Relict ecosystems of thermophilous and laurel forest as biodiversity hotspots in Fuerteventura, Canary Islands.

摘要

A study of relict communities of thermophilous and laurel forest vegetation on Fuerteventura is presented. We describe four syntaxa, an alliance Astericion sericii all. nova and two associations, Bupleuro handiense-Maytenetum canariensis ass. nova and Carlino salicifoliae-Echietum famarae ass. nova (Oleo cerasiformis-Rhamnetea crenulatae). An association Echio handiense-Visneetum mocanerae ass. nova belongs to Pruno hixae-Lauretea novocanariensi. These communities are small remnants of two well-represented types of vegetation in the central and western Canaries. At present, they are confined to very small localities on this island. This scarcity is partially related to bioclimatic factors but is fundamentally due to intense use of the natural resources by humans since the initial settlement of the islands, around 2100-2200 years before present. A chorological study of plant associations belonging to the above alliances, based on the Geobotanic Information System (GBOTIS), as well as a summarised phytosociological table of these associations is presented. A syntaxonomic scheme, a study of the vegetation structure is included.