湖南大围山杜鹃灌丛的群落组成及结构特征

灌丛是陆地生态系统中最重要的自然植被类型之一, 在植被演替、生物多样性保护和维持生态平衡等方面具有重要作用。本文基于2012年的样地资料, 对湖南大围山杜鹃(Rhododendron simsii)灌丛的物种组成和群落结构进行了分析。结果表明: 群落内共有维管束植物58种, 隶属于36科50属, 其中木本植物19种, 草本植物39种, 缺乏木质藤本; 区系以温带性质为主, 兼受热带亚热带区系的强烈影响; 群落外貌矮平, 灌木层个体集中在1-2 m高度级; 植被分类上, 该群落归属于山地中生落叶阔叶灌丛, 隶属于温性落叶阔叶灌丛群系组; 生活型以地面芽和高位芽植物为主, 反映了亚热带中山山顶温凉湿润的气候特点; 群落各层次优势种明显, 具有较高的稳定性和均匀性; 高度级和基径级分析表明群落内中等大小个体具有保守的生活史策略, 优势种杜鹃为远期衰退种群。综合分析结果表明, 该杜鹃灌丛尚处于群落演替的中期或前中期, 最终将演替为亚热带中山常绿落叶阔叶混交林或常绿阔叶林。     

浙江海岛常绿阔叶林特征及其主要植物区系分析

我国东海的浙江沿海分布有星罗棋布的岛屿,其中较大的岛屿上分布有地带性的常绿阔叶林（如：樟木林、青冈林、石栎林和特殊的亮叶猴耳环林或以落叶成分占优的其他森林）,他们是标志性的植被类型或演替阶段,我们对这些植被类型中的优势植物种类进行了区系研究。结果显示,浙江海岛常绿阔叶林或类似森林中的优势和常见维管植物共有139种,只有热带亚洲成分、东亚成分中的中国-日本成分和中国特有成分贯穿于乔木层、灌木层、草本层和层外植物4大类中;进一步对15个木本中国特有种分析表明,其区系成分属亚热带性质,真正的温带性质不显著。在海岛这些植被出现的地段,还存在一些原生植被破坏后不同演替阶段的次生落叶阔叶林,其类型和面积都超过了地带性的常绿阔叶林,说明海岛除个别岛屿外曾经历了完全的破坏。目前,浙江海岛相应的演替阶段还不明确,它是研究特殊生境次生演替和恢复生态学的重要场所,这些常绿阔叶林和落叶林中富含重要的中国-日本海滨森林种类,对研究我国不同层次的常绿阔叶林具有重要的保护生物学意义。     

上海大金山岛植被分类与制图——基于网格化清查方法

网格化清查方法有助于准确诊断一个地区的植被性质,并为探索植被分类方法提供支持。该研究以上海大金山岛为对象,借助航拍影像等间距地将其划分为140个清查网格(40 m × 40 m),按照统计样方法逐网格调查植物群落特征,综合运用列表法和双向指示种法,进行植被分类并绘制现状植被图。按照新修订的植被三级分类系统进行分类:一级单位根据植被型,大金山岛植被划分为落叶阔叶林、常绿落叶阔叶混交林、常绿阔叶林、落叶阔叶灌丛、常绿落叶阔叶混交灌丛、常绿阔叶灌丛和草丛; 二级单位根据优势种和植物区系特征,可划分出15种群丛或群落类型; 三级单位根据群落年龄和外貌可划分为22种群落类型。以上结果表明,大金山岛不仅是上海市物种多样性最高的区域,也拥有华东海岛最典型、最多样的自然半自然森林群落。就植被状态而言,地带性森林群落处于演替中后期,但少数次生植被处于演替前期,且面临着猴群干扰导致的植被发育停滞不前等生态问题。关于植被分类方法,网格化清查方法可充分揭示植物群丛连续性中包含间断性和过渡性群落的现象。     

广西大石围天坑群不同植物群落的特征

大石围天坑群孕育了极为丰富的植物多样性资源。为进一步了解大石围天坑群植物群落特征, 该文在天坑不同位置(坑口、坑腰、坑底)以及坑外共布设25个样地, 采用样方法进行调查, 共鉴定出269种维管植物, 隶属于89科176属, 群落物种组成数量较多的科主要有樟科、蔷薇科、荨麻科等。群落成层现象明显, 各层优势种分布较为均匀, 其中乔木层优势种主要有香木莲(Manglietia aromatica)、南酸枣(Choerospondias axillaris)、掌叶木(Handeliodendron bodinieri)等, 灌木层优势种有异叶梁王茶(Metapanax davidii)、滇鼠刺(Itea yunnanensis)等, 草本层以楼梯草属(Elatostema)占优势。群落季相明显, 以常绿、落叶阔叶混交林为主, 底部有常绿阔叶林分布, 坑口边缘小面积分布有落叶阔叶林; 群落生活型谱: 高位芽植物为55.76%, 地上芽植物为29.74%, 地面芽植物为6.69%, 隐芽植物为5.21%, 一年生植物为2.60%。该文分析了天坑植物群落类型、组成、结构等特征。     

天童国家森林公园主要森林植被过去30年的动态变化

在气候变化和人类干扰的双重影响下,植被的演替和发展是生态学研究的热点之一,也是关系到人类社会可持续发展的一个重要问题.以浙江天童国家森林公园6种森林植被类型(典型常绿阔叶林的3个亚群丛、常绿落叶阔叶混交林、常绿针叶林和毛竹林)为研究对象,对比分析1982年和2012年其物种组成、群落结构和物种多样性等变化特点.结果表明:30年间群落的整体空间格局保存完好,群落分布未发生质的变化,主要优势植物种类变化不大;群落中幼树所占比例上升,小径级个体增多,群落更新状况良好且自然更新能力增强;乔木层物种多样性增高,常绿成分增加,灌木和草本层物种多样性下降.在过去30年里,随着温度上升,该地主要森林群落呈正向演替趋势,表明天童森林群落受到了较好的保护,也表明气候变化与常绿阔叶林的演替和发展存在一定的潜在正相关.     

卧龙巴郎山川滇高山栎群落植物生活型海拔梯度特征

川滇高山栎林隶属于亚高山硬叶栎林类型,是一种广泛分布在横断山地区的特殊植被类型,研究同一群落生活型谱的海拔梯度特征,可以阐明控制群落的重要气候特征以及群落对其气候生境的反映,揭示川滇高山栎种群对空间的利用、群落内部种群间可能产生的竞争及其发展趋势。用环境梯度法,研究卧龙自然保护区巴朗山川滇高山栎群落植物生活型特性随海拔梯度(15个海拔梯度,海拔2200—3600 m)的变化。卧龙巴朗山川滇高山栎群落植物生活型以高位芽植物为主,占36.01%;地面芽和地下芽植物相当,分别为25.92%和29.36%,地上芽植物最少,占0.92%。高位芽生活型物种在各个海拔梯度都占重要地位,占巴朗山全部生活型物种的21.74%—50.00%,随海拔的升高逐渐下降;地面芽植物(H)具有随海拔升高先升高后降低的趋势;地下芽植物(G)生活型随海拔的升高而升高;一年生植物(Th)在整个海拔梯度内占10.00%以下,随海拔的升高波动不大,即在5.67%—8.94%之间。高位芽生活型植物主要以常绿高位芽植物为主,随海拔升高而下降,常绿高位芽植物丰富度呈现随海拔升高逐渐降低的趋势,而且其物种丰富度小于落叶高位芽植物丰富度;在卧龙巴郎山阳坡海拔3300 m以上范围内,大、中高位芽植物仅占3.09%—4.26%,说明森林植被特征在逐渐弱化。比较分析了不同类型植物群落植物生活型特征,阐明了川滇高山栎林是区别于其他常绿阔叶林的特殊类型。     

黔西北地区不同演替阶段植物群落结构与物种多样性特征

该文采用"空间代替时间"的方法,研究了贵州省威宁县喀斯特地区植被演替过程中的群落结构、物种组成、生活型谱和物种多样性的变化规律。结果表明:(1)该调查共记录到种子植物174种,隶属于52科117属,物种分布较多的有菊科、蔷薇科、禾本科、杜鹃花科、小檗科、唇形科、蓼科。(2)随着植被的正向演替,物种丰富度逐渐增加,群落结构趋于复杂,高位芽植物所占比例逐渐增大。(3)随着植被的恢复,群落层次分化逐渐明显,大径级植株所占比例呈现增加趋势。(4)随着植被的恢复,群落各层次的ShannonWiener多样性指数(H)、Simpson多样性指数(DS)、均匀度指数(J)和Margalef丰富度指数(DM)逐渐增加;不同演替阶段植物群落之间的Srensen相似系数呈现先上升后下降的趋势,Cody指数则表现为逐渐增加的趋势。黔西北地区不同演替阶段植物群落结构和物种多样性不同,建群种和关键种发生了明显变化,不同演替阶段植物群落结构和物种多样性的研究对喀斯特地区植被演替规律的认识和生态恢复具有重要意义。     

三峡库区世坪常绿阔叶林群落特征

重庆丰都世坪森林公园的常绿阔叶林是长江三峡库区低海拔区残存的较典型常绿阔叶林,林内植物种类丰富。1hm2固定样地的调查表明,群落内共有维管束植物195种,隶属73科142属,植物的科属组成丰富。群落内区系地理成分复杂,与热带植物区系关系较密切,但温带区系成分也占有相当大的比重。群落的外貌主要由中小型革质、单叶为主的常绿高位芽植物所决定。群落成层现象明显,可分为乔木层、灌木层和草本层3个层次,层间植物丰富。总之,无论区系组成还是群落外貌和结构均体现了中亚热带北缘常绿阔叶林的特征。世坪森林公园的常绿阔叶林是三峡库区宝贵的植物基因库,希望有关部门尽快在此设立常绿阔叶林保护区,以保护本地区植被恢复的种质资源。     

重庆都市区残存常绿阔叶林的群落特征及其意义

重庆市是近年来中国经济发展的热点地区之一, 处于快速城市化进程之中。其都市区植被受到严重的破坏, 仅在平行山岭上残存有少量的自然植被。铁山坪国家森林公园内残存的常绿阔叶林是中亚热带低海拔地区典型的常绿阔叶林, 也是重庆都市区核心区内唯一保存较好的自然常绿阔叶林片断。作者选择代表性地段设置了2,000 m2的永久样方, 进行了详细的群落学调查, 在此基础上, 对群落的物种组成、外貌以及结构特征等进行了分析。结果表明, 群落中共出现维管植物58种, 分属32科46属, 单种科和单种属的数量大, 分别为20和39个。物种的区系地理成分相对简单, 以热带植物区系成分占优势, 同时温带和东亚植物区系成分也占较大比例。群落外貌由小型和中型革质单叶的高位芽植物所决定, 中型革质单叶的高位芽植物所占比例相对较高。群落垂直空间分化明显, 可以分为乔木层、亚乔木层、灌木层和林床, 树冠分布较为连续。刺果米槠(Castanopsis carlesii var. spinusa)为群落的唯一优势种, 其相对优势度达到73.38%, 且更新连续。群落木本层多样性指数(Shannon-Wiener指数)较低, 为1.75, 而林床则达到3.96。对该群落的生活型组成、叶性质以及主要种的种群结构的分析表明该群落属较为成熟的湿润型常绿阔叶林类型。作为重庆都市区内宝贵的乡土物种基因库和资源库, 该残存常绿阔叶林在区域生物多样性的保护中具有重要的价值。     

滇东南岩溶山地3种人工林群落林下植物群落学特征比较

通过样地法比较了川滇桤木(Alnusferdinandi-coburgii)、墨西哥柏(Cupressuslusitanica)、银荆(Acaciadealbata)3个人工林群落林下植物和次生灌丛的群落学特征。结果发现,3个群落都以高位芽植物为主,其次为地面芽植物;在高位芽植物中又都以小高位芽植物比例较高;其叶型谱以中型叶为主。生活型谱和叶型谱都与滇中亚热带常绿阔叶林的群落相似。从3种人工林的群落学特征看,以川滇桤木林的水热条件最好;川滇桤木林的物种多样性最高,说明川滇桤木林林下植物种类成分复杂,生境优越,群落破坏后恢复能力最强,最有利于向顶极演替发展。     

中国东部10个海岛植被近自然度评价

植被近自然度评价是森林近自然恢复的重要理论基础。海岛因特殊的生物地理环境,其植被结构和功能有别于陆地植被,当前还未有从植物生理生态角度,联合植物功能性状的海岛植被近自然度评价指标体系。基于中国东部10个典型海岛的74个植物群落,以植被信息、土壤属性和多样性特征（物种和功能多样性）构建海岛植被近自然度评价指标体系。利用敏感性分析筛选出13个反映海岛植被近自然度的中、高敏感性指标,基于筛选指标用层次分析法初次构建了中国东部海岛植被近自然度评价指标体系,并计算典型海岛的植被近自然度综合指数和划定植被近自然度等级。结果显示：海岛植被近自然度综合评价指标的权重：植被信息 > 多样性特征 > 土壤属性,其中植物自然构成系数、土壤含水量、Shannon-Wiener指数、Rao二次熵指数的权重较大;典型海岛的植被近自然度综合指数在0.345-0.611间,其中大金山岛的植被近自然度最高,属半天然林,北长山岛最低,为近人工林,其他海岛为远天然林;中亚热带的海岛植被近自然度较高,暖温带和南亚热带的海岛植被近自然度较低。本研究基于陆地植被近自然度评价指标,联合植物功能多样性对我国东部海岛植被近自然度进行综合评价,为海岛植被的生态状况提供定量依据,以及为海岛植被保护与管理和近自然恢复提供理论支撑。     

Ant communities on small tropical islands: effects of island size and isolation are obscured by habitat disturbance and ‘tramp’ ant species

Aim Comparisons among islands offer an opportunity to study the effects of biotic and abiotic factors on small, replicated biological communities. Smaller population sizes on islands accelerate some ecological processes, which may decrease the time needed for perturbations to affect community composition. We surveyed ants on 18 small tropical islands to determine the effects of island size, isolation from the mainland, and habitat disturbance on ant community composition. Location Thousand Islands Archipelago (Indonesian name: Kepulauan Seribu) off Jakarta, West Java, Indonesia. Methods Ants were sampled from the soil surface, leaf litter and vegetation in all habitat types on each island. Island size, isolation from the mainland, and land‐use patterns were quantified using GIS software. The presence of settlements and of boat docks were used as indicators of anthropogenic disturbance. The richness of ant communities and non‐tramp ant species on each island were analysed in relation to the islands’ physical characteristics and indicators of human disturbance. Results Forty‐eight ant species from 5 subfamilies and 28 genera were recorded from the archipelago, and approximately 20% of the ant species were well‐known human‐commensal ‘tramp’ species. Islands with boat docks or human settlements had significantly more tramp species than did islands lacking these indicators of anthropogenic disturbance, and the diversity of non‐tramp species decreased with habitat disturbance. Main conclusions Human disturbance on islands in the Thousand Islands Archipelago promotes the introduction and/or establishment of tramp species. Tramp species affect the composition of insular ant communities, and expected biogeographical patterns of ant richness are masked. The island with the greatest estimated species richness and the greatest number of unique ant species, Rambut Island, is a forested bird sanctuary, highlighting the importance of protected areas in preserving the diversity of species‐rich invertebrate faunas.     

系统发育多样性与系统发育结构在岛屿植物群落保护中的意义——以蜈支洲岛为例

为探讨系统发育多样性和系统发育结构在岛屿植物群落保护决策制定中的作用,以海南三亚蜈支洲岛被子植物群系为例,分析物种丰富度和系统发育多样性的相关性。结果表明,蜈支洲岛植被可分为10种群系类型,22个样方的物种丰富度与系统发育多样性呈显著正相关,但系统发育多样性与物种丰富度对植物多样性保护优先顺序的指示有差异。森林群系的物种丰富度和系统发育多样性普遍高于灌木和草本群系,4个森林群系样方表现为系统发育结构发散,3个森林群系样方表现为系统发育结构聚集。灌木群系中露兜树(Pandanus tectorius)灌丛和草海桐(Scaevola sericea)灌丛系统发育多样性较高,草本群系中厚藤(Vitex trifolia)灌草丛系统发育多样性较高,灌木和草本群系大多倾向于系统发育结构聚集。距海或人类活动区较近的群系可能受环境过滤的作用,而远离海和人类活动区的群系主要受竞争排斥作用影响。因此,在岛屿植物多样性保护策略制定中应当综合考虑物种和系统发育维度,以及环境、演替阶段及用岛方式等因素的影响。     

三峡水库岛屿成岛前的植被特征与物种丰富度

三峡水库蓄水导致原有生境的岛屿化, 本文调查了三峡水库6个即将形成的岛屿蓄水前的植被特征, 并对这些岛屿上各类群落类型的物种丰富度进行了分析。共调查到群落类型28个, 其中草丛12个, 灌丛7个, 森林9个。研究结果表明, 绝大多数岛屿自然植被覆盖率低, 植被退化严重。主要表现为森林比重很小, 群落多样性低, 撂荒地上处于次生演替初始阶段的杂类草草丛占了相当大的比例。6个岛屿的植物种数分别为126、157、175、189、242、254; 其中森林群落的平均物种丰富度指数为42.19, 灌、草丛分别为15.96和17.89。杂类草草丛具有较高的丰富度指数, 而演替到较为稳定的退化草丛物种丰富度指数呈下降趋势。各类灌丛之间物种丰富度指数相差不大。在针阔混交林向阔叶林演替过程中, 物种丰富度指数表现为较大的波动性。由于自然植被被严重破坏, 岛屿上外来入侵种形成了较大的灾害。三峡库区即将形成的这些岛屿具有重要的研究价值, 建议选择一些岛屿建立保护区。     

Habitat diversity associated to island size and environmental filtering control the species richness of rock‐savanna plants in neotropical inselbergs

Disentangling the multiple factors controlling species diversity is a major challenge in ecology. Island biogeography and environmental filtering are two influential theories emphasizing respectively island size and isolation, and the abiotic environment, as key drivers of species richness. However, few attempts have been made to quantify their relative importance and investigate their mechanistic basis. Here, we applied structural equation modelling, a powerful method allowing test of complex hypotheses involving multiple and indirect effects, on an island‐like system of 22 French Guianan neotropical inselbergs covered with rock‐savanna. We separated the effects of size (rock‐savanna area), isolation (density of surrounding inselbergs), environmental filtering (rainfall, altitude) and dispersal filtering (forest‐matrix openness) on the species richness of all plants and of various ecological groups (terrestrial versus epiphytic, small‐scale versus large‐scale dispersal species). We showed that the species richness of all plants and terrestrial species was mainly explained by the size of rock‐savanna vegetation patches, with increasing richness associated with higher rock‐savanna area, while inselberg isolation and forest‐matrix openness had no measurable effect. This size effect was mediated by an increase in terrestrial‐habitat diversity, even after accounting for increased sampling effort. The richness of epiphytic species was mainly explained by environmental filtering, with a positive effect of rainfall and altitude, but also by a positive size effect mediated by enhanced woody‐plant species richness. Inselberg size and environmental filtering both explained the richness of small‐scale and large‐scale dispersal species, but these ecological groups responded in opposite directions to altitude and rainfall, that is positively for large‐scale and negatively for small‐scale dispersal species. Our study revealed both habitat diversity associated with island size and environmental filtering as major drivers of neotropical inselberg plant diversity and showed the importance of plant species growth form and dispersal ability to explain the relative importance of each driver.     

广州长洲岛植物多样性研究

通过实地调查,对广州长洲岛的植物多样性进行研究。据统计,该岛野生维管束植物共有487种,隶属于127科358属,植被主要为次生性常绿阔叶林及人工植被(果园)。对岛上野生植物的多样性和区系地理进行分析,结果表明:该岛物种集中于少数科内,科属的优势现象明显。在植物区系上,该区具有较强的热带性,但温带成分也有一定程度的入侵。最后对岛上植物多样性的保护提出建议。     

三江平原沼泽湿地岛状林植物多样性

 基于Quick Bird影像选择样地区域,采用样方法进行群落学调查。选取丰富度指数（R）、Simpson指数（D）、Shannon-Wiener指数（H′）、Pielou均匀度指数（J_sw）测度多样性水平。结果表明：19个岛状林共记录到维管植物140种,隶属于44科,102属,与相邻的洪河自然保护区内的同类型群落相比较有些物种已经消失。山杨林(Ass. Populus davidiana)、白桦林(Ass. Betula platyphylla)和杨桦林(Ass. P. davidiana+B. platyphylla)3种群落类型多样性指数在灌木层之间差异显著（p<0.05）。岛状林总体3个层次之间的R、D、H′大小顺序均为草本层>灌木层>乔木层,3者之间差异极显著（p<0.01）。岛状林斑块的物种丰富度与斑块面积（r=0.591, p<0.01）、周长（r=0.674 , p<0.01）和形状指数（r=0.584,p<0.01）极显著相关,而D、H′、J_sw与周长、面积和形状指数相关均不显著。受到一定人为干扰的岛状林群落仍具有较高的植物多样性,其中草本层植物多样性占有重要地位。林窗干扰是导致林下植物多样性较高的重要原因。边缘效应可能是引起群落斑块物种丰富度随着斑块面积、周长和形状指数的增大而增加的重要原因。岛状林群落斑块对于维持该地区的植物多样性具有重要意义。     

广东南澳岛植被恢复过程中的群落动态研究

 以广东南澳岛的1个草坡、4个人工林和3个次生林群落为对象,采用时空互代的方法,将这8个群落当作植被恢复中的不同阶段,研究各群落的群落结构、生物量、叶面积指数和土壤养分等,进而研究了南澳岛退化生态系统植被恢复的过程和机理。随着植被的恢复进程,群落的阳性种类逐渐减少,中生性种类逐渐增加。物种多样性、均匀度、生态优势度和β多样性指数分析表明南澳岛植被恢复过程群落组成结构的复杂性依退化草坡→人工林→次生林逐渐增加。南澳岛退化草坡、10年生人工林、15年生人工林和次生林的生物量分别为4.81t·hm-2、45.18t·hm-2、100.39t·hm-2和88.34t·hm-2,叶面积指数分别为1.04、3.81、5.89和6.52,凋落物贮量分别为0.42t·hm-2、3.20t·hm-2、3.70t·hm-2和4.90t·hm-2。南澳岛植被恢复过程中土壤有机质、全氮和速效磷和交换性K含量逐渐增加。由于海岛的生境、大风和暴雨的影响,海岛植被恢复的格局不同于大陆,而其恢复速度也较慢。根据本研究结果,提出了人工促进海岛植被恢复的途径。     

Vegetation Heterogeneity and Life-Strategy Diversity in the Flora of the Heterogeneous Landscape of Nizanda, Oaxaca, Mexico

We updated the floristic checklist of the Nizanda region, Isthmus of Tehuantepec (southern Mexico), characterized the occurring plant communities based on dominant species, and described the region’s flora according to life form, growth form, growth type, and growth habit spectra. Ten years of botanical exploration, along with surveys in 188 100-m² samples from different vegetation types, provided the baseline floristic information. Ordination and classification analyses were performed to examine the degree of differentiation between communities. Geographical ranges of all species were used to assess biogeographical relationships of this flora. The inventory includes 920 species (553 genera, 124 families). More than one-third of the families were represented by a single species, whereas the 10 richest families had 43% of the species richness. Dendrograms showing plot classification at three taxonomic levels (species, genus and family) revealed savannah as the most strongly differentiated community amid seven vegetation types. Regarding growth forms, forbs and trees prevailed. Phanerophytes were the most common life form category, whereas herbs and woody plants were the dominant growth types. The largest richness for all taxonomic levels was recorded in the tropical dry forest. The expanded floristic knowledge gained for the Nizanda region provided better criteria to revise the classification scheme of its vegetation. Our preliminary biogeographical analysis illustrates the role of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec as a corridor for thermophilous floras between two oceanic watersheds, and as a natural distributional limit for several Mesoamerican plant species.     

Factors influencing vascular plant diversity on 22 islands off the coast of eastern North America

Aim The influence of physiographic and historical factors on species richness of native and non‐native vascular plants on 22 coastal islands was examined. Location Islands off the coast of north‐eastern USA and south‐eastern Canada between 41° and 45° N latitude were studied. Island size ranges from 3 to 26,668 ha. All islands were deglaciated between 15,000 and 11,000 yr bp ; all but the four New Brunswick islands were attached to the mainland until rising sea level isolated them between 14,000 and 3800 yr bp . Methods Island species richness was determined from floras compiled or revised since 1969. Simple and multiple regression and rank correlation analysis were employed to assess the relative influence of independent variables on species richness. Potential predictors included island area, latitude, elevation, distance from the mainland, distance from the nearest larger island, number of soil types, years since isolation, years since deglaciation, and human population density. Results Native vascular plant species richness for the 22 islands in this study is influenced most strongly by island area, latitude, and distance from the nearest larger island; richness increases with island area, but decreases with latitude and distance from the nearest larger island as hypothesized. That a similar model employing distance from the mainland does not meet the critical value of P confirms the importance of the stepping‐stone effect. Habitat diversity as measured by number of soil types is also an important predictor of native plant species richness, but at least half of its influence can be attributed to island area, with which it is correlated. Two historical factors, years since deglaciation and years since isolation, also appear to be highly correlated with native species richness, but their influence cannot be separated from that of latitude for the present sample size. Non‐native vascular plant species richness is influenced primarily by island area and present‐day human population density, although human population density may be a surrogate for the cumulative effect of several centuries of anthropogenic impacts related to agriculture, hunting, fishing, whaling, tourism, and residential development. Very high densities of ground‐nesting pelagic birds may account for the high percentage of non‐native species on several small northern islands. Main conclusions Many of the principles of island biogeography that have been applied to oceanic islands apply equally to the 22 islands in this study. Native vascular plant species richness for these islands is strongly influenced by physiographic factors. Influence of two historical factors, years since deglaciation and years since isolation, cannot be assessed with the present sample size. Non‐native vascular plant species richness is influenced by island area as well as by human population density; human population density may be a surrogate for other anthropogenic impacts.