A century of change in the Staten Island flora: Ecological correlates of species losses and invasions'

ROBINSON, GEORGE R., MARY E. YURLINA AND STEVEN N. HANDEL (Department of Biological Sciences, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey 08855-1059). A century of change in the Staten Island Flora: Ecological correlates of species losses and gains. Bull. Torrey Botanical Club 121: 119-129. 1994.-We analyzed three consecutive floristic censuses of Staten Island, New York, to determine (1) the general pattern of vascular plant species gains and losses over 112 years (1879-1991), (2) the extent of increases in non-native species, and (3) ecological features that characterize those species that were lost. Over forty per cent of the original native species (53% of regionally rare and endangered species) are presently missing. Most of the losses have occurred during an accelerating period of suburbanization over the last 60 yr. At the same time, the proportion of non-native species has increased from 19% to > 33% of the flora, while average abundances of most native species apparently declined. Species from different habitats were lost in similar proportions, indicating that broad-scale habitat alteration has been the main factor in the flora's decline. Only two ecological features examined were statistically correlated with the missing species: (1) herbaceous species were more vulnerable than woody plants; (2) species reported to be uncommon in a previous census were more likely to be absent in the next. Unless conservation measures are improved, further degradation of this historically rich and varied flora can be anticipated.

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