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Les Petites Antilles face aux risques d'invasion par les espèces végétales introduites. L'exemple de la Martinique
| Content Provider | Semantic Scholar |
|---|---|
| Author | Joseph, Philippe |
| Copyright Year | 2006 |
| Abstract | Plant introduction is not a new phenomenon and is consubstantial with the history of humanity. The advent of travel and conquering new lands has lead to the dissemination of plant species from their point of domestication. The migratory dynamics of certain peoples are closely linked to those of plants, essential to their survival. The epic of Amerindian life in the Caribbean basin, reflected in the introduction of numerous vegetal species, is an eloquent example. In the Lesser Antilles, from the beginnings of the colonization period to the present day, various pan-tropical taxa were added to the exogenous species imported from the tropical areas of the Americas. Successive introduction is mainly due to the increase in trade (mostly of produce) and to growing economic interests linked to horticultural production as well as a sudden rise in plant collections in botanical gardens and conservatories and other grounds or landscapes. Contrary to some other tropical islands (Mauritius, Tahiti and Reunion Islands) where introduced seedlings are the cause of veritable ecological disasters, the Lesser Antilles, despite substantial anthropogenic activity and imports of exogenous plants, seem to be protected from any floristic invasion. Few species from foreign lands make an adventurous attempt at integrating the natural environment. The determining factors of such ecosystemic resistance are, to date, unknown. The situation is transient and the ecological risks should be considered. Environmental malfunctions due to the invasion process accentuate the impact of telluric (geotechnical) and climatic (storms, low pressure systems, hurricanes) contingencies and will in future be harmful to the development of species in small island environments. In the present paper we attempt to lay the initial basis for understanding existing relations between introduced species (some of which are potentially invasive) and the natural vegetation |
| Starting Page | 209 |
| Ending Page | 224 |
| Page Count | 16 |
| File Format | PDF HTM / HTML |
| Volume Number | 61 |
| Alternate Webpage(s) | http://documents.irevues.inist.fr/bitstream/handle/2042/55681/RevuedEcologie_2006_61_3_209.pdf?sequence=1 |
| Language | English |
| Access Restriction | Open |
| Content Type | Text |
| Resource Type | Article |
