Aim Large‐bodied vertebrates often have a dramatic role in ecosystem function through
herbivory, trampling, seed dispersal and nutrient cycling. The iconic Galápagos tortoises …

In isolated oceanic islands, colonization patterns are often interpreted as resulting from
dispersal rather than vicariant events. Such inferences may not be appropriate when island …

The taxonomy of giant Galapagos tortoises (Chelonoidis spp.) is currently based primarily
on morphological characters and island of origin. Over the last decade, compelling genetic …

Wing geometric morphometrics has been applied to honey bees (Apis mellifera) in
identification of evolutionary lineages or subspecies and, to a lesser extent, in assessing …

Although many classic radiations on islands are thought to be the result of repeated lineage
splitting, the role of past fusion is rarely known because during these events, purebreds are …

Restoration of extirpated species via captive breeding has typically relied on population
viability as the primary criterion for evaluating success. This criterion is inadequate when …

Feral populations of cultivated crops may act as reservoirs for novel traits and aid in trait
movement across the landscape. Knowledge on the genetic diversity of feral populations …

Self-righting, the capacity of an animal to self-turn after falling on its back, is a fitness-related
trait. Delayed self-righting can result in loss of mating opportunities or death. Traits involved …

Ectothermic Galapagos tortoises must optimize their diet and behavioral repertoire in
response to variable conditions across the Archipelago. In this chapter, data on tortoise …

Long‐term population history can influence the genetic effects of recent bottlenecks.
Therefore, for threatened or endangered species, an understanding of the past is relevant …