ABSTRACT
The Subantarctic subregion is well characterized in terms of numerous plant and animal taxa. This chapter briefly discusses the subregion's biotic relationships with the Australian region and the Central Chilean subregion. Within the Subantarctic subregion, it recognizes six provinces: Maule, Valdivian Forest, Magellanic Forest, Magellanic Moorland, Falkland Islands and Juan Fernandez Islands. Several studies emphasized the distinctive character of the Subantarctic biota and its relationships with the biota of the Australian region. Within the Andean region, current distributional patterns of plant and animal taxa suggested a close relationship between the Subantarctic and Central Chilean subregions. The chapter characterizes each of these provinces, explains their endemic and characteristic taxa, describes their vegetation types and discusses their relationships. Geological evidence suggests that during several glaciations of the Neogene and Quaternary times, the Falkland Islands might have connected with the continent.
