Summary
Knowledge of habitats and their distribution is crucial for the long-term management and monitoring of protected natural areas, particularly in Sub-Antarctic regions, which are severely affected by climate change and invasions of exotic species.
The result of a collaboration between the Ecobio laboratory (CNRS-Université de Rennes), the French Polar Institute and the French Southern and Antarctic Lands collectivity, this book is the first comprehensive guide to the terrestrial habitats of the French Southern Lands, classified as a national nature reserve and listed as a Unesco World Heritage Site. The study model is Ile de la Possession, in the Crozet Islands.
Resulting of thirteen years of collecting floristic data and carrying out expert surveys on the island, the book identifies forty-six habitats using a determination key, illustrated description sheets and a pioneering typology. Aimed at scientists, managers and enlightened amateurs, this guide reveals the richness of the Crozet Islands’ flora, its associated fauna and its future prospects. It is therefore an essential tool for the knowledge and sustainable conservation of sub-Antarctic ecosystems.
Table of contents
Acknowledgements
Photo credits
Foreword
General introduction
I. Background and general information
Geography
Bioclimatology
Geomorphology
Flora
Fauna
II. Methodological approach
Starting point and reference
Towards a new typology
III. Key to identifying habitats
Notice on reading and use
Environments key
Habitat key for coastal and halophytic environments (CRO A)
Key to wetland and aquatic habitats (CRO B)
Key to habitats of vegetated mesic environments (CRO C)
Key to habitats of non-coastal mineral environments (CRO D)
IV. Habitat summary sheets
Reading note
Summary of environments
CRO A COASTAL AND HALOPHYTIC ENVIRONMENTS
CRO A.1 Coastal habitats with halophilic vegetation
CRO A.2 Enriched coastal habitats influenced by fauna
CRO A.3 Non-vegetated mineral coastal habitats
CRO B WET AND AQUATIC ENVIRONMENTS
CRO B.1 Aquatic habitats
CRO B.2 Bank and seepage habitats
CRO B.3 Paratrophic habitats
CRO B.4 Peaty herbaceous habitats
CRO B.5 Peaty habitats with bryophytes
CRO C HERBACEOUS VEGETATION MEDICAL HABITATS
CRO C.1 Mesic habitats with herbaceous vegetation
CRO C.2 Mesic habitats with bryophytes
CRO D NON-COASTAL MINERAL ENVIRONMENTS
CRO D.1 Fellfields habitats
CRO D.2 Alluvial habitat
CRO D.3 Mineral habitats with little or no vegetation
Glossary
Bibliographical references
Annexes
Annex 1. Simplified typology (2010-2022) of Crozet (C) and Kerguelen (K) habitats
Appendix 2. HFI data entry form (2010-2023)
Appendix 3. Table of correspondences between Crozet habitat typologies
Appendix 4. List of species included in the typology
Habitat index