Evolution and biogeography of the flora of the Socotra archipelago (Yemen)

doi:10.1017/CBO9780511844270.009

8 - Evolution and biogeography of the flora of the Socotra archipelago (Yemen)

Published online by Cambridge University Press: 07 October 2011

Lisa M. Banfield ,

Kay Van Damme and

Anthony G. Miller

Edited by

David Bramwell and

Juli Caujapé-Castells

Show author details

Lisa M. Banfield: Affiliation:
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, UK
Kay Van Damme: Affiliation:
Ghent University
Anthony G. Miller: Affiliation:
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, UK
David Bramwell: Affiliation:
Jardín Botánico Canario 'Viera y Clavijo' - Unidad Asociada CSIC
Juli Caujapé-Castells: Affiliation:
Jardín Botánico Canario 'Viera y Clavijo' - Unidad Asociada CSIC

Book contents

Get access

Summary

The Socotra archipelago is an ancient continental fragment situated in the Western Indian Ocean that has been isolated for at least 18 million years (Ma). Although often described as the ‘Galapagos of the Indian Ocean’, compared to the Galapagos and other island systems, this Arabian Sea archipelago is relatively poorly studied and often overlooked in works on island biology. Nevertheless, the Socotra archipelago is characterised by relatively high floristic diversity and endemism with local adaptations and radiations, making it a good example of a system suitable for the study of island biogeography. We discuss origins, affinities, disjunctions and adaptations in the flora and explore underlying environmental and evolutionary processes that may have helped the Socotra archipelago to its present uniqueness.

Type: Chapter
Information: The Biology of Island Floras , pp. 197 - 225

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511844270.009 [Opens in a new window]

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Print publication year: 2011

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Book purchase

Temporarily unavailable

References

Attorre, F.Francesconne, F.Taleb, N.Scholte, P.Saed, A.Alfo, M. 2007 Will dragonblood survive the next period of climate change? Current and future potential distribution of Dracaena cinnabari (Socotra, Yemen)Biol. Conserv. 138 430CrossRef Google Scholar

Baas, P.Jansen, S.Smits, E. 2001 Vegetative anatomy and affinities of Dirachma socotrana (Dirachmaceae)Syst. Bot 26 231Google Scholar

Balfour, I. B. 1888 Botany of SocotraTrans. R. Soc. Edinb. 31 iGoogle Scholar

Banfield, L. M. 2006

Beydoun, Z. R.Bichan, H. R. 1970 The geology of Socotra Island, Gulf of AdenQ. J. Geol. Soc. Lond 125 413CrossRef Google Scholar

Beyhl, F. E. 1996 Dumont, H. J.Soqotra: Proceedings of the First International Symposium on Soqotra Island, Aden 1996: Present and FutureNew YorkGoogle Scholar

Blondel, J.Aronson, J. 1999 Biology and Wildlife of the Mediterranean RegionOxfordOxford University PressGoogle Scholar

Brown, M. J.Jarman, S. J.Kantvilas, G. 1994 Conservation and reservation of non-vascular plants in Tasmania, with special reference to lichensBiodivers. Conserv 3 263CrossRef Google Scholar

Burns, S. J.Fleitmann, D.Matter, A.Kramers, J.Al-Subbary, A. A. 2003 Indian Ocean climate and an absolute chronology over Dansgaard/Oeschger Events 9 to 13Science 301 1365CrossRef Google Scholar PubMed

Cheung, C.Devantier, L. 2006 Socotra: A Natural History of the Islands and their PeopleVan Damme, K.Hong KongOdyssey Books and Guides, Airphoto International LtdGoogle Scholar

Culek, M.Kral, K.Habrova, H.Adolt, R.Pavlis, J.Madera, P. 2006 Cheung, C.DeVantier, L.Socotra: A Natural History of the Islands and their PeopleVan Damme, K.Hong KongOdyssey Books and Guides, Airphoto International LtdGoogle Scholar

De Geest, P. 2006 Cheung, C.DeVantier, L.Socotra: A Natural History of the Islands and their PeopleVan Damme, K.Hong KongOdyssey Books and Guides, Airphoto International LtdGoogle Scholar

Fleitmann, D.Matter, A.Burns, S. J.al-Subbary, A. K.al-Aowah, M. A. 2004 Geology and Quaternary climate history of SocotraFauna Arabia 20 27Google Scholar

Franzke, A.German, D.al-Shebaz, I. A.Mummenhoff, K. 2009 Arabidopsis family ties: molecular phylogeny and age estimates in BrassicaceaeTaxon 58 425Google Scholar

Gomez-Campo, C. 1977 Studies on Cruciferae: III. Hemicrambe townsendii. nom. nov. An example of geographic disjunctionAn. Instit. Bot. A. J. Cavanilles 34 151Google Scholar

Graham, S. A.Hall, J.Sytsma, K.Shi, S. H. 2005 Phylogenetic analysis of the Lythraceae based on four gene regions and morphologyInt. J. Plant Sci 166 995CrossRef Google Scholar

Hedge, I. C. 1976 Vaughan, J. G.Macleod, A. J.Jones, B. M. G.The Biology and Chemistry of the CruciferaeLondonAcademic PressGoogle Scholar

Hjertson, M. 2003 Revision of the disjunct genus Campylanthus (Scrophulariaceae)Edinb. J. Bot 60 131CrossRef Google Scholar

Hughes, M.Hollingsworth, P. M.Miller, A. G. 2003 Population genetic structure in the endemic Begonia of the Socotra ArchipelagoBiol. Conserv 113 277CrossRef Google Scholar

Johnson, L. A. S.Briggs, B. G. 1984 Myrtales and Myrtaceae: a phylogenetic analysisAnn. Mo. Bot. Gard 71 700CrossRef Google Scholar

Kearney, T. H.Shantz, H. L. 1911

Kilian, N.Hein, P. 2006 New and noteworthy records for the vascular plant flora of Socotra Island, YemenEnglera 28 57CrossRef Google Scholar

Klackenberg, J. 1985 The genus Exacum (Gentianaceae)Opera Botanica a Societate Botanica Lundensi 84 1Google Scholar

Kuppers, M. 1989 Ecological significance of above-ground architectural patterns in woody-plants: a question of cost-benefit relationshipsTrends Ecol. Evol 4 375CrossRef Google Scholar PubMed

Kürschner, H. 2000 Bryophyte flora of the Arabian Peninsula and SocotraBryophytum Bibliotheca 55 1Google Scholar

Kürschner, H. 2003 Nineteen new records to the bryophyte flora of Socotra Island. Additions to the bryophyte flora of the Arabian Peninsula and Socotra 5Willdenowia 33 445CrossRef Google Scholar

Lavin, M.Thulin, M.Labat, J-N.Pennington, R. T. 2000 Africa, the odd man out: molecular biogeography of Dalbergioid legumes (Fabaceae) suggests otherwiseSyst. Bot 25 449CrossRef Google Scholar

Leroy, S.Gentss, P.Fournier, M.d’Acremont, E.Patriat, P.Beslier, M. O. 2004 From rifting to spreading in the eastern Gulf of Aden: a geophysical survey of a young oceanic basin from margin to marginTerra Nova 16 185CrossRef Google Scholar

Marrero, A.Almeida, R. S.González-Martín, M. 1998 A new species of the wild dragon tree, Dracaena (Dracaenaceae) from Gran Canaria and its taxonomic and biogeographic implicationsBot. J. Linn. Soc. 128 291Google Scholar

Mies, B. 1998 Dumont, H. J.Soqotra: Proceedings of the First International Symposium on Soqotra Island, Aden 1996: Present and FutureUnited Nations Development ProgrammeNew YorkGoogle Scholar

Miller, A. G.Morris, M. 2000

Miller, A. G.Morris, M. 2004 The Ethnoflora of the Soqotra ArchipelagoEdinburghRoyal Botanic Garden EdinburghGoogle Scholar

Miller, A. G.Atkinson, R.Alkhulaidi, A. W.Taleb, N. 2002 Nesocrambe, a new genus of Cruciferae (Brassiceae) from Soqotra, YemenWilldenowia 32 61CrossRef Google Scholar

Morris, M. 2002

Neubert, E. 2005 The continental malacofauna of Arabia and adjacent areas. IV. Revision of the family Cerastidae in the Soqotran Archipelago. I. The genus Passamaella L. Pfeiffer, 1877, with description of a new genus and species (Gastropoda: Pulmonata: Cerastidae)Arch. Molluskenkunde 134 1Google Scholar

Neubert, E. 2006 Cheung, C.DeVantier, L.Socotra: A Natural History of the Islands and their PeopleVan Damme, K.Hong KongOdyssey Books and Guides, Airphoto International LtdGoogle Scholar

Neubert, E. 2009 The continental malacofauna of Arabia and adjacent areas. VI. Pomatiidae of Arabia, Socotra and Northeast Africa, with descriptions of new genera and species (Gastropoda: Caenogastropoda: Littorinoidea)Fauna Arabia 24 47Google Scholar

Novack, F. A. 1943 Cited in: Retief, E. & van Wyk, A. E. (2008). The genus Wellstedia (Boraginaceae: Wellstedioideae) in southern AfricaBothalia 38 57Google Scholar

Olsen, M. E. 2003 Stem and leaf anatomy of the arborescent Cucurbitaceae Dendrosicyos socotrana with comments on the evolution of pachycauls from lianasPlant Syst. Evol 239 199CrossRef Google Scholar

Raven, P. H.Evert, R. F.Eichhorn, S. E. 1992 Biology of PlantsNew YorkWorth PublishersGoogle Scholar

Retief, E.van Wyk, A. E. 2008 The genus Wellstedia (Boraginaceae: Wellstedioideae) in southern AfricaBothalia 38 57CrossRef Google Scholar

Rodríguez-Sánchez, F.Arroyo, J. 2008 Reconstructing the demise of Tethyan plants: climate-driven range dynamics of Laurus since the PlioceneGlobal Ecol. Biogeogr 17 685CrossRef Google Scholar

Roos, M. C.Kessler, P. J. A.Gradstein, S. R.Baas, P. 2004 Species diversity and endemism of five major Malesian islands: diversity-area relationshipsJ. Biogeogr. 31 1893CrossRef Google Scholar

Rössler, H.Wranik, W. 2004 A key and annotated checklist to the reptiles of the Socotra archipelagoFauna Arabia 20 505Google Scholar

Samuel, M. A.Harbury, N.Bott, R.Thabett, A. M. 1997 Field observations from the Socotran platform: their interpretation and correlation to Southern OmanMar. Pet. Geol 14 661CrossRef Google Scholar

Schaefer, H. M.Heibl, C.Renner, S. 2009 Gourds afloat: a dated phylogeny reveals an Asian origin of the gourd family (Cucurbitaceae) and numerous oversea dispersal eventsProc. R. Soc. B 276 843CrossRef Google Scholar PubMed

Schils, T.Copperjans, E. 2003 Phytogeography of upwelling areas in the Arabian SeaJ. Biogeogr. 30 1339CrossRef Google Scholar

Scholte, P.DeGeest, P. Geest, P. 2010 The climate of Socotra Island (Yemen): a first-time assessment of the timing of the monsoon wind reversal and its influence on precipitation and vegetation patternsJ. Arid Environ. 74 1507CrossRef Google Scholar

Schrire, B. D.Lavin, M.Barker, N. P.Forest, F. 2009 Phylogeny of the tribe Indigofereae (Legumnosae-Papilionoideae): geographically structures more in succulent-rich and temperate settings than in rich grass-rich environmentsAm. J. Bot 96 816CrossRef Google Scholar

Taiti, S.Ferrara, F. 2004 The terrestrial Isopoda (Crustacea: Oniscidae) of the Socotra ArchipelagoFauna Arabia 20 211Google Scholar

Takhtajan, A. 1986 Floristic Regions of the WorldBerkeley, CAUniversity of California PressGoogle Scholar

Thiv, M.Meve, U. 2007 A phylogenetic study of Echidnopsis Hook. f. (Apocynaceae-Asclepiadoideae): Taxonomic implications and the colonization of the Socotran ArchipelagoPlant Syst. Evol 265 71CrossRef Google Scholar

Thiv, M.Thulin, M.Kilian, N.Linder, H. P. 2006 Eritreo-Arabian affinities of the Socotran flora as revealed from the molecular phylogeny of Aerva (Amaranthaceae)Syst. Bot 31 560CrossRef Google Scholar

Thompson, J. D. 2005 Plant Evolution in the MediterraneanOxfordOxford University PressCrossRef Google Scholar

Thulin, M.Johansson, A. N. B. 1996 van der Maesen, L. J. G.van der Burgt, X. M.van Medenbach de Rooy, J. M.Biodiversity of African PlantsWageningen, NetherlandsKluwerGoogle Scholar

Thulin, M.Bemer, B.Richardson, J.Niklasson, J.Fay, M. F.Chase, M. 1997 Family relationships of the enigmatic rosid genera Barbeya and Dirachma from the Horn of Africa regionPlant Syst. Evol 213 109Google Scholar

UNEP Islands Directory 1998 http://islands.unep.ch/index.htm

Van Damme, K. 2006 Cheung, C.DeVantier, L.Socotra: A Natural History of the Islands and their PeopleVan Damme, K.Hong KongOdyssey Books and Guides, Airphoto International LtdGoogle Scholar

Van Damme, K. 2009 Gillespie, R.Clague, D.Encyclopedia of IslandsBerkeley, CAUniversity of California PressGoogle Scholar

Van Damme, K.Banfield, L. M. 2011 Past and present human impacts on the biodiversity of Socotra island (Yemen): implications for future conservationZoology in the Middle East 3 31CrossRef Google Scholar

van den Eynden, V.Oatham, M. P.Johnson, W. 1998 How free access internet resources benefit biodiversity and conservation research: Trinidad and Tobago’s endemic plants and their conservation statusOryx 42 400Google Scholar

Verdcourt, B. 1969 The arid corridor between the north-east and south-west areas of AfricaPalaeoecol. Africa 4 140Google Scholar

White, F. 1983 Vegetation Map of Africa. UNESCONat. Resour. Res. 20 1Google Scholar

Whittaker, R. J.Fernández-Palacios, J. M. 2007 Island Biogeography: Ecology, Evolution and ConservationOxfordOxford University PressGoogle Scholar

Yamada, T.Suzuki, E. 1996 Ontogenic change in leaf shape and crown form of a tropical tree, Scaphium macropodum (Sterculiaceae) in BorneoJ. Plant Res 109 211CrossRef Google Scholar

Yuan, Y.-M.Wohlhauser, S.Möller, M.Klackenberg, J.Callmander, M. W.Küpher, P. K. 2005 Phylogeny and biogeography of Exacum (Gentianaceae): a disjunctive distribution in the Indian Ocean Basin resulted from long distance dispersal and extensive radiationSyst. Bot 54 21Google Scholar PubMed