Macaronesia

Macaronesia is a North Atlantic biogeographic region comprising the Azores, Madeira, the Canary Islands, and Cape Verde. Its oceanic islands share volcanic origins and distinctive patterns of endemic life.

Azores: The Azores are a Portuguese archipelago of volcanic islands in the North Atlantic. They form Macaronesia’s northernmost island group.
Hotspot volcanism: Hotspot volcanism occurs when magma rises from a persistent mantle source beneath a moving tectonic plate. It formed several Macaronesian islands, including parts of the Canary and Cape Verde archipelagos.
Laurisilva: Laurisilva is a humid subtropical forest dominated by evergreen trees with laurel-like leaves. Remnants in Madeira and the Canary Islands preserve a distinctive Macaronesian habitat.
Invasive species: An invasive species is a non-native organism that spreads and causes ecological, economic, or social harm. Introduced predators and competitors can imperil species with small island ranges.
Madeira: Madeira is a Portuguese Atlantic archipelago that includes Madeira Island and the Desertas and Selvagens islands. It is one of Macaronesia’s central archipelagos.
Island biogeography: Island biogeography explains species richness through island area, isolation, immigration, and extinction. Its framework helps explain variation in species numbers among Macaronesian islands.
Dragon tree: The dragon tree is a long-lived, branching tree native to Macaronesia and parts of nearby Africa. Its unusual form and island populations make it a signature regional plant.
Habitat fragmentation: Habitat fragmentation is the division of continuous habitat into smaller, isolated patches. Land conversion can further isolate already range-restricted island populations.
Canary Islands: The Canary Islands are a Spanish archipelago off the northwest coast of Africa. Their varied volcanic landscapes support notable island endemism.
Endemism: Endemism is the restriction of a species or other taxon to a defined geographic area. Long isolation has produced many species confined to individual Macaronesian islands.

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