Plants of Oceanic Islands

Plants of Oceanic Islands
Author: Tod F. Stuessy
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Total Pages: 519
Release: 2017-10-26
Genre: History
ISBN: 1107180074

This book provides a comprehensive view of the origin and evolution of the plants of an entire oceanic archipelago.

Oceanic Islands

Oceanic Islands
Author: Patrick Nunn
Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell
Total Pages: 418
Release: 1994-03-30
Genre: Science
ISBN: 9780631189671

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.

Plants of Oceanic Islands

Plants of Oceanic Islands
Author: Tod F. Stuessy
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Total Pages: 519
Release: 2017-10-26
Genre: Science
ISBN: 131685051X

Bringing together results from over 30 years of research on the Juan Fernández Archipelago off the coast of Chile, this book offers comprehensive coverage of the plants of these special islands. Despite its remote setting in the southeastern Pacific Ocean, the Juan Fernández Archipelago is in many ways an ideal place to ask and attempt to answer basic questions regarding the evolution of vascular plants in an oceanic island environment. By building upon a firm taxonomic base for the flora, a new level of understanding regarding evolution, biogeography, and conservation of the plants is presented. This book is an extensive investigation of the origin and evolution of the flora of an oceanic archipelago, and it serves as a valuable resource for researchers and scholars of island biology as well as for conservation biologists worldwide.

Consuming Ocean Island

Consuming Ocean Island
Author: Katerina Martina Teaiwa
Publisher: Indiana University Press
Total Pages: 268
Release: 2014-12-27
Genre: History
ISBN: 0253014603

Consuming Ocean Island tells the story of the land and people of Banaba, a small Pacific island, which, from 1900 to 1980, was heavily mined for phosphate, an essential ingredient in fertilizer. As mining stripped away the island's surface, the land was rendered uninhabitable, and the indigenous Banabans were relocated to Rabi Island in Fiji. Katerina Martina Teaiwa tells the story of this human and ecological calamity by weaving together memories, records, and images from displaced islanders, colonial administrators, and employees of the mining company. Her compelling narrative reminds us of what is at stake whenever the interests of industrial agriculture and indigenous minorities come into conflict. The Banaban experience offers insight into the plight of other island peoples facing forced migration as a result of human impact on the environment.

Environmental History of Oceanic Islands

Environmental History of Oceanic Islands
Author: Tod F. Stuessy
Publisher: Springer Nature
Total Pages: 345
Release: 2020-07-01
Genre: History
ISBN: 3030478718

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.

Biodiversity of the Gulf of Guinea Oceanic Islands

Biodiversity of the Gulf of Guinea Oceanic Islands
Author: Luis M. P. Ceríaco
Publisher: Springer Nature
Total Pages: 707
Release: 2022-10-17
Genre: Science
ISBN: 3031061535

This open access book presents a comprehensive synthesis of the biodiversity of the oceanic islands of the Gulf of Guinea, a biodiversity hotspot off the west coast of Central Africa. Written by experts, the book compiles data from a plethora of sources – archives, museums, bibliography, official reports and previously unpublished data – to provide readers with the most updated information about the biological richness of these islands and the conservation issues they face. The Gulf of Guinea Oceanic Islands (Príncipe, São Tomé and Annobón and surrounding islets) present extraordinary levels of endemism across different animal, fungi and plant groups. This very high endemism likely results from the long geological history of the islands and their proximity to the diversity-rich continent. Many researchers, students and conservationists from across the globe are interested in documenting biodiversity on the islands, understanding the evolutionary origins of this diversity, and mitigating the impacts of global change on this unique archipelago. This book aims to be a primer for a broad audience seeking baseline biodiversity information and to serve as a roadmap for future research efforts aiming to fill knowledge gaps in understanding and conserving the unparalleled biodiversity of the Gulf of Guinea islands.

Restoring the Oceanic Island Ecosystem

Restoring the Oceanic Island Ecosystem
Author: Isamu Okochi
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 210
Release: 2010-03-15
Genre: Science
ISBN: 4431538593

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.

Vegetation of the Tropical Pacific Islands

Vegetation of the Tropical Pacific Islands
Author: Dieter Mueller-Dombois
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 905
Release: 2013-11-26
Genre: Science
ISBN: 1441986863

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.

The World's Rarest Birds

The World's Rarest Birds
Author: Erik Hirschfeld
Publisher: Princeton University Press
Total Pages: 360
Release: 2013-04-14
Genre: Nature
ISBN: 0691155968

"This illustrated book vividly depicts the most threatened birds on Earth. It provides up-to-date information from BirdLife International on the threats each species faces, and the measures being taken to save them. Today, 590 birds species are classified as Endangered or Critically Endangered, or now only exist in captivity. This landmark publication features stunning photographs of 515 of these species--including the results of a prestigious international photographic competition organized specificallyfor this book. This is the first time that images of many of these birds have been published. It also showcases meticulously accurate illustrations by acclaimed wildlife artist Tomasz Cofta for the 75 speciies of which no photographs are known to exist.