The Lesser Antilles, True Laboratories for the Study of Forest Systems the Evolution (from the Inventory of Plant Species to the Dynamics of the Anthropized Landscapes)
Despite their small size, the French
West Indies are characterised by a large number of environments supporting a
surprisingly high floristic, ecosystem and landscape diversity. From the foundation
of dwelling groups, beginning in the 17th century to the present day, human
activities have resulted in the sharp decline of the forest areas. To some
extent, the Caribbean forest has become “insularized”. Originally, these
forests covered the entire islands from the coast to circa 800 meters of
altitude, where the environmental conditions permitted the development of
forest biocenosis. Survival space for the American Indians and early settlers,
despite its gradual weakening and its spatial regression in the 18th and the
19th century and in the first half of the 20th century, the forest ecosystem
represented a place of high exploitation of the wood resources in principal for
energy, carpentry, cabinetmaking, housing and industry linked to
profit-generating crops (sugar cane). Unlike the pre-colonial period where the
tree was predominant, the present vegetation is dominated by regressive
communities, consisting of shrub and herbaceous communities. Since their
origin, the Lesser Antilles have represented special objects of study for
naturalists, botanists and systematics scholars, especially concerning the
forest ecosystems. They are also true laboratories for the study of vegetation
dynamics and the evolution of the man-environment relationships where the landscape
is a relevant descriptor. This article aims to show the evolution of knowledge
of the structures, functions and spatiotemporal dynamics of the plant
ecosystems of the Lesser Antilles. The biocenotic diversity of the vegetation
of the islands required the knowledge of species, associations they represent
and the bioclimates who influence them. In this context Martinique is a
significant example of the ecosystem complexity under anthropogenic stresses.
Cite this paper
Joseph, P. and Baillard, K. (2016). The Lesser Antilles, True Laboratories for the Study of Forest Systems the Evolution (from the Inventory of Plant Species to the Dynamics of the Anthropized Landscapes). Open Access Library Journal, 3, e2969. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/oalib.1102969.
Fiard, J.P. (1994) The Northern Forests of Mount Pelee and the Volcanic
Edifices of Piton Mont-Conil and Morne Siberia. University Degree, Island
Ecology and Management, Université Antilles-Guyane, Martinique, 595.
Moreau, J.P. (1987) A
Filibuster in the Caribbean Sea: 1918-1620: Unpublished Manuscript from the Early
Seventeenth Century. Publ. by J.P. Moreau, pref. J. Meyer, Clamart (France): Bibliographical
Collection, 263.
Thesse, F. (1989) Plée Auguste,
1786-1825, a Naturalist Traveler: His Work, His Tribulations in the Caribbean,
Canada, Colombia. Paris, Ed. Caribéennes, 221.
Button, J. (1640) Relationship of the Establishment
of the French since the Year 1635 in the Island of Martinique, One of America’s West Indies. Reproduction in Facsimile of the
Paris Edition:
CRAMOISY S. (1640), 141.
Du
Tertre, J.P. (1667) The General History of the Caribbean Inhabited by the
French. Volume 1 & 2, Containing Everything That Has Happened in the Establishment
of French Colonies and Natural History. Ed Thomas JOLLY, Paris,
592.
Sloane, H. (1725) A Voyage to the Islands Madera, Barbados,
Nieves, S. Christophers and Jamaica: With the Natural History of the Herbs and
Trees, Four-Footed Beasts, Fishes, Birds, Insects, Reptiles, & C. Printed by BM for
the Author, London.
Labat, J.B. (1705) Travel to the Isles. Adventurous
Chronicle of Caribbean (1693-1705). Re-Issue Established in 1993 and Presented
by Lebris, M., Paris, Phoebus, 463.
Thibault Chanvalon, J.B. (1763) Travel to Martinique: Containing
Various Comments on the Physical, Natural History, Agriculture, Customs and
Travel the Island Made in 1751 and in the Following Years. Vol. 8, CI JB Bauche, Paris, 192.
Tussac, F.R. (1818) Flora of the Antilles or the General
History of Botany and the Rural Countries: Economic and Native Plants of the
Antilles, Exotic Plants Naturalized Are Described with the Sexual System of
Linnaeus and the Natural Method of Jussieu, with Plates Drawn, Etched and Stained. Volume
2, Hautel, Paris, 221.
Tussac, F.R. (1824 and 1827) Flora of the Antilles
or General History of Botany and the Rural Countries: Economic native
Vegetation of These Islands. The Exotic Plants Naturalized,
Described as the Sexual System of Linnaeus and the Natural Method of Jussieu,
Paris, France, Vol. 3, 121 (1824), Vol. 4, 121 (1827).
De Candolle, A. (1855) Reasoned Botanical
Geography: Or,
Exposition of the Main Facts and Laws Concerning the Geographical Distribution
of the Current Era of Plants. Vol. 2, V. Masson, Paris.
Ballet, J. (1896) The
Guadeloupe: Information about the History, Flora, Fauna, Geology, Mineralogy, Agriculture,
Commerce, Industry, Legislation, Administration. Basse-Terre,
Government Printing, Vol. 1,2,3: 1625-1715, 369, Vol. 4: 1715-1774, 548.
Portecop, J. (1978) Plant Geography, Cartography and
Ecological Development in a Tropical Island: The Case of Martinique. Thesis, University of Grenoble, Grenoble, 377.
Chauvin, G.
(1978) Illustrated Study of Families of Flowering Plants in Martinique: The
Dialypetalous. The Documentary Books, CRDP-Antilles Guyane, 171.
Rollet, B. (1969) Quantitative Studies of
Moist Evergreen Forest of the Venezuelan Guayana. Thesis
of State, University Toulouse-CNRS 2969, Toulouse, 404.
Rousteau, A. (1983) One Hundred of Tree Seedlings of Guadeloupe. Morphological
and Ecological Aspects. Thesis, University Pierre and Marie Curie,
Paris, 249.
Imbert, D., Bonhême,
I., Saur, E. and Bouchon, C. (2000) Floristics and Structure of the Pterocarpus
Officinalis Swamp Forest in Guadeloupe, Lesser Antilles. Journal of Tropical Ecology, 16, 55-68. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0266467400001267
Pagney, F. (1989) The Dynamics of Vegetation in Dry and Sub-Humid Environment: The
Example of the Guadeloupean Archipelago. Physio-Geo (Journal
of Physical Geography and Environment), 19, 5-14.