Vegetation changes on the island of Saba, effects of huricanes, people and non-native species

Powerpoint presentation with findings of a 4 week vegetation fieldvisit on Saba:

• what is vegetation (research)?
• historic findings (1956 and 1999)
• current findings (49 repeated plots, 28 additional plots)
• preliminary results for different zonation belts
  • elfin forest (highest zone)
  • elephants ears scrub
  • transitional forest
  • dry tropical forest
  • grasslands, shrubland and coastal cliffs (lower zone)
• conclusions
  • elfin forest far from 'original'
  • zonation 2,3 and 4: no big changes, some expansion of elephant ears, more forest succesion resulting in more closed vegetation and poorer in bio-diversity
  • invasive species are more abundant in the lower zone: coralita, rubber vine,'india grass' and others