Vegetation of the Canary Islands

This book describes the vegetation of the Canary Islands for students and scholars of nature. It shows the great floristic and vegetation biodiversity of these Islands as related to their geology and bioclimatology and emphasizes that the Islands constitute natural laboratories for studies on their flora, vegetation, plant evolution and ecology. Chapters on geography, climate and bioclimate provide the physical framework for characterizing the plant communities, according to a world bioclimatic classification, and relate them in their corresponding bioclimatic belts within the Mediterranean macrobioclimate. The biogeography chapter covers the plant colonization of the archipelago in a variable geological and paleo-climatic framework, since the first emergence of the archipelago and its surroundings. The possible vectors of colonization and the main sources of the flora are pointed out. The Canarian-Madeiran Subregion of the Mediterranean Region is characterized in terms of itsgeographic, bioclimatic, floristic and vegetation features. Its plant biodiversity and endemism are highlighted.

The book's main focus is on the vegetation of the Islands: a general description of the main potential communities along an altitudinal transect is followed by descriptions of the current vegetation units. Details are given on the most representative endemic potential natural communities and illustrated by photographs, diagrams and illustrative maps of the potential natural vegetation of each Island. The book also assesses anthropogenic effects on the natural landscape, the role of invasive plants and the expected impact of climate change on flora and vegetation. The conservation status of the flora and vegetation of the Islands is evaluated. Four appendixes, including a syntaxonomical scheme, a brief history of botanical studies and explorations, ethnobotanical notes and a selected listing of literature complete the book.

Zusammenfassung

The volcanic and oceanic nature of the Canary Islands, its rich plant biodiversity and high rate of endemism, as well as the relict character of some of its plant communities make it a territory of great biological interest.

The main geographic, climatic, bioclimatic, biogeographic and floristic features of the Islands are shown and related to the distributional pattern of potential communities along an altitudinal gradient. Current vegetation units and their ecology are described and illustrated with numerous pictures. Potential vegetation units are summarized and comprehensive maps of the potential natural vegetation for each island are given.

Human impact on the natural landscape, the occurrence of invasive plants, and the probable impact of climate change on the flora and vegetation are discussed. The conservation status of flora and vegetation are assessed.

Four appendixes include a syntaxonomical scheme, a brief history of botanical studies and explorations in the Islands, ethnobotanical notes, and a list of selected literature.

Inhalt

1. Introduction.- 2. Geographic framework.- 3. Climate. 3.1. Anticyclonic Weather.- 3.2. Saharan Weather.- 3.3. Disturbed Weather.- 4. Bioclimate.- 4.1. Bioclimatic Belts.- 4.2. Bioclimatic Belts in the Canary Islands.- 4.3. Bioclimographs.- 5. Biogeography.- 5.1. Colonization.- 5.2. Biogeographic Classification.- 6. Other Floristic Considerations.- 6.1. Non-Vascular Flora.- 6.2. Vascular Flora.- 7. Vegetation of the Canary Islands.- 7.1. An Overview.- 7.2. Current Vegetation.- 7.3. Potential Natural Vegetation.- 7.4. Characteristic Species of the Most Representative Classes of the Climatophilous Vegetation.- 8. Change in the Natural Landscape Through Human Influence.- 8.1. Uses and Degradation of the Plant Cover by the Aboriginal Population.- 8.2. The Intense Landscape Disturbance and Transformation after the Conquest.- 8.3. Current Climate Change.- 9. Conservation Status of Flora and Vegetation.- 9.1. Protection of Natural Reserves.- 9.2. Botanical Gardens, Seed and Germoplasm Banks and Nurseries.- 9.3. Invasive Plants.- Appendix 1.- Appendix 2.- Appendix 3.- Appendix 4.- Index.