Actual and potential natural vegetation on the Canary Islands and its conservation status

作者：del Arco Aguilar Marcelino Jose; Gonzalez Gonzalez Ricardo; Garzon Machado Victor; Pizarro Hernandez Bernardo

来源：Biodiversity and Conservation, 2010, 19(11): 3089-3140.

DOI：10.1007/s10531-010-9881-2

• Altitudinal zones
• Bioclimatic belts
• Area of plant communities
• Endangered Euphorbia scrubs
• Extinction of thermo-sclerophyllous woodland
• Landscape transformation
• Laurel forest relicts
• Macaronesia
• Thermophilous woodland
• Vegetation retreat

The main vegetation units of the Canary Islands are briefly described and their current surface area established. The area of potential natural vegetation remnants is compared with the supposed original area, and expressed also as percent persistence, (area now/potential) x 100. We state that although the islands have between 40 and 50% of their surface under protection, several units of the most representative vegetation (e. g. like Euphorbia scrubs, thermo-sclerophyllous woodland and laurel forest) have retreated greatly, sometimes with little possibility of recovery. Willow, palm, tamarisk, and Plocama pendula communities, sandy beach vegetation, and small-area littoral ecosystems are also severely diminished in area. Comments are made about the conservation status of the most representative communities.

• 出版日期2010-10