Reconsidering locomotor habits and life style of the Balearic insular giant rodent Hypnomys Bate, 1918 from the allometry of the limb long bones

The genus Hypnomys Bate, 1918 includes some endemic Neogene chronospecies from Mallorca and Menorca, evolved in insularity conditions from the Lower Pliocene to the human arrival at the archipelago. The study of the allometric proportions (functional length and sagittal diameter) of the limbs’ long bones of Hypnomys eliomyoides Agusti, 1980 (Lower Pleistocene of Menorca), Hypnomys sp. (Pleistocene of Menorca), Hypnomys onicensis (Reumer, 1994) (Upper Pliocene-Lower Pleistocene of Mallorca) and Hypnomys morpheus Bate, 1918 (Upper Pleistocene of Mallorca) only indicates small differences with the garden dormouse (Eliomys quercinus Linnaeus, 1776) and other mainland rodents and insectivores. The study about the locomotion type by means of Similarity Matrix of Bou indicates that 1) Hypnomys spp. presents the greater similarities with the arboreal, jumping and gliding species; 2) the jumping and digging life style of Hypnomys spp. are more developed (25%) than in E. quercinus; 3) the walking locomotion of Hypnomys spp. is only a 7% greater than in E. quercinus; and 4) the degree of similarity with the gliding locomotion of Hypnomys sp. is greater (17%) than in E. quercinus. Some of this data indicates that Hypnomys spp. was better adapted to the arboreal life than E. quercinus, due to the relationship between the jumping and gliding capacities with the arboreal locomotion. The greater similarity of Hypnomys spp. with the walking locomotion does not necessarily involve more terrestrial habits. Our interpretation contrasts with earlier conclusions of Hypnomys life style (Hypnomys cf. onicensis and Hypnomys morpheus) where the terrestrial locomotion was overestimated in front of the arboreal locomotion. The locomotion type of Hypnomys would be related with the presence of important forest masses on the Balearic Islands during the Neogene, a different degree of environmental stress from that of the mainland ecosystems and a probable expansion of the ecological niche occupied by these species.     

New data on the origin of Nesiotites (Soricidae,Mammalia) in Menorca (Balearic Islands,Spain)

The presence of the shrew Nesiotites in Menorca is not yet adequately explained. Some authors consider that its ancestor arrived during the Messinian Salinity Crisis, as happened in Mallorca. Other authors consider that fossil populations in Menorca are the result of a later migration from Mallorca. In this work, several biometrical and morphological characters of abundant fossil populations from both islands have been studied. The results indicate that Early Pleistocene populations in Mallorca and Menorca are rather indistinguishable. Therefore, an early post-Messinian (Pliocene) isolation of Nesiotites in both islands is quite unlikely.     

Understanding Late Quaternary extinctions: the case of Myotragus balearicus (Bate, 1909)

Aim In this study we present a new view on the extinction of Myotragus balearicus, an extinct highly modified dwarf caprine from the Gymnesic Islands (or eastern Balearic Islands), as a methodological case study for interpretation of Late Quaternary extinctions (LQEs). Methods We analyse all available ¹⁴C ages obtained from M. balearicus bones from the uppermost part of the Pleistocene and the Holocene, together with the available chronological data of the putative causes of Myotragus extinction. Results It has been possible to define two critical dates that allow us to establish an ‘uncertainty period for the Myotragus extinction’ (UPME) in each analysed island (Mallorca, Menorca and Cabrera). For Mallorca, the UPME corresponds to the interval c. 3700 to 2030 calbc (i.e. c. 1670 years of uncertainty). In the case of Menorca, the UPME spans from 10,000 to 1930 calbc (8070 years of uncertainity). In Cabrera the UPME is placed between 3650 and 300 calbc (3350 years of uncertainty). These periods, together with a review of the available information on the chronology of human arrival and the chronology of Holocene climatic change, shed light on the possible causes of the extinction of this species. Main conclusions Extinction of Myotragus because of climatic change can be definitively rejected. The Myotragus extinction must be attributed to the rapid effects of the first human occupation. The use of uncertainity periods for the disappearance of species represents a useful tool for the analysis of LQEs.     

Genetic structure of Balearic honeybee populations based on microsatellite polymorphism

The genetic variation of honeybee colonies collected in 22 localities on the Balearic Islands (Spain) was analysed using eight polymorphic microsatellite loci. Previous studies have demonstrated that these colonies belong either to the African or west European evolutionary lineages. These populations display low variability estimated from both the number of alleles and heterozygosity values, as expected for the honeybee island populations. Although genetic differentiation within the islands is low, significant heterozygote deficiency is present, indicating a subpopulation genetic structure. According to the genetic differentiation test, the honeybee populations of the Balearic Islands cluster into two groups: Gimnesias (Mallorca and Menorca) and Pitiusas (Ibiza and Formentera), which agrees with the biogeography postulated for this archipelago. The phylogenetic analysis suggests an Iberian origin of the Balearic honeybees, thus confirming the postulated evolutionary scenario for Apis mellifera in the Mediterranean basin. The microsatellite data from Formentera, Ibiza and Menorca show that ancestral populations are threatened by queen importations, indicating that adequate conservation measures should be developed for protecting Balearic bees.     

Foundations for conservation of intraspecific genetic diversity revealed by analysis of phylogeographical structure in the endangered endemic lizard Podarcis lilfordi

Aim  To describe and analyse phylogeographical patterns in the endangered endemic lizard Podarcis lilfordi from across its remaining range and thereby establish baseline information on genetic diversity that will help determine conservation priorities and assist future reintroduction programs.
Location  Balearic Islands, Spain.
Methods  We analysed mitochondrial DNA (2382 bp sequence from eight genes) from 118 individuals and characterized the relationships among haplotypes using parsimony networks, as well as phylogenetic inference. Analyses of historical gene flow and population growth were used to provide further insights into population histories.
Results  Four unconnected parsimony networks were obtained that mirrored the main clades in the phylogenetic tree: (I) all Menorcan populations, (II) Dragonera, Malgrats and Toro islands (Western Mallorca) (III and IV) and the remaining populations from Cabrera and Mallorca. Two major haplotype groups were detected in Menorca (I) and these provided signatures of a demographic expansion and asymmetrical historical gene flow, respectively, concordant with the expected direction of colonization from south to north of the island. Populations from western Mallorca (II) showed evidence of historical allopatric fragmentation events following isolation around the start of the Pleistocene. In networks III and IV, Cabreran populations appear to have become isolated from north and south Mallorca quite recently, with asymmetric gene flow indicating a northwards dispersal direction.
Main conclusions  P. lilfordi is a genetically diverse species that shows substantial mtDNA structuring both between regions and, at a finer scale, between some islet populations within regions. The precarious state of some islet populations shown here to be quite divergent (e.g. Toro island in western Mallorca) means that conservation of this intraspecific biodiversity requires urgent action.     

Une espèce géante de MuscardinusKaup, 1829(Gliridae,Rodentia, Mammalia) dans le gisement karstique de Cala Es Pou (Miocène supérieur de Minorque,Baléares)

In this paper, Muscardinus cyclopeus nov. sp., from the locality of Cala Es Pou, in Menorca (Balearic Islands)), is described. M. cyclopeus is close to M. viretiHugueney & Mein, but shows a greater size. This species belongs to a new phase of insularity in the Balearic Islands, different from the classical Myotragus-Hypnomys-Nesiotites faunas. This phase may be due to variations in the sea level within the Messinian. Other elements belonging to this phase are: Geochelone gymnesicaBate, cf. Alilepus nov. sp. and Rhinolophus cf. grivensis (Deperet).     

The endemic bovids from Sardinia and the Balearic Islands: State of the art

Bovids are not so common in endemic insular faunas and are mainly recorded in Southeast Asia, Japan and some Mediterranean islands. In the Western Mediterranean, endemic bovids have been recorded during the late Miocene in the Tusco-Sardinian palaeobioprovince (Baccinello-Cinigiano basin, South Tuscany, and Fiume Santo, north-western Sardinia). In the latest Neogene and Quaternary, bovids showing highly endemic features were restricted to the Balearic Islands and Sardinia, while Bovini only slightly reduced in size were present on Pianosa, Malta and Sicily. On Sardinia, the richest bovid sample comes from Monte Tuttavista (Orosei), where at least three species have been identified: Asoletragus genthry, Nesogoral aff. N. melonii, and Nesogoral sp. 2. On Mallorca (Balearic Islands) six chronospecies belonging to the Myotragus endemic phylogenetic lineage have been described, spreading in age from the Early Pliocene to the Holocene. For decades, a close phylogenetic relationship between Nesogoral and Myotragus has been widely accepted by scholars. Morphological and biometrical differences shown by Balearic and Sardinian bovids have generally been regarded as the result of the evolution into two different island ecological systems, characterized by different inter and intra-guild selection pressures. Indeed, the more diversified environment of Sardinia, as well as the presence of other large mammals (similar-sized competitors belonging to the same guild and a running predator), increased the interspecific competition, forcing Sardinian bovids to exploit different resources and to occupy different niches, while Myotragus exploited under a monopoly regime the supply of resources available for large herbivores on the Eastern Balearic Islands. Nonetheless, new data suggest that Nesogoral and Myotragus possibly originated from different taxa.     

A palaeornithological assemblage from the early Pliocene of the Mediterranean island of Mallorca: Raptorial birds as bioaccumulators at Na Burguesa-1

A palaeornithological assemblage from the early Pliocene of Mallorca (Balearic Islands) is documented on 583 fossil bones from Na Burguesa-1 site. Ten different taxa have been identified: two Tytonidae, one small-sized Strigidae, one Phasianidae, one Charadriiform, and at least five Passeriformes. The specimens included in the Tytonidae correspond to a giant Barn Owl, Tyto sp. 1, with size similar to Tyto robusta, and a second Barn Owl, Tyto sp. 2, similar in size to Tyto sanctialbani. The small-sized Strigidae is attributed to Otus sp., although some of the pedal phalanges obtained are included only tentatively in this genus. The presence of these nocturnal raptorial birds combined with the prevalence of small vertebrates (mainly ranging from ca. 8 g to almost 1 kg) with practically unaltered bones suggests that this deposit was originated by the accumulation of prey remains of these owls.     

Une nouvelle forme insulaire d'Effraie geanteTyto balearica N. sp., (Aves,Strigiformes), du Plio-Pleistocene des Baleares

Tyto balearica is a barn owl whose size is about one and half larger than the size of modern barn owls, Tyto alba. It was found in Mallorca and Menorca, in sites dating back from the end of Pliocene and the beginning of Pleistocene. Numerous insular forms of giant barn owls are known in Mediterranean islands and in West Indies.     

Radiocarbon evidence for a prehistoric deliberate translocation: the weasel (Mustela nivalis) of Mallorca

We present radiocarbon evidence for the presence of the weasel (Mustela nivalis) on Mallorca prior to the Roman colonization of the Balearics. Bone collagen from a single specimen recovered at Cova del Ninot, Mallorca rendered two radiocarbon ages, independently obtained at two laboratories (2σ interval: 386–206 cal BC). These dates indicate that the translocation of the weasel to Mallorca occurred in Late Prehistory. The inhabitants of Mallorca at that time were the Talaiotic people (Iron Age settlers of the Balearics). The weasel appears to have been introduced by Talaiotic mercenaries returning to the island on Carthaginian ships. This is the first documented case of the translocation of a wild carnivorous mammal to the Gymnesic Islands (i.e., Mallorca and Menorca) in prehistoric times. Some ecological consequences of this invasion are outlined.     

Morphological divergence in giant fossil dormice

Insular gigantism—evolutionary increases in body size from small-bodied mainland ancestors—is a conceptually significant, but poorly studied, evolutionary phenomenon. Gigantism is widespread on Mediterranean islands, particularly among fossil and extant dormice. These include an extant giant population of Eliomys quercinus on Formentera, the giant Balearic genus †Hypnomys and the exceptionally large †Leithia melitensis of Pleistocene Sicily. We quantified patterns of cranial and mandibular shape and their relationships to head size (allometry) among mainland and insular dormouse populations, asking to what extent the morphology of island giants is explained by allometry. We find that gigantism in dormice is not simply an extrapolation of the allometric trajectory of their mainland relatives. Instead, a large portion of their distinctive cranial and mandibular morphology resulted from the population- or species-specific evolutionary shape changes. Our findings suggest that body size increases in insular giant dormice were accompanied by the evolutionary divergence of feeding adaptations. This complements other evidence of ecological divergence in these taxa, which span predominantly faunivorous to herbivorous diets. Our findings suggest that insular gigantism involves context-dependent phenotypic modifications, underscoring the highly distinctive nature of island faunas.     

The tropical caprellid amphipod Paracaprella pusilla: a new alien crustacean in the Mediterranean Sea

Paracaprella pusilla Mayer (Fauna und Flora des Golfes von Neapel 17:1–55, 1890), originally described from Brazil, is one of the most abundant caprellid amphipod species in tropical and subtropical seas around the world. During a survey of caprellid amphipods from marinas along the Balearic Island (Western Mediterranean Sea) carried out between November 2011 and August 2012, we found two established populations of P. pusilla in Mallorca and Ibiza, respectively. So far, its occurrence in European waters was reported only from southwestern Spain in 2010. This record represents a northward range expansion of the species’ distribution, which is found for the first time in the Mediterranean. This is also the first record of the genus Paracaprella in the Mediterranean Sea. The most probable introduction vector was ship fouling. We also found the invasive caprellid Caprella scaura Templeton (Trans Entomol Soc Lond 1:185–198, 1836) in Mallorca and Menorca, which is recorded for the first time in the Balearic Islands, confirming its rapid expansion along the Mediterranean. When comparing reproductive traits between both alien species, we found that P. pusilla has a higher fecundity than C. scaura for the same female size. Taking into account this evidence, the species may be expected to appear in other Mediterranean and adjacent areas.     

A new giant cricetine from the basal Pliocene of Mallorca (Balearic Islands,western Mediterranean): biostratigraphic nexus with continental mammal zones

A new insular giant species of Apocricetus (M1 length > 4.22 mm, upper teeth row length > 10.90 mm) is described from dental, mandibular and cranial material recovered at the Na Burguesa-1 site (Mallorca, Balearic Islands, western Mediterranean), a Zanclean palaeokarst deposit chronologically close to the refilling of the Mediterranean after the Messinian Salinity Crisis. Apocricetus darderi sp. nov. shows a close relationship with the mainland species A. alberti (MN13), an Iberian taxon, from which it differs in size, the presence of labial and lingual anterolophids in m1, triple anterolophulids frequently developed, a reduced anterosinusid in m2 and m3 and, occasionally, the presence of an ectomesolophid in m3. Apocricetus darderi sp. nov. becomes the first endemic Balearic mammal that can be confidently assigned as having a direct mainland relative, providing the first solid palaeontological evidence of a Messinian origin for the Plio-Pleistocene fauna of Mallorca. Tragomys macpheei from the Caló den Rafelino site (Early Pliocene, probably late MN14 or early MN15) displays a peculiar selenodont teeth pattern and a high degree of hypsodonty, and is considered to be either a direct descendant of Apocricetus darderi sp. nov. or a sister taxon derived from a common ancestor.

http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:0EBF0B6E-2922-4A14-A6C3-8FC8D751647F     

Ancient DNA from an extinct Mediterranean micromammal—Hypnomys morpheus (Rodentia: Gliridae)—Provides insight into the biogeographic history of insular dormice

The dormice (Gliridae) are a family of rodents represented by relatively few extant species, though the family was much more species-rich during the Early Miocene. Intergeneric phylogenetic relationships among glirids in some cases remain unresolved, despite extensive molecular and morphological analyses. Uncertainty is greatest with respect to the relationships among fossil taxa and how extinct lineages are related to modern species. The fossil genus Hypnomys from the Balearic Islands (western Mediterranean Sea) includes the Late Pleistocene–Holocene species Hypnomys morpheus, which has variously been considered a close relative or subgenus of the extant Eliomys. In the present study, we sequenced ancient mitochondrial DNA from H. morpheus, which suggests a sister relationship with the extant members of Eliomys. In addition, the pairwise sequence variation between Hypnomys and Eliomys is higher than that observed between congeneric glirid species (e.g., many Graphiurus spp.), which allows us to reject the hypothesis that Hypnomys is a subgenus of Eliomys. Our molecular dating analyses suggest that Hypnomys and Eliomys diverged 13.67 million years ago (95% highest posterior density [HPD] = 7.39–20.07). The relatively early split between these genera together with the molar morphology of early representatives of Hypnomys points to a Middle-Late Miocene origin from a continental glirid with a complex molar pattern, such as Vasseuromys or a closely related genus.     

A new whale barnacle from the early Pleistocene of Italy suggests an ancient right whale breeding ground in the Mediterranean

The fragmentary fossil history of whale barnacles (Cirripedia: Coronulidae) is mainly constituted by remains of Coronula spp. in Plio-Pleistocene deposits found along extant humpback whale migration routes, and especially in occurrence of breeding areas. Here we report the presence of a single compartment of Cetopirus along with remains of Coronula bifida in Lower Pleistocene open shelf deposits of Salento (South Italy). This is the first occurrence of the genus Cetopirus prior to the Late Glacial period (ca. 15–10 ky before Present), and the specimen here studied is designated as the holotype of the new fossil species Cetopirus fragilis. Since Cetopirus is currently found exclusively inhabiting the skin of the right whales (Eubalaena spp.), the fossil material here studied suggests the persistence of Balaenidae in the Mediterranean Basin during the Early Pleistocene and supports the existence of a baleen whale migratory route active between the central Mediterranean and the North Atlantic during the Plio-Pleistocene.     

The reproductive biology of the Mediterranean endemic Cyclamen balearicum Willk. (Primulaceae)

Knowledge of the reproductive biology of endemic plants improves our understanding of how mating system may be related to patterns of species abundance and provides a basis for the development of rational conservation programmes. In this paper we present natural population data on the floral biology and reproductive ecology of the endemic Mediterranean species Cyclamen balearicum Willk. This is a long-lived, diploid perennial herb which occurs in southern France in five fragmented and isolated regions and on the Balearic Islands of Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza, Cabrera and Draponera. Our observations indicate a particularly scarce pollinator activity (rare syrphid visits) and dispersal by ants over small distances. A controlled pollination experiment in a natural population showed that in southern France C. balearicum is fully self-compatible and that selfing is autonomous and probably delayed (i.e. following opportunities for outcrossing). The proximity of stigmas and anthers will favour autonomous selfing. The high pollen/ovule ratio indicates nevertheless that C. balearicum has a mixed mating system. Patterns of variation in stigma-anther separation and pollen production per flower suggest that not only has the current mating system of the species evolved from an outcrossing ancestor but that due to the fragmentation and isolation of populations greater levels of selfing have evolved in southern France (and to an intermediate degree on Ibiza and Menorca). On the island of Mallorca where larger continuous belts of C. balearicum habitat still exist the species has floral traits indicating a more outcrossed mating system. To our knowledge this is the first paper to document such trends in floral traits in the endemic component of the Mediterranean flora.     

Multilocus genetic diversity and historical biogeography of the endemic wall lizard from Ibiza and Formentera,Podarcis pityusensis (Squamata: Lacertidae)

Two monophyletic sister species of wall lizards inhabit the two main groups of Balearic Islands: Podarcis lilfordi from islets and small islands around Mallorca and Menorca and Podarcis pityusensis from Ibiza, Formentera and associated islets. Genetic diversity within the endangered P. lilfordi has been well characterized, but P. pityusensis has not been studied in depth. Here, 2430 bp of mtDNA and 15 microsatellite loci were analysed from P. pityusensis populations from across its natural range. Two main genetic groupings were identified, although geographical structuring differed slightly between the mtDNA and the nuclear loci. In general, individuals from islets/islands adjacent to the main island of Ibiza were genetically distinct from those from Formentera and the associated Freus islands for both mtDNA and the nuclear loci. However, most individuals from the island of Ibiza were grouped with neighbouring islets/islands for nuclear loci, but with Formentera and Freus islands for the mitochondrial locus. A time‐calibrated Bayesian tree was constructed for the principal mitochondrial lineages within the Balearics, using the multispecies coalescent model, and provided statistical support for divergence of the two main P. pityusensis lineages 0.111–0.295 Ma. This suggests a mid‐late Pleistocene intraspecific divergence, compared with an early Pleistocene divergence in P. lilfordi, and postdates some major increases in sea level between 0.4 and 0.6 Ma, which may have flooded Formentera. The program IMa2 provided a posterior divergence time of 0.089–0.221 Ma, which was similar to the multispecies coalescent tree estimate. More significantly, it indicated low but asymmetric effective gene copy migration rates, with higher migration from Formentera to Ibiza populations. Our findings suggest that much of the present‐day diversity may have originated from a late Pleistocene colonization of one island group from the other, followed by allopatric divergence of these populations. Subsequent gene flow between these insular groups seems likely to be explained by recent human introductions. Two evolutionary significant units can be defined for P. pityusensis but these units would need to exclude the populations that have been the subjects of recent admixture.     

Extinction of the autochthonous small mammals of Mallorca (Gymnesic Islands, Western Mediterranean) and its ecological consequences

Aim To investigate the chronology, causes and consequences of the extinction of the autochthonous Pleistocene small mammals of Mallorca. Location Mallorca (Gymnesic Islands, Balearics, Western Mediterranean). Methods We have obtained the first direct ¹⁴C ages from the bone collagen of selected samples of two extinct endemic small mammals from Mallorca: the Balearic dormouse, Eliomys morpheus (Rodentia: Myoxidae) and the Balearic shrew, Asoriculus hidalgoi (Soricomorpha: Soricidae). We also present evidence for the absence of both endemics from the earliest Mallorcan archaeological sites and for the introduction of the garden dormouse, Eliomys quercinus, and the wood mouse, Apodemus sylvaticus. Combined information from direct dating of bone collagen of E. quercinus and A. sylvaticus and from cultural associations provides an adequate framework to establish the chronology of the faunal change and to compare it with the chronological information available on climatic change and the first arrival of humans on the islands. Results The chronological record includes the latest evidence available for the survival of endemic species and the earliest introduction of small mammals into Mallorca. We present ‘uncertainty periods for extinction’ (UPEs) of both endemic mammals based on the chronology of their last occurrence and on the inferred timing of their extinction (restricted UPEs). Main conclusions Possible causes for the extinction of autochthonous small mammals on Mallorca are discussed. Once we have discarded climatic causes, predation by invasive species, competition with newcomers and habitat deterioration, the introduction of diseases emerges as the most reasonable explanation for these extinctions. Based on the identification of changes in keystone species in Mallorcan ecosystems, we propose a tentative schedule of key ecological changes that have taken place over the past 5 millennia.     

Population genetic study in the Balearic endemic plant species Digitalis minor (Scrophulariaceae) using RAPD markers

Digitalis minor (Scrophulariaceae) is a cardenolide-producing plant endemic to the eastern Balearic Islands (Mallorca, Menorca, and Cabrera) that occurs in two morphologically distinct varieties: D. minor var. minor (pubescent) and D. minor var. palaui (glabrous). Levels and patterns of genetic diversity in 162 individuals from 17 D. minor populations across the entire geographic range were assessed using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers. Comigrating RAPD fragments tested were found to be homologous by Southern hybridization in both var. minor and var. palaui. To avoid bias in parameter estimation, analyses of population genetic structure were restricted to those RAPD bands that fulfilled the 3/N criterion (observed frequencies were less than 1 - [3/N] in each population) either among or within each island. Analyses of molecular variance (AMOVAs) with distances among individuals corrected for the dominant nature of RAPD (genotypic analysis) showed low values (1.57-17.55%) of between-population variability, indicating a relatively restricted population differentiation as expected for an outcrossing species such as D. minor. Nested AMOVAs demonstrated, however, a not significant partitioning of genetic diversity among Mallorca, Menorca, and Cabrera islands. Estimates of the Wright, Weir, and Cockerham and the Lynch and Milligan F(ST) from null allele frequencies corroborated AMOVA partitioning and provided evidence for population differentiation in D. minor. Our RAPD data did not show significant differences between pubescent and glabrous populations of D. minor, suggesting a failure to find a correlation between the RAPD loci and this morphological trait.     

Vue d'ensemble de la végétation des Îles Baléares

Résumé La végétation des îles Baléares est nettement méditerranéenne. Les climax forestiers appartiennent à l'alliance méditerranéenne septentrionale du Quercion ilicis (parties pluvieuses de Majorque et de Minorque) et à l'alliance méditerranéenne méridionale de l'Oleo-Ceratonion (Querco-Lentiscetum d'affinité ibérique à Ivice; groupement àCeratonia siliqua etCneorum tricoccum dans la partie sèche de Majorque, groupement àOlea europaea etPrasium majus dans la partie la plus sèche de Minorque). Des groupements riches en endémiques caractérisent le karst des hauts sommets de Majorque et les rochers littoraux des côtes venteuses de Majorque et de Minorque. L'influence tyrrhénienne, importante dans les Gymnésies (Majorque et Minorque) est bien plus faible dans le groupe des Pithyuses (Ivice et Formentera), plus rapproché de la Péninsule Ibérique.

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Summary The vegetation of the Balearic Islands is pure mediterranean. The climax forests belong to the northern mediterranean alliance of the Quercion ilicis (rainy regions in Majorca and Menorca) and to the southern mediterranean community of the Oleo-Ceratonion (Querco-Lentiscetum with Iberic affinity in Ibiza; community withCeratonia siliqua andCneorum tricoccum in the dry region in Majorca, community withOlea europaea andPrasium majus in the driest region in Menorca). Communities rich in endemic plants characterize the karst of the high summits in Majorca, and coastrocks of the windy shores in Majorca and Menorca. The tyrrhenic influence, important in the Gymnesies (Majorca and Menorca), is more feeble in the group of the Pithyuses (Ibiza and Formentera), nearer to the Iberic Peninsula.

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Zusammenfassung Die Vegetation der Balearischen Inseln ist rein mediterran. Die Klimaxwälder gehören zu dem nördlichen Mittelmeerverband des Quercion ilicis (regnerische Gegenden von Mallorca und Menorca) und dem südlichen Mittelmeerverband des Oleo-Ceratonion (Querco-Lentiscetum mit iberischer Verwandtschaft auf Ibiza; Gesellschaft mitCeratonia siliqua undCneorum tricoccum in der trockenen Gegend von Mallorca, Gesellschaft mitOlea europaea undPrasium majus in der trockensten Gegend von Menorca). Endemitenreiche Pflanzengesellschaften charakterisieren den Karst der hohen Gipfel von Mallorca, und die Küstenfelsen der windreichen Küsten Mallorcas und Menorcas. Der tyrrhenische Einfluß, bedeutend in den Gymnesien (Mallorca und Menorca), ist entschieden schwächer in der Gruppe der Pithyusen (Ibiza und Formentera), die der Iberischen Halbinsel näher liegt.