Island Biogeography

• Published in: Encyclopedia of Biodiversity Vol. 4; pp. 395 - 407
• Main Author: Mueller-Dombois, Dieter
• Format: Reference Book Chapter
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Inc 2013
• Edition: Second Edition
• Subjects: Anglo-American; Biogeographic scales; Data processing; Display techniques; Geographic distribution; Geographical botany; Island biogeography; Physiological functions; Spatial scales; Vegetation sampling; Vegetation sampling; Biogeographic scales; Geographic distribution; Anglo-American; Island biogeography; Spatial scales; Data processing; Geographical botany; Display techniques; Physiological functions
• ISBN: 9780123847195; 0123847192; 0123847206; 9780123847201
• DOI: 10.1016/B978-0-12-384719-5.00080-0

This article explains first the concepts of biogeography as a science concerned with organismic patterns of distribution and abundance on our planet. Island biogeography specifically deals with such patterns in relation to isolated land fragments. The chapter then introduces a botanical and ecological viewpoint by the subject matter of geobotany in tabulated form. Three biogeographic theories are briefly described, which are generally inspirational, especially for the geobotanical approach. This approach contributes particularly to biogeography by a set of proven methods used in vegetation science for plant biodiversity surveys. These methods are outlined as floristic checklist, vegetation sampling, and data processing and display techniques. The latter are illustrated by an island example. This is followed by a new experimental design for coordinated Pacific-wide biodiversity research, which refers to a combination of horizontal and vertical transect approaches. They involve a within biome comparison across the Pacific upland forests, together with vertical transects to study watershed functions down to the coastal and near-shore marine habitats. This program is now being initiated as the PABITRA (Pacific-Asia Biodiversity Transect) net, the Pacific Island Branch of DIWPA (Diversitas in Western Pacific and Asia).