Plants on Islands: Diversity and Dynamics on a Continental Archipelago

This thorough and meticulous study, the result of nearly a quarter-century of research, examines the island biogeography of plants on continental islands in Barkley Sound, British Columbia. Invaluable both because of its geographical setting and because of the duration of the study, Plants on Islands summarizes the diversity, dynamics, and distribution of the approximately three hundred species of plants on more than two hundred islands. Martin Cody uses his extensive data set to test various aspects of island biogeographic theory. His thoughtful analysis, constrained by taxon and region, elucidates and enhances the understanding of the biogeographic patterns and dynamics. He provides an overview of the basic theory, concepts, and analytical tools of island biogeography. Also discussed are island relaxation to lower equilibrium species numbers post-isolation, plant distributions variously limited by island area, isolation and climatic differences, adaptation to local abiotic and biotic environments within islands, and the evolution of different island phenotypes. The book concludes with a valuable consideration of equilibrium concepts and of the interplay of coexistence and competition. Certain to challenge, Plants on Islands is among the first books to critically analyze the central tenets of the theory of island biogeography.

Table of Contents:
Preface 1. INTRODUCTION 2. ISLANDS IN BARKLEY SOUND, BRITISH COLUMBIA Geography and History Geology and Topography Climate More Island Geography and Topography Flora and Vegetation Methodological Notes 3. ISLAND BIOGEOGRAPHY: CONCEPTS, THEORY, AND DATA The Basic Model Some Embellishments Incidence Functions Colonization and Extinction Data Historical Legacies Generalities, Specifics, and Modifications of the M/W Model 4. SPECIES NUMBER, ISLAND AREA, AND ISOLATION Equilibrium or Nonequilibrium Species Numbers? Variation in Species Counts on Islands Cumulative Species Numbers Species Richness on Islands 5. NESTEDNESS AND ASSEMBLY RULES Inferences from Species-by-Sites Matrices Forest Species Shoreline Habitats Edge Habitats 6. SPECIES TURNOVER IN SPACE AND TIME Colonization and Extinction, Persistence and Turnover Species Turnover in Time, and Island Size Species Turnover in Space 7. DISPERSAL SYNDROMES, INCIDENCE, AND DYNAMICS Dispersal in Plants: Options Ferns Fruiting Shrubs Hydrochores: Drifters on the Sea Anemochores: Drifters on the Wind 8. ECOLOGICAL AND EVOLUTIONARY SHIFTS ON CONTINENTAL ISLANDS Alien Invaders Ecological Shifts in Impoverished Biotas Evolutionary Shifts in Isolated Populations 9. SYNOPSIS: LESSONS FROM A CONTINENTAL ARCHIPELAGO The Barkley Sound Scene Is There an Equilibrium out There? Colonization and Extinction Dynamics Coexistence and a Potential Role for Competition Adaptation, Evolution, Conservation Appendixes References Index