The tropical moist forests of Fiji and the Wallis and Futuna - TopicsExpress



          

The tropical moist forests of Fiji and the Wallis and Futuna Islands contain the richest natural communities of all the oceanic islands of the Pacific (not including New Caledonia). Their relative isolation, large size and complex topography, and unusual biogeographic history have all contributed to the archipelagos highly endemic biota. Over half of the vascular plant species are endemic, with many single-island and single-site endemics. Twenty-five birds occur only in Fiji (plus one on Rotuma) and most of the reptiles, amphibians, bats, and invertebrates are unique to the islands. The biota is derived from ancient Gondwanaland elements, including one of the worlds most primitive plant families endemic to the islands, and taxa that have dispersed across the ocean.
Posted on: Fri, 14 Feb 2014 19:00:44 +0000

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