クラカタウ諸島における植生の回復過程

抄録

Since the great eruption in 1883,the Krakatau Islands have caught the attention of botanists, zoologists and ecologists worldwide. By synthesizing the findings of the large number of international scientists to have visited the islands for research, it has been possible to clarify the process of vegetational recovery. Based on a literature survey and some original research, plant successlon from pioneer communities in various habitats to a few types of forest, and two cases of biogeographical equilibrium were described. The influences of human interference and sterilization by the 1883 eruption upon vegetation recovery were discussed, and a seasonal forest was estimated to be a potential climax vegetation on the Krakatau Islands from the vegetation of neighbouring Panaitan Island. The importance of careful maintenance of plant and animal collections and records in long time studies, such as on the Krakataus, is emphasized.