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Environmental History of Oceanic Islands by Tod F. Stuessy Pdf
The Juan Fernández Archipelago is located in the Pacific Ocean west of Chile at 33° S latitude. Robinson Crusoe Island is 667 km from the continent and approximately four million years old; Alejandro Selkirk Island is an additional 181 km west and only one million years old. The natural impacts of subsidence and erosion have shaped the landscapes of these islands, resulting in progressive changes to their subtropical vegetation. The older island has undergone more substantial changes, due to both natural causes and human impacts. After the discovery of Robinson Crusoe Island in 1574, people began cutting down forests for lumber to construct boats and homes, for firewood, and to make room for pastures. Domesticated plants and animals were introduced, some of which have since become feral or invasive, causing damage to the local vegetation. The wealth of historical records on these activities provides a detailed chronicle of how human beings use their environment for survival in a new ecosystem. This book offers an excellent case study on the impacts that people can have on the resources of an oceanic island.
Evolution and Speciation of Island Plants by Tod F. Stuessy,Mikio Ono Pdf
Oceanic island archipelagos provide many clues about evolutionary patterns and processes, and may rightly be considered as among the best places on earth to seek an understanding of the origin and elaboration of biological diversity. This volume brings together contributions covering a range of important issues in contemporary oceanic island plant biology, focusing on patterns and processes in various island groups (with emphasis on the Bonin, Hawaiian and Juan Fernandez Islands) to provide a stimulating view of the current state of research and a possible agenda for future investigations. Topics addressed include chromosomal variation, macromolecular divergence, island biogeography theory, isolating mechanisms, modes of speciation and evolution of secondary plant products. The result is a volume that reveals the special opportunities offered by oceanic archipelagos for investigating evolutionary phenomena in vascular plants.
The Biology of Island Floras by David Bramwell,Juli Caujapé-Castells Pdf
Oceanic islands offer biologists unparalleled opportunities to study evolutionary processes and ecological phenomena. However, human activity threatens to alter or destroy many of these fragile ecosystems, with recent estimates suggesting that nearly half of the world's insular endemics are threatened with extinction. Bringing together researchers from around the world, this book illustrates how modern research methods and new concepts have challenged accepted theories and changed our understanding of island flora. Particular attention is given to the impact of molecular studies and the insights that they provide into topics such as colonisation, radiation, diversification and hybridisation. Examples are drawn from around the world, including the Hawaiian archipelago, Galapagos Islands, Madagascar and the Macronesian region. Conservation issues are also highlighted, with coverage of alien species and the role of ex situ conservation providing valuable information that will aid the formulation of management strategies and genetic rescue programmes.
Oceanic islands are storehouses for unique creatures. Zoologists have long been fascinated by island animals because they break all the rules. Speedy, nervous, little birds repeatedly evolve to become plump, tame and flightless on islands. Equally strange and wonderful plants have evolved on islands. However, plants are very poorly understood relatives to animals. Do plants repeatedly evolve similar patterns in dispersal ability, size and defence on islands? This volume answers this question for the first time using a modern quantitative approach. It not only reviews the literature on differences in defence, loss of dispersal, changes in size, alterations to breeding systems and the loss of fire adaptations, but also brings new data into focus to fill gaps in current understanding. By firmly establishing what is currently known about repeated patterns in the evolution of island plants, this book provides a roadmap for future research.
Vegetation of the Tropical Pacific Islands by Dieter Mueller-Dombois,F.R. Fosberg Pdf
Written by the leading authorities on the plant diversity and ecology of the Pacific islands, this book is a magisterial synthesis of the vegetation and landscapes of the islands of the Pacific Ocean. It is organized by island group, and includes information on geography, geology, phytogeographic relationships, and human influences on vegetation. Vegetation of the Tropical Pacific Islands features over 400 color photographs, plus dozens of maps and climate diagrams. The authors’ efforts in assembling the existing information into an integrated, comprehensive book will be welcomed by biogeographers, plant ecologists, conservation biologists, and all scientists with an interest in island biology.
Evolution and Speciation of Island Plants by Tod F. Stuessy,Mikio Ono Pdf
Oceanic island archipelagos provide many clues about evolutionary patterns and processes, and may rightly be considered as among the best places on earth to seek an understanding of the origin and elaboration of biological diversity. This volume brings together contributions covering a range of important issues in contemporary oceanic island plant biology, focusing on patterns and processes in various island groups (with emphasis on the Bonin, Hawaiian and Juan Fernandez Islands) to provide a stimulating view of the current state of research and a possible agenda for future investigations. Topics addressed include chromosomal variation, macromolecular divergence, island biogeography theory, isolating mechanisms, modes of speciation and evolution of secondary plant products. The result is a volume that reveals the special opportunities offered by oceanic archipelagos for investigating evolutionary phenomena in vascular plants.
Islands by Peter Vitousek,Lloyd L. Loope,Hennig Adsersen Pdf
Oceanic islands represent a set of systems in which biological diversity varies as a consequence of remoteness or size, not environment; they are also generally simpler than continental ecosystems. Islands therefore provide an opportunity to determine the direct effects of biological diversity on ecosystem function. The volume addresses the components of biological diversity on islands and their patterns of variation; the modern threats to the maintenance of biological diversity on islands; the consequences of island biology and its modification by humanity regarding aspects of ecosystem function; the global implications of islands for conservation; and how islands can help one to understand the processes inducing changes throughout the world.
Restoring the Oceanic Island Ecosystem by Isamu Okochi,Kazuto Kawakami Pdf
Loss of biodiversity on tropical and subtropical oceanic islands is one of the most pressing conservation issues. These oceanic islands are well known for their unique fauna and ? ora, which evolved over long periods in isolation from external perturbation. However, the maj- ity of these islands in the Paci? c were eventually settled by Polynesians and then by Europeans; by about 200 years ago, only a few island groups remained untouched. The Bonin Islands are one of these groups. The Bonin Island group is one of the most remote in the world. The islands are located 1,000 km south of Japan off the eastern fringe of Eurasia. They were ? rst discovered by the Japanese in 1670, settled by Westerners from Hawaii in 1830, and ? nally recognized as a Japanese territory in 1862 on condition that previous settlers would be protected and allowed to remain with full rights. Because of this complicated history, the Bonins have two names.
In most accounts of geographical phenomena, islands in the middle of the oceans are marginalised and implicitly viewed as of little imortance. This is a convenient rather than a rational view and one which is comprehensively disposed of in this book which examines the great diversity of island environments worldwide and the controls on their development.
Encyclopedia of Islands by Rosemary Gillespie,Rosemary G. Gillespie,David Clague Pdf
"Islands have captured the imagination of scientists and the public for centuries - unique and rare environments, their isolation makes them natural laboratories for ecology and evolution. This authoritative, alphabetically arranged reference, featuring more than 200 succinct articles by leading scientists from around the world, provides broad coverage of all the island sciences. But what exactly is an island? The volume editors define it here as any discrete habitat isolated from other habitats by inhospitable surroundings. The Encyclopedia of Islands examines many such insular settings - oceanic and continental islands as well as places such as caves, mountaintops, and whale falls at the bottom of the ocean. This essential, one-stop resource, extensively illustrated with color photographs, clear maps, and graphics will introduce island science to a wide audience and spur further research on some of the planet's most fascinating habitats." --Book Jacket.
A New Island Biogeography of the Sea of Cort'es by Ted J. Case,Martin L. Cody,Exequiel Ezcurra Pdf
This updated and expanded A New Island Biogeography of the Sea of Cort'es, first published nearly 20 years ago, integrates new and broader studies encompassing more taxa and more complete island coverage. The present synthesis provides a basis for further research and exploration in upcoming years of the biologically fascinating Sea of Cort'es region. The Gulf region is increasingly being exploited, for its natural resources by way of marine fisheries, and for its stunning natural beauty by way of a burgeoning tourism industry. Further, the region's human population is increasing apace. It is appropriate, therefore, that this volume discusses these evolving circumstances, and the efforts of the Mexican government to regulate and manage them. The new Biogeography includes a section on the conservation issues in the Sea of Cort'es, past accomplishments and conservation needs as yet outstanding. This book should be of strong interest to conservation biologists, ecologists, and evolutionary biologists more generally.
