JOURNAL OF CHILEAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY

Vol 71 No 1 (2026): Journal of The Chilean Chemical Society - Special Issue in Tribute to Professor Mario Silva (In Memoriam)
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SECONDARY PLANT METABOLITES IN OCEANIC ISLANDS: CONTRIBUTIONS OF PROFESSOR MARIO SILVA OSORIO TO UNDERSTANDING THE CHEMISTRY AND EVOLUTION OF ENDEMIC PLANTS OF THE ROBINSON CRUSOE (JUAN FERNANDEZ) ARCHIPELAGO

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  • Tod Stuessy,
  • Daniel Crawford
Tod Stuessy
Herbarium and Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, The Ohio State University
Daniel Crawford
Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology and the Biodiversity Institute, University of Kansas
Bio
Published August 2, 2026
Keywords
  • ecology,
  • evolution,
  • oceanic islands,
  • phylogeny,
  • secondary products,
  • speciation
    • ...More
    Less
How to Cite
Stuessy, T., & Crawford, D. (2026). SECONDARY PLANT METABOLITES IN OCEANIC ISLANDS: CONTRIBUTIONS OF PROFESSOR MARIO SILVA OSORIO TO UNDERSTANDING THE CHEMISTRY AND EVOLUTION OF ENDEMIC PLANTS OF THE ROBINSON CRUSOE (JUAN FERNANDEZ) ARCHIPELAGO. Journal of the Chilean Chemical Society, 71(1), 6507 - 6512. Retrieved from https://www.jcchems.com/index.php/JCCHEMS/article/view/3017

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Abstract

   Oceanic islands are important natural laboratories in which to investigate patterns and processes of plant evolution.  As plant colonists arrive and speciate in a new island environment, changes in secondary plant metabolites take place. These compounds have a major role for defense against herbivores, especially insects.  Due to a reduction (or absence) of herbivores in a new oceanic island, loss of defensive compounds might be expected. Another concern is whether secondary metabolites track phylogeny in the islands in the same way as does morphology or DNA.  These research interests have been focused on the endemic plants of the Robinson Crusoe (Juan Fernández) Archipelago, a Chilean national park.  In collaboration with Professor Mario Silva of the University of Concepciόn, we have made comparisons among endemic species of the islands as well as with close mainland relatives.  Data have revealed that the patterns of secondary products resulting from phylogeny within the islands have in general paralleled those from morphology as well as more recent DNA data. Testing the hypothesis of a reduction in secondary products within endemic island species has shown both reductions and gains in diversity of flavonoids in different genera. These investigations were completed successfully with the outstanding collaboration of Silva, who spearheaded chemical analyses of many island plants and continental relatives.  It was a privilege to have worked with him as a scientist and to have known him as a friend.

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