ABSTRACT
This chapter reviews some of the generalities of island plants, and how their interaction with other living organisms, notably but not exclusively humans, is played out on island habitats. It focuses on a case study of the Indian Ocean atoll of Aldabra. In his classic studies of islands, Carlquist pointed out morphological traits with parallels in unrelated plant groups across many islands. Notable among these are the presence of island woodiness, reduced dispersal capabilities, and changes in breeding systems. A dispersing plant propagule faces tremendous odds in order to reach and become established on an island, leading to relatively few species and small gene pools, which in turn contribute to unique adaptive radiations and island individuality. Due to the small size of islands, island plants are represented by a restricted number of individuals, and limited spatial area, compared to continental species. As a result, human disturbance can have a catastrophic effect on species survival.
