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RECENT CHANGES IN THE FLORA OF THE JUAN FERNANDEZ ISLANDS, CHILE
Author(s) -
Sanders Roger W.,
Stuessy Tod F.,
Marticorena Clodomiro
Publication year - 1982
Publication title -
taxon
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.819
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1996-8175
pISSN - 0040-0262
DOI - 10.2307/1219993
Subject(s) - flora (microbiology) , vegetation (pathology) , floristics , habitat , geography , ecology , vegetation cover , rubus , native plant , introduced species , botany , biology , species richness , grazing , medicine , genetics , pathology , bacteria
Summary During the recent Universidad de Concepción–Ohio State University expeditions to the Juan Fernandez Islands, observations were made concerning recent changes in the composition and extent of the native flora. In comparison with the data of Skottsberg from 1916‐17, many of the endemic species have become much rarer, and some perhaps extinct. Several especially aggressive introduced species, e.g., Acaena argentea, Aristotelia chilensis, and Rubus ulmifolius, continue to invade and replace the native vegetation. Increasing areas of dry habitats and increasing proportions of xeromorphic or lithophilic plants now characterize the total vegetation. The total area of native vegetation is now restricted to the central ridges and cliffs. The major causes for the floristic degradation appear to be the introduced animals which have overgrazed and trampled the plants as well as compacted the soil. This has lead to erosion and further loss or degradation of the plant cover.