Biogeography and Ecology in the Canary Islands

1. Front Matter

   Pages I-XVI

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2. Introduction

   • Günther Kunkel

   Pages 1-14

3. The Prehispanic Population of the Canary Islands

   • Ilse Schwidetzky

   Pages 15-36

4. The Names of the Canary Islands and their Verification

   • James Krüss

   Pages 37-65

5. The Geology of the Canary Islands

   • Hans-Ulrich Schmincke

   Pages 67-184

6. Climatic Characteristics of the Canary Islands

   • Dennis Fernandopullé

   Pages 185-206

7. The Endemic Flora of the Canary Islands; Distribution, Relationships and Phytogeography

   • David Bramwell

   Pages 207-240

8. The Laurisilva of Hierro

   • Emil Schmid

   Pages 241-248

9. Notes on the Introduced Elements in the Canary Islands’ Flora

   • Günther Kunkel

   Pages 249-266

10. Lichen Flora and Lichen Vegetation of the Canary Islands

    • Gerhard Follmann

    Pages 267-286

11. A Review of the Fungal Flora of the Canary Islands

    • Halvor B. Gjaerum

    Pages 287-296

12. Natural Products Isolated from Plants of the Canary Islands

    • Antonio G. González

    Pages 297-326

13. The Influence of Man on the Vegetation of the Island of Hierro (Canary Islands)

    • Franco Kämmer

    Pages 327-346

14. Introduction to a Faunal Study of the Canary Islands’ Laurisilva, with Special Reference to the Ground-Beetles

    • Antonio Machado

    Pages 347-411

15. Notas Sobre la Distribucion y Evolucion de la Avifauna Canaria

    • Juan José Bacallado

    Pages 413-431

16. The Amphibia and Reptilia of the Canary Islands

    • Konrad Klemmer

    Pages 433-456

17. An Account of the Limnetic Fauna of the Canary Islands

    • Peter Röben

    Pages 457-477

18. Conservation of Fragile Ecosystems in the Canary Islands

    • Myron Sutton

    Pages 479-483

19. Back Matter

    Pages 485-511

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When asked by the General Editor to prepare a book-length treatment concerning the nature of the Canary Islands, our aims were rather ambitious. A general monograph was to be written, embracing all the disciplines of natural history applicable to these islands, and over twenty scientists were approached for contributions. However scientists are 'time machines' ; our proposed list of contents has changed a good many times. Cooporation of other authors was gained and, finally, a fairly rounded project appeared revealing different and lesser known aspects of Canary Island Nature. Since Centuries the Canary Islands have attracted the attention of travellers. Earliest reports may be traced back some two thousand years but real scientific investigation began about 1800, the time of Alexander von Humboldt and his visit to the islands; older reports are scarce, sometimes rather confusing because of geographic inaccuracies. But the 19th Century will remain as the century of fundamental explorations, connected with names such as Leopold von Buch, F. C. MacGregor, Sabin Berthelot, Philip Barker Webb, J. Viera y Clavijo, F. von Fritsch, C. Bolle, D. H. Christ, O. Simony, G. Hartung, H. Mayer etc. , all familiar and intimately connected with our knowledge of the natural history of the archipelago. Even the much criticised Ernst Haeckel has provided us with lively descriptions of his visit to one of the 'Fortunate Islands'. The 20th Century brought new interest, new fields to be explored, and new expeditions to the islands.

• biogeography
• ecology

• Laboratorio de Botánica, Excmo, Cabildo Insular de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Islas Canarias, Spain

  G. Kunkel

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