing the decline of a large proportion of species worldwide and reduces their genetic diversity. Island species typically have smaller ranges than continental species. As a consequence, island species are particularly liable to undergo population bottlenecks, giving rise to conservation challenges such as inbreeding and unmasking of deleterious genetic load. Such challenges call for more detailed assessments of the genetic make-up of threatened island populations. The Mascarene islands (Indian Ocean) present many prime examples, being unusual in having been pristine until first human arrival ~400 years ago, following which anthropogenic pressure was unusually intense. A threatened harrier (Circus maillardi) endemic to the westernmost island of the archipelago is a good example of the challenges faced by species that have declined to small population size following intense anthropogenic pressure. In this study, we use an extensive set of population genomic tools to quantify variation at near-neutral and coding loci, in order to test the historical impact of human activity on this species, and evaluate the species' (mal)adaptive potential. We observed low but significant genetic differentiation between populations on the West and North-East sides of the island, echoing observations in other endemic species. Inbreeding was significant, with a substantial fraction of samples being first or second-degree relatives. Historical effective population sizes have declined from ~3000 to 300 individuals in the past 1000 years, with a more recent drop ~100 years ago consistent with human activity. Based on our simulations and comparisons with a close relative (Circus melanoleucos), this demographic history may have allowed purging of the most deleterious variants but is unlikely to have allowed the purging of mildly deleterious variants. Our study shows how using relatively affordable methods can reveal the massive impact that human activity may have on the genetic diversity and adaptive potential of island populations, and calls for urgent action to closely monitor the reproductive success of such endemic populations, in association with genetic studies.

Mechanically evoked spike responses of pentascolopidial chordotonal organs of Drosophila melanogaster larvae.

Mechanosensitive ensembles of neurons in insects, known as chordotonal organs (COs), function in proprioception, the detection of sound and substrate vibrations. Here, we characterized the mechanical sensitivity of the lateral pentascolopidial CO (lch5) of Drosophila melanogaster larvae to establish its postulated role in proprioception. We developed a physiologically realistic method to replicate proprioceptive input to lch5 by pulling the apodeme (tendon) to which the tips of the neurons attach. We found that lch5 sensory neurons respond transiently with a short latency to the velocity component of stretch displacements and the release of stretch (relaxation). In the mechanosensory mutant inactive, lch5 has a decreased response to mechanical stimuli and a lower overall spontaneous spike rate. Finally, we simulated the input that lch5 receives during crawling and observed spike rate changes of peristaltic body contraction. We provide a characterization of proprioceptive feedback in D. melanogaster larvae and firmly establish the proprioceptive function of lch5 in larval locomotion.

Molecular correlates of swarming behaviour in Aedes aegypti males.

Mosquitoes are the deadliest vectors of diseases. They impose a huge health burden on human populations spreading parasites as disparate as protozoans (malaria), viruses (yellow fever and more) and nematodes (filariasis) that cause life-threatening conditions. In recent years, mating has been proposed as a putative target for population control. Mosquitoes mate mid-air, in swarms initiated by males and triggered by a combination of internal and external stimuli. As the number of females in a swarm is limited, there is intense competition among males, and they 'retune' their physiology for this demanding behaviour. There is limited knowledge on the 'genetic reprogramming' required to enable swarming. Interestingly, recent evidence indicates that the upregulation of circadian clock genes may be involved in the swarming of malaria mosquitoes of the genus Anopheles. Here, we use whole-head RNA-seq to identify gene expression changes in Aedes aegypti males that are engaged in swarming in a laboratory setting. Our results suggest that in preparation to swarming, males tend to lower some housekeeping functions while increasing remodelling of the cytoskeleton and neuronal connectivity; the transcription of circadian clock genes is unaffected.

Physiological Basis of Noise-Induced Hearing Loss in a Tympanal Ear.

Acoustic overexposure, such as listening to loud music too often, results in noise-induced hearing loss. The pathologies of this prevalent sensory disorder begin within the ear at synapses of the primary auditory receptors, their postsynaptic partners and their supporting cells. The extent of noise-induced damage, however, is determined by overstimulation of primary auditory receptors, upstream of where the pathologies manifest. A systematic characterization of the electrophysiological function of the upstream primary auditory receptors is warranted to understand how noise exposure impacts on downstream targets, where the pathologies of hearing loss begin. Here, we used the experimentally-accessible locust ear (male, Schistocerca gregaria) to characterize a decrease in the auditory receptor's ability to respond to sound after noise exposure. Surprisingly, after noise exposure, the electrophysiological properties of the auditory receptors remain unchanged, despite a decrease in the ability to transduce sound. This auditory deficit stems from changes in a specialized receptor lymph that bathes the auditory receptors, revealing striking parallels with the mammalian auditory system.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Noise exposure is the largest preventable cause of hearing loss. It is the auditory receptors that bear the initial brunt of excessive acoustic stimulation, because they must convert excessive sound-induced movements into electrical signals, but remain functional afterward. Here we use the accessible ear of an invertebrate to, for the first time in any animal, characterize changes in auditory receptors after noise overexposure. We find that their decreased ability to transduce sound into electrical signals is, most probably, due to changes in supporting (scolopale) cells that maintain the ionic composition of the ear. An emerging doctrine in hearing research is that vertebrate primary auditory receptors are surprisingly robust, something that we show rings true for invertebrate ears too.

Gene transcription changes in a locust model of noise-induced deafness.

Locusts have auditory structures called Müller's organs attached to tympanic membranes on either side of the abdomen. We measured the normalized abundances of 500 different mRNA transcripts in 320 Müller's organs obtained from 160 locusts (Schistocerca gregaria) that had been subjected to a loud continuous 3-kHz tone for 24 h. Abundance ratios were then measured relative to transcripts from 360 control organs. A histogram of the number of observed transcripts versus their abundance ratios (noise exposed/control) was well fitted by a Cauchy distribution with median value near one. Transcripts below 5% and above 95% of the cumulative distribution function of the fitted Cauchy distribution were selected as putatively different from the expected values of an untreated preparation. This yielded eight transcripts with ratios increased by noise exposure (ratios 1.689-3.038) and 18 transcripts with reduced ratios (0.069-0.457). Most of the transcripts with increased abundance represented genes responsible for cuticular construction, suggesting extensive remodeling of some or all the cuticular components of the auditory structure, whereas the reduced abundance transcripts were mostly involved in lipid and protein storage and metabolism, suggesting a profound reduction in metabolic activity in response to the overstimulation.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Locust ears have functional and genetic similarities to human ears, including loss of hearing from age or noise exposure. We measured transcript abundances in transcriptomes of noise-exposed and control locust ears. The data indicate remodeling of the ear tympanum and profound reductions in metabolism that may explain reduced sound transduction. These findings advance our understanding of this useful model and suggest further experiments to elucidate mechanisms that ears use to cope with excessive stimulation.

Peridermal fruit skin formation in Actinidia sp. (kiwifruit) is associated with genetic loci controlling russeting and cuticle formation.

BACKGROUND: The skin (exocarp) of fleshy fruit is hugely diverse across species. Most fruit types have a live epidermal skin covered by a layer of cuticle made up of cutin while a few create an outermost layer of dead cells (peridermal layer). RESULTS: In this study we undertook crosses between epidermal and peridermal skinned kiwifruit, and showed that epidermal skin is a semi-dominant trait. Furthermore, backcrossing these epidermal skinned hybrids to a peridermal skinned fruit created a diverse range of phenotypes ranging from epidermal skinned fruit, through fruit with varying degrees of patches of periderm (russeting), to fruit with a complete periderm. Quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis of this population suggested that periderm formation was associated with four loci. These QTLs were aligned either to ones associated with russet formation on chromosome 19 and 24, or cuticle integrity and coverage located on chromosomes 3, 11 and 24. CONCLUSION: From the segregation of skin type and QTL analysis, it appears that skin development in kiwifruit is controlled by two competing factors, cuticle strength and propensity to russet. A strong cuticle will inhibit russeting while a strong propensity to russet can create a continuous dead skinned periderm.

A gene expression atlas for kiwifruit (Actinidia chinensis) and network analysis of transcription factors.

BACKGROUND: Transcriptomic studies combined with a well annotated genome have laid the foundations for new understanding of molecular processes. Tools which visualise gene expression patterns have further added to these resources. The manual annotation of the Actinidia chinensis (kiwifruit) genome has resulted in a high quality set of 33,044 genes. Here we investigate gene expression patterns in diverse tissues, visualised in an Electronic Fluorescent Pictograph (eFP) browser, to study the relationship of transcription factor (TF) expression using network analysis. RESULTS: Sixty-one samples covering diverse tissues at different developmental time points were selected for RNA-seq analysis and an eFP browser was generated to visualise this dataset. 2839 TFs representing 57 different classes were identified and named. Network analysis of the TF expression patterns separated TFs into 14 different modules. Two modules consisting of 237 TFs were correlated with floral bud and flower development, a further two modules containing 160 TFs were associated with fruit development and maturation. A single module of 480 TFs was associated with ethylene-induced fruit ripening. Three "hub" genes correlated with flower and fruit development consisted of a HAF-like gene central to gynoecium development, an ERF and a DOF gene. Maturing and ripening hub genes included a KNOX gene that was associated with seed maturation, and a GRAS-like TF. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides an insight into the complexity of the transcriptional control of flower and fruit development, as well as providing a new resource to the plant community. The Actinidia eFP browser is provided in an accessible format that allows researchers to download and work internally.

An overview of current population genomics methods for the analysis of whole-genome resequencing data in eukaryotes.

Characterizing the population history of a species and identifying loci underlying local adaptation is crucial in functional ecology, evolutionary biology, conservation and agronomy. The constant improvement of high-throughput sequencing techniques has facilitated the production of whole genome data in a wide range of species. Population genomics now provides tools to better integrate selection into a historical framework, and take into account selection when reconstructing demographic history. However, this improvement has come with a profusion of analytical tools that can confuse and discourage users. Such confusion limits the amount of information effectively retrieved from complex genomic data sets, and impairs the diffusion of the most recent analytical tools into fields such as conservation biology. It may also lead to redundancy among methods. To address these isssues, we propose an overview of more than 100 state-of-the-art methods that can deal with whole genome data. We summarize the strategies they use to infer demographic history and selection, and discuss some of their limitations. A website listing these methods is available at www.methodspopgen.com.

Mapping CRISPR-Cas9 public and commercial innovation using The Lens institutional toolkit.

CRISPR-Cas9 is a revolutionary technology because it is precise, fast and easy to implement, cheap and components are readily accessible. This versatility means that the technology can deliver a timely end product and can be used by many stakeholders. In plant cells, the technology can be applied to knockout genes by using CRISPR-Cas nucleases that can alter coding gene regions or regulatory elements, alter precisely a genome by base editing to delete or regulate gene expression, edit precisely a genome by homology-directed repair mechanism (cellular DNA), or regulate transcriptional machinery by using dead Cas proteins to recruit regulators to the promoter region of a gene. All these applications can be for: 1) Research use (Non commercial), 2) Uses related product components for the technology itself (reagents, equipment, toolkits, vectors etc), and 3) Uses related to the development and sale of derived end products based on this technology. In this contribution, we present a prototype report that can engage the community in open, inclusive and collaborative innovation mapping. Using the open data at the Lens.org platform and other relevant sources, we tracked, analyzed, organized, and assembled contextual and bridged patent and scholarly knowledge about CRISPR-Cas9 and with the assistance of a new Lens institutional capability, The Lens Report Builder, currently in beta release, mapped the public and commercial innovation pathways of the technology. When scaled, this capability will also enable coordinated editing and curation by credentialed experts to inform policy makers, businesses and private or public investment.

The Role of the Mechanotransduction Ion Channel Candidate Nanchung-Inactive in Auditory Transduction in an Insect Ear.

Insect auditory receivers provide an excellent comparative resource to understand general principles of auditory transduction, but analysis of the electrophysiological properties of the auditory neurons has been hampered by their tiny size and inaccessibility. Here we pioneer patch-clamp recordings from the auditory neurons of Müller's organ of the desert locust Schistocerca gregaria to characterize dendritic spikes, axonal spikes, and the transduction current. We demonstrate that dendritic spikes, elicited by sound stimuli, trigger axonal spikes, and that both types are sodium and voltage dependent and blocked by TTX. Spontaneous discrete depolarizations summate upon acoustic stimulation to produce a graded transduction potential that in turn elicits the dendritic spikes. The transduction current of Group III neurons of Müller's organ, which are broadly tuned to 3 kHz, is blocked by three ion channel blockers (FM1-43, streptomycin, and 2-APB) that are known to block mechanotransduction channels. We investigated the contribution of the candidate mechanotransduction ion channel Nanchung-Inactive-which is expressed in Müller's organ-to the transduction current. A specific agonist of Nanchung-Inactive, pymetrozine, eliminates the sound-evoked transduction current while inducing a tonic depolarizing current of comparable amplitude. The Nanchung-Inactive ion channels, therefore, have the required conductance to carry the entire transduction current, and sound stimulation appears not to open any additional channels. The application of three mechanotransduction ion channel blockers prevented the pymetrozine-induced depolarizing current. This implies that either Nanchung-Inactive is, or forms part of, the mechanotransduction ion channel or it amplifies a relatively small current (<30 pA) produced by another mechanotransduction ion channel such as NompC.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT The mechanically activated ion channel underpinning hearing is not known. We have pioneered intracellular patch-clamp recordings from locust auditory neurons to unravel the role of the candidate mechanotransduction ion channel Nanchung-Inactive in auditory transduction in insects.

UVR8-mediated induction of flavonoid biosynthesis for UVB tolerance is conserved between the liverwort Marchantia polymorpha and flowering plants.

Damaging UVB radiation is a major abiotic stress facing land plants. In angiosperms the UV RESISTANCE LOCUS8 (UVR8) photoreceptor coordinates UVB responses, including inducing biosynthesis of protective flavonoids. We characterised the UVB responses of Marchantia polymorpha (marchantia), the model species for the liverwort group of basal plants. Physiological, chemical and transcriptomic analyses were conducted on wild-type marchantia exposed to three different UVB regimes. CRISPR/Cas9 was used to obtain plant lines with mutations for components of the UVB signal pathway or the flavonoid biosynthetic pathway, and transgenics overexpressing the marchantia UVR8 sequence were generated. The mutant and transgenic lines were analysed for changes in flavonoid content, their response to UVB exposure, and transcript abundance of a set of 48 genes that included components of the UVB response pathway characterised for angiosperms. The marchantia UVB response included many components in common with Arabidopsis, including production of UVB-absorbing flavonoids, the central activator role of ELONGATED HYPOCOTYL5 (HY5), and negative feedback regulation by REPRESSOR OF UV-B PHOTOMORPHOGENESIS1 (RUP1). Notable differences included the greater importance of CHALCONE ISOMERASE-LIKE (CHIL). Mutants disrupted in the response pathway (hy5) or flavonoid production (chalcone isomerase, chil) were more easily damaged by UVB. Mutants (rup1) or transgenics (35S:MpMYB14) with increased flavonoid content had increased UVB tolerance. The results suggest that UVR8-mediated flavonoid induction is a UVB tolerance character conserved across land plants and may have been an early adaptation to life on land.

Kiwifruit SVP2 controls developmental and drought-stress pathways.

KEY MESSAGE: Genome-wide targets of Actinidia chinensis SVP2 confirm roles in ABA- and dehydration-mediated growth repression and reveal a conservation in mechanism of action between SVP genes of taxonomically distant Arabidopsis and a woody perennial kiwifruit. The molecular mechanisms underlying growth and dormancy in woody perennials are largely unknown. In Arabidopsis, the MADS-box transcription factor SHORT VEGETATIVE PHASE (SVP) plays a key role in the progression from vegetative to floral development, and in woody perennials SVP-like genes are also proposed to be involved in controlling dormancy. During kiwifruit development SVP2 has a role in growth inhibition, with high-chill kiwifruit Actinidia deliciosa transgenic lines overexpressing SVP2 showing suppressed bud outgrowth. Transcriptomic analyses of these plants suggests that SVP2 mimics the well-documented abscisic acid (ABA) effect on the plant dehydration response. To corroborate the growth inhibition role of SVP2 in kiwifruit development at the molecular level, we analysed the genome-wide direct targets of SVP2 using chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by high-throughput sequencing in kiwifruit A. chinensis. SVP2 was found to bind to at least 297 target sites in the kiwifruit genome, and potentially modulates 252 genes that function in a range of biological processes, especially those involved in repressing meristem activity and ABA-mediated dehydration pathways. In addition, our ChIP-seq analysis reveals remarkable conservation in mechanism of action between SVP genes of taxonomically distant plant species.

Grapevine virus I, a putative new vitivirus detected in co-infection with grapevine virus G in New Zealand.

A novel virus, with characteristics of viruses classified within the genus Vitivirus, was identified from a sample of Vitis vinifera cv. Chardonnay in New Zealand. The virus was detected with high throughput sequencing (small RNA and total RNA) and its sequence was confirmed by Sanger sequencing. Its genome is 7507 nt long (excluding the polyA tail) with an organisation similar to that described for other classifiable members of the genus Vitivirus. The closest relative of the virus is grapevine virus E (GVE) with 65% aa identity in ORF1 (65% nt identity) and 63% aa identity in the coat protein (66% nt identity). The relationship with GVE was confirmed with phylogenetic analysis, showing the new virus branching with GVE, Agave tequilina leaf virus and grapevine virus G (GVG). A limited survey revealed the presence of this virus in multiple plants from the same location where the newly described GVG was discovered, and in most cases both viruses were detected as co-infections. The genetic characteristics of this virus suggest it represents an isolate of a new species within the genus Vitivirus and following the current nomenclature, we propose the name "Grapevine virus I".

Kiwifruit SVP2 gene prevents premature budbreak during dormancy.

Overexpression of SVP2 in kiwifruit delays budbreak before sufficient winter chilling. SVP2-mediated vegetative growth restriction involves stress response pathways, and commonalities exist between Arabidopsis and kiwifruit SVP targets.

A microRNA allele that emerged prior to apple domestication may underlie fruit size evolution.

The molecular genetic mechanisms underlying fruit size remain poorly understood in perennial crops, despite size being an important agronomic trait. Here we show that the expression level of a microRNA gene (miRNA172) influences fruit size in apple. A transposon insertional allele of miRNA172 showing reduced expression associates with large fruit in an apple breeding population, whereas over-expression of miRNA172 in transgenic apple significantly reduces fruit size. The transposon insertional allele was found to be co-located with a major fruit size quantitative trait locus, fixed in cultivated apples and their wild progenitor species with relatively large fruit. This finding supports the view that the selection for large size in apple fruit was initiated prior to apple domestication, likely by large mammals, before being subsequently strengthened by humans, and also helps to explain why signatures of genetic bottlenecks and selective sweeps are normally weaker in perennial crops than in annual crops.

Properties and physiological function of Ca2+-dependent K+ currents in uniglomerular olfactory projection neurons.

Ca(2+)-activated potassium currents [IK(Ca)] are an important link between the intracellular signaling system and the membrane potential, which shapes intrinsic electrophysiological properties. To better understand the ionic mechanisms that mediate intrinsic firing properties of olfactory uniglomerular projection neurons (uPNs), we used whole cell patch-clamp recordings in an intact adult brain preparation of the male cockroach Periplaneta americana to analyze IK(Ca) In the insect brain, uPNs form the principal pathway from the antennal lobe to the protocerebrum, where centers for multimodal sensory processing and learning are located. In uPNs the activation of IK(Ca) was clearly voltage and Ca(2+) dependent. Thus under physiological conditions IK(Ca) is strongly dependent on Ca(2+) influx kinetics and on the membrane potential. The biophysical characterization suggests that IK(Ca) is generated by big-conductance (BK) channels. A small-conductance (SK) channel-generated current could not be detected. IK(Ca) was sensitive to charybdotoxin (CTX) and iberiotoxin (IbTX) but not to apamin. The functional role of IK(Ca) was analyzed in occlusion experiments under current clamp, in which portions of IK(Ca) were blocked by CTX or IbTX. Blockade of IK(Ca) showed that IK(Ca) contributes significantly to intrinsic electrophysiological properties such as the action potential waveform and membrane excitability.

Rapid and slow chemical synaptic interactions of cholinergic projection neurons and GABAergic local interneurons in the insect antennal lobe.

The antennal lobe (AL) of insects constitutes the first synaptic relay and processing center of olfactory information, received from olfactory sensory neurons located on the antennae. Complex synaptic connectivity between olfactory neurons of the AL ultimately determines the spatial and temporal tuning profile of (output) projection neurons to odors. Here we used paired whole-cell patch-clamp recordings in the cockroach Periplaneta americana to characterize synaptic interactions between cholinergic uniglomerular projection neurons (uPNs) and GABAergic local interneurons (LNs), both of which are key components of the insect olfactory system. We found rapid, strong excitatory synaptic connections between uPNs and LNs. This rapid excitatory transmission was blocked by the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor blocker mecamylamine. IPSPs, elicited by synaptic input from a presynaptic LN, were recorded in both uPNs and LNs. IPSPs were composed of both slow, sustained components and fast, transient components which were coincident with presynaptic action potentials. The fast IPSPs were blocked by the GABAA receptor chloride channel blocker picrotoxin, whereas the slow sustained IPSPs were blocked by the GABAB receptor blocker CGP-54626. This is the first study to directly show the predicted dual fast- and slow-inhibitory action of LNs, which was predicted to be key in shaping complex odor responses in the AL of insects. We also provide the first direct characterization of rapid postsynaptic potentials coincident with presynaptic spikes between olfactory processing neurons in the AL.

Islands as model systems in ecology and evolution: prospects fifty years after MacArthur-Wilson.

The study of islands as model systems has played an important role in the development of evolutionary and ecological theory. The 50th anniversary of MacArthur and Wilson's (December 1963) article, 'An equilibrium theory of insular zoogeography', was a recent milestone for this theme. Since 1963, island systems have provided new insights into the formation of ecological communities. Here, building on such developments, we highlight prospects for research on islands to improve our understanding of the ecology and evolution of communities in general. Throughout, we emphasise how attributes of islands combine to provide unusual research opportunities, the implications of which stretch far beyond islands. Molecular tools and increasing data acquisition now permit re-assessment of some fundamental issues that interested MacArthur and Wilson. These include the formation of ecological networks, species abundance distributions, and the contribution of evolution to community assembly. We also extend our prospects to other fields of ecology and evolution - understanding ecosystem functioning, speciation and diversification - frequently employing assets of oceanic islands in inferring the geographic area within which evolution has occurred, and potential barriers to gene flow. Although island-based theory is continually being enriched, incorporating non-equilibrium dynamics is identified as a major challenge for the future.