Читать книгу Fundamentals of Conservation Biology - Malcolm L. Hunter Jr. - Страница 83

The process of ecosystem classification clouds the issue of ecosystem uniqueness. If we define many different types of ecosystems, each type of ecosystem will not be very different from similar types. Alternatively, if we make gross distinctions (e.g. all coniferous forests are one type of ecosystem), then each type of ecosystem will clearly be unique. Some types of ecosystems may seem unique under any classification, for example, caves and hot springs, but there is a danger of confusing uniqueness and rarity. In short, different ecosystems may have different uniqueness values, but these will be difficult to evaluate until the classification schemes currently being developed are widely accepted. Nevertheless, some types of ecosystems, such as those found on remote islands and dominated by endemic species, are widely acknowledged as unique (Fig. 4.9 depicts one example).

Figure 4.9 The forests of Socotra, a small remote island, could be said to constitute a unique type of ecosystem because they are dominated by endemic species, notably the dragon’s blood tree pictured here.

(Ovchinnikova Irina/Shutterstock)