Fossil pollen as a guide to conservation in the Galapagos.
Paleoecological evidence from the past 8000 years in the Galápagos Islands shows that six presumed introduced or doubtfully native species (Ageratum conyzoides, Borreria laevis/Diodia radula-type, Brickellia diffusa, Cuphea carthagenensis, Hibiscus diversifolius, and Ranunculus flagelliformis) are in fact native to the archipelago. Fossil pollen and macrofossils from four sites in the highlands of Santa Cruz Island reveal that all were present thousands of years before the advent of human impact, refuting their classification as introduced species. These findings have substantial implications not only for conservation in Galápagos but for the management of introduced species and pantropical weeds in general.
van Leeuwen
Jacqueline F N
JF
Institute of Plant Sciences and Oeschger Centre for Climate Change Research, University of Bern, Altenbergrain 21, CH-3013 Bern, Switzerland.
Froyd
Cynthia A
CA
van der Knaap
W O
WO
Coffey
Emily E
EE
Tye
Alan
A
Willis
Katherine J
KJ
D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D004463:Ecology / Q000379:methods; D017753:Ecosystem; D004484:Ecuador; D005580:Fossils; D006801:Humans; D019684:Magnoliopsida; D011058:Pollen