Classification, Distribution, and Biodiversity of Terrestrial Ecosystems in the Gulf of Guinea Oceanic Islands

AbstractThe oceanic islands of the Gulf of Guinea display a large diversity of environmental conditions and biological communities, whose interactions have contributed to the development of a great variety of ecosystems, from mangroves to montane grasslands. Human activities have extensively and profoundly altered many of these natural ecosystems over the past five centuries. We review key studies to propose an updated classification map of terrestrial ecosystems, taking advantage of up-to-date spatial information on abiotic gradients and biological distributions. To guide future research and conservation programs, we highlight challenges and pending questions regarding our understanding of the structure, integrity, and dynamics of terrestrial ecosystems in these islands.