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INTRODUCCIÓN A LAS ISLAS


Este capítulo no tiene otro objetivo que servir de introducción al mundo de la biogeografía y ecología insular para aquellos lectores alejados a esta disciplina y de paso servir como contexto al resto de los capítulos del presente libro, desarrollados por especialistas en sus respectivas áreas. Con este fin se describen los diferentes tipos de islas existentes, con sus particulares características, los procesos que atañen al poblamiento de éstas, las propiedades biogeográficas que como el empobrecimiento, la disarmonía o el relictualismo las caracterizan y los modelos más importantes que han sido propuestos para entender la dinámica insular. Además, se bordan los procesos ecológicos y evolutivos que se disparan en las islas, así como las tendencias evolutivas que  muestran las especies insulares. Finalmente, se diserta acerca de la importancia de las islas como puntos calientes de biodiversidad y acerca del fenómeno de la extinción, tan ligado a ellas.



JOSÉ MARÍA FERNÁNDEZ-PALACIO (2004). FERNÁNDEZ-PALACIOS, J.M. & MORICI, C. (EDS.) 2004. ECOLOGÍA INSULAR / ISLAND ECOLOGY. ASOCIACIÓN ESPAÑOLA DE ECOLOGÍA TERRESTRE (AEET)-CABILDO INSULAR DE LA PALMA

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