Biogeography and Ecology in the Canary Islands

Biogeography and Ecology in the Canary Islands
Author: G. Kunkel
Publsiher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 543
Release: 2012-12-06
Genre: Science
ISBN: 9789401015660

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When asked by the General Editor to prepare a book-length treatment concerning the nature of the Canary Islands, our aims were rather ambitious. A general monograph was to be written, embracing all the disciplines of natural history applicable to these islands, and over twenty scientists were approached for contributions. However scientists are 'time machines' ; our proposed list of contents has changed a good many times. Cooporation of other authors was gained and, finally, a fairly rounded project appeared revealing different and lesser known aspects of Canary Island Nature. Since Centuries the Canary Islands have attracted the attention of travellers. Earliest reports may be traced back some two thousand years but real scientific investigation began about 1800, the time of Alexander von Humboldt and his visit to the islands; older reports are scarce, sometimes rather confusing because of geographic inaccuracies. But the 19th Century will remain as the century of fundamental explorations, connected with names such as Leopold von Buch, F. C. MacGregor, Sabin Berthelot, Philip Barker Webb, J. Viera y Clavijo, F. von Fritsch, C. Bolle, D. H. Christ, O. Simony, G. Hartung, H. Mayer etc. , all familiar and intimately connected with our knowledge of the natural history of the archipelago. Even the much criticised Ernst Haeckel has provided us with lively descriptions of his visit to one of the 'Fortunate Islands'. The 20th Century brought new interest, new fields to be explored, and new expeditions to the islands.

Biogeography and Ecology in the Canary Islands

Biogeography and Ecology in the Canary Islands
Author: Hans-Ulrich Schmincke
Publsiher: Unknown
Total Pages: 118
Release: 1976
Genre: Electronic Book
ISBN: OCLC:257274386

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Island Biogeography

Island Biogeography
Author: Robert J. Whittaker,José María Fernández-Palacios,Thomas J. Matthews
Publsiher: Oxford University Press
Total Pages: 497
Release: 2023-06-22
Genre: Science
ISBN: 9780192639127

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Island biogeography is the study of the distribution and dynamics of species in island environments. Due to their isolation from more widespread continental species, islands are ideal places for unique species to evolve, but they are also places of concentrated extinction. Consequently, they are widely studied by ecologists, evolutionary biologists, and conservationists. This accessible textbook builds on the success and reputation of its predecessors, documenting the recent advances in this exciting field and explaining how islands have contributed to both theory development and testing. In addition, the book describes the main processes of island formation, subsequent dynamics, and eventual demise, explaining the relevance of island environmental history to island biogeography. The authors demonstrate the significance of islands as hotspots of biodiversity and of prehistoric and historic anthropogenic extinction. Since island species continue to feature disproportionally in the lists of threatened species today, the book examines both the chief threats to their persistence and some of the mitigation measures that can be put in play, with conservation strategies specifically tailored to islands.

Vegetation of the Canary Islands

Vegetation of the Canary Islands
Author: Marcelino J. del Arco Aguilar,Octavio Rodríguez Delgado
Publsiher: Springer
Total Pages: 429
Release: 2018-07-18
Genre: Science
ISBN: 9783319772554

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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.

Ecological Imperialism

Ecological Imperialism
Author: Alfred W. Crosby
Publsiher: Cambridge University Press
Total Pages: 409
Release: 2015-10-06
Genre: History
ISBN: 9781107569874

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A fascinating study of the important role of biology in European expansion, from 900 to 1900.

Island Biogeography

Island Biogeography
Author: Robert J. Whittaker,José Maria Fernandez-Palacios
Publsiher: Oxford University Press
Total Pages: 416
Release: 2007
Genre: Nature
ISBN: 0198566115

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Isolation, extinction, conservation, biodiversity, hotspots.

Spain Portugal and the Atlantic Frontier of Medieval Europe

Spain  Portugal and the Atlantic Frontier of Medieval Europe
Author: Jose-Juan Lopez-Portillo
Publsiher: Routledge
Total Pages: 647
Release: 2016-12-05
Genre: History
ISBN: 9781351898782

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As seen from the perspective of 1492, the medieval expansion of Latin Europe was nowhere as dramatic or enduring as in the Iberian Peninsula and the Atlantic. Its Christian kingdoms continued their advance against Al-Andalus up to 1492, whereas territorial expansion elsewhere against the Muslim world had either ceased or subsided by the late 13th century. Castile and Portugal also transformed the Atlantic Ocean from the inaccessible dead-end of Eurasia into the most promising avenue for European expansion for the first time in history. The articles collected in this volume explore the causes and the nature of this expansion, from a variety of historical traditions. They investigate the extent to which the ’transference’ of Mediterranean traditions aided this process; the characteristics of Iberian conflict that eventually led to the success of its Christian kingdoms; and the motives for launching, and techniques for running, the first European ’overseas empires’ in the unfolding Atlantic frontier. In the process they illuminate the new identities and cultural interactions that this expansion produced in its wake, while the new introduction sets them in the broader context.

Nouragues

Nouragues
Author: F. Bongers,P. Charles-Dominique,P.-M. Forget,Marc Théry
Publsiher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 451
Release: 2013-06-29
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 9789401598217

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Nouragues is a tropical forest research station in French Guiana. It was established in 1986 for research on natural mechanisms of forest regeneration. Since then a lot of research has been done on this and related topics. This book provides an overview of the main research results, and focuses on plant communities, vertebrate communities and evolutionary ecology, frugivory and seed dispersal, and forest dynamics and recruitment. The appendices give (annoted) checklists of plants, birds, mammals, herpetofauna and fishes found in the same area.