Evolution of Island Mammals

Alexandra van der Geer is an independent researcher, presently guest researcher at Naturalis, the National Museum of Natural History of the Netherlands and at the Department of Geology and Geoenvironment at the University of Athens, Greece. She publishes on various subjects, including insularity, primatology and the relation between humans and animals. Among her previous books are Animals in Stone and Hoe dieren op eilanden evolueren. George Lyras is curator of the Museum of Geology and Palaeontology of the University of Athens, Greece. His research focuses primarily on the evolution of carnivores and of insular mammals. He currently specialises in evolutionary processes of the mammalian skull under strong selective forces. John de Vos is curator of the Dubois Collection and the Collection of Pleistocene mammal fossils from the Netherlands and the North Sea at Naturalis, the National Museum of Natural History of the Netherlands. His expertise and field of research include the taxonomic, systematic, geographic and stratigraphic research of the Pleistocene mammals of Southeast Asia in relation to fossil humans and fossil island faunas. Michael Dermitzakis is emeritus professor in the Department of Geology and Geoenvironment at the University of Athens, Greece, and former vice-rector of the same university. He is a recognized expert in the field of island biogeography of the Aegean Archipelago and the advocate of international research on the palaeo-ecology of Greek islands.

Preface. Part I Beyond the Mainland. 1 Introduction. 2 History of Island Studies. 3 Factors that Influence Island Faunas. Types of Islands. Dispersals to Islands. The Candidate Species. Composition of Island Faunas. Part II The Islands and Their Faunas. 4 Cyprus. Geology and Palaeogeography Historical Palaeontology. Biozones and Faunal Units. 5 Crete. Geology and Palaeogeography. Historical Palaeontology. Biozones and Faunal Units. 6 Gargano. Geology and Palaeogeography. Historical Palaeontology. Biozones and Faunal Units. 7 Sicily. Geology and Palaeogeography. Historical Palaeontology. Biozones and Faunal Units. 8 Malta. Geology and Palaeogeography. Historical Palaeontology. Biozones and Faunal Units. 9 Sardinia and Corsica. Geology and Palaeogeography. Historical Palaeontology. Biozones and Faunal Units. 10 The Balearic Islands. Geology and Palaeogeography. Historical Palaeontology. Biozones and Faunal Units. 11 Madagascar. Geology and Palaeogeography. Historical Palaeontology. Biozones and Faunal Units. 12 Java. Geology and Palaeogeography. Historical Palaeontology. Biozones and Faunal Units. 13 Flores. Geology and Palaeogeography. Historical Palaeontology. Biozones and Faunal Units. 14 Sulawesi. Geology and Palaeogeography. Historical Palaeontology. Biozones and Faunal Units. 15 The Philippines. Geology and Palaeogeography. Historical Palaeontology. Biozones and Faunal Units. 16 Japan. Geology and Palaeogeography. Historical Palaeontology. Biozones and Faunal Units. 17 The Southern and Central Ryukyu Islands. Geology and Palaeogeography. Historical Palaeontology. Biozones and Faunal Units. 18 The Californian Channel Islands. Geology and Palaeogeography. Historical Palaeontology. Biozones and Faunal Units. 19 The West Indies. Geology and Palaeogeography. Historical Palaeontology. Biozones and Faunal Units. Part III Species and Processes. 20 Elephants, Mammoths, Stegodons and Mastodons. Distribution and Range. Dispersals. Taxonomic Confusions. Common Morphological Traits. Other Common Trends. 21 Rabbits, Hares and Pikas. Distribution and Range. Common Morphological Traits. Other Common Trends. Dispersal of Lagomorphs. 22 Rats, Dormice, Hamsters, Caviomorphs and other Rodents. Distribution and Range. Common Morphological Traits. Remark on Taphonomy. 23 Insectivores and Bats. Distribution and Range. Common Morphological Traits. 24 Cervids and Bovids. Distribution and Range. Common Morphological Traits. Taxonomic Confusions. 25 Hippopotamuses and Pigs. Distribution and Range. Common Morphological Traits. Taxonomic Confusions. 26 Carnivores. Distribution and Range. Common Morphological Traits. Taxonomic Confusions. 27 Patterns and Trends. Dwarfism and Gigantism. Increased Size Variation. Shorter Limbs and Stiff Joints. Increased Grinding Force. Neurological Changes. Changes in Metabolism. 28 Evolutionary Processes in Island Environments. Types of Speciation on Islands. Intrinsic and Extrinsic Factors. 29 Extinction of Insular Endemics. Natural Disasters. Disappearance of the Island. Competition by New Species. Effects of Exotic Predators. Transmission of Diseases. Habitat Loss. Hunting to Extinction. References. Index.