The study of insular systems has a long history in ecology and biogeography. Island plants often differ remarkably from their noninsular counterparts, constituting excellent models for exploring eco-evolutionary processes. Trait-based approaches can help to answer important questions in island biogeography, yet plant trait patterns on islands remain understudied. We discuss three key hypotheses linking functional ecology to island biogeography: (i) plants in insular systems are characterized by distinct functional trait syndromes (compared with noninsular environments); (ii) these syndromes differ between true islands and terrestrial habitat islands; and (iii) island characteristics influence trait syndromes in a predictable manner. We are convinced that implementing trait-based comparative approaches would considerably further our understanding of plant ecology and evolution in insular systems.

Charles Darwin Research Station Charles Darwin Foundation Galápagos Islands Ecuador

Department of Biology University of Hawai'i at Hilo Hilo HI USA

Department of Botany and Zoology Faculty of Science Masaryk University Brno Czech Republic

Department of Environmental Science and Policy University of California Davis Davis CA USA

Department of Genetics Ecology and Evolution Federal University of Minas Gerais Belo Horizonte Brazil

Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences Research Centre for Ecological Change University of Helsinki Helsinki Finland

Institute of Botany The Czech Academy of Sciences Třeboň Czech Republic

Institute of Botany The Czech Academy of Sciences Třeboň Czech Republic; Department of Botany Faculty of Science Charles University Prague Czech Republic

Institute of Botany The Czech Academy of Sciences Třeboň Czech Republic; Department of Botany Faculty of Science University of South Bohemia České Budějovice Czech Republic; Laboratory of Tree Ring Research University of Arizona Tucson AZ USA

Institute of Botany The Czech Academy of Sciences Třeboň Czech Republic; Faculty of Environmental Sciences Czech University of Life Sciences Prague Czech Republic

Institute of Botany The Czech Academy of Sciences Třeboň Czech Republic; Plant Ecology Group University of Tübingen Tübingen Germany

Research Unit of Biodiversity University of Oviedo Mieres Spain

School of Natural and Built Environments Future Industries Institute University of South Australia Adelaide SA Australia

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