Abstract
Ecological surveys were conducted over the period 1989 to 1991 on the island of Anak Krakatau. The aims of the study were to detail a key phase of rapid change in the vegetation succession and plant colonization of this young volcano and to compare results with those from earlier studies.
Floristic composition was determined by reconaissance of all vegetated areas during the period 1989 to 1991. Colonization has been rapid since 1983 with 53 species newly recorded for Anak Krakatau, comprising 8 Pteridophyta and 45 Angiospermae. Of the latter, a significant element (13) were of species believed to be human-dispersed. Comparison of all floral surveys has revealed a core of strand-line and pioneer colonists which has been common to each restart of colonization. The sea-dispersed component is already comparable in size to that of Rakata and is thought unlikely to increase significantly from this point. The accumulation of animal-dispersed species of interior habitats has only recently begun to pick up speed.
Vegetation was characterised by means of plot-based sampling, including the establishment of three permanent plots, and by mapping at the whole-island scale. Variation in composition within the island is discussed, with particular reference to the three vegetated “forelands”. Anak Krakatau now supports the most extensive and advanced vegetation in its disrupted 61-year history. A more or less closed cover extends along the eastern/north-eastern coast-line, but the xeric interior remains only sparsely vegetated. It is concluded that because of volcanic disturbance a base-line for ecosystem development on Anak Krakatau cannot be calculated but that the pattern of change is not inconsistent with significant disturbance ca. 1972 and the subsequent relaxation of these peculiar environmental constraints.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Backer, C. A.: The problem of Krakatoa as seen by a Botanist. Translated into English by A. Fitz. Published by the author, Surabaya, 1929.
Baren, J. van: Properties and constitution of a volcanic soil, built in 50 years in the East-Indian Archipelago. Meded. LandbHoogesch. Wageningen 35(6), 1–29 (1931)
Barker, N.; Richards, K.: The vegetation of Anak Krakatau. In: Flenley, J. R.; Richards, K. (eds.): The Krakatoa Centenary Expedition. Final Report. Miscellaneous Series 25, pp. 142–164, Department of Geography, University of Hull, 1982.
Barker, N.; Richards, K.: Notes on the plant ecology and biogeography of Anak Krakatau. In: Bush, M. B.; Jones, P.; Richards, K. (eds). The Krakatoa Centenary Expedition 1983. Final Report. Miscellaneous Series 33, pp. 167–181, Department of Geography, University of Hull, 1986.
Blake, J. G.: Nested subsets and the distribution of birds on isolated woodlots. Biological Conservation 5, 58–66 (1991)
Borssum Waalkes, J. van: Botanical observations on the Krakatau Islands in 1951 and 1952. Annales Bogorienses 4, 1–64 (1960)
Burrows, C. J.: Processes of vegetation change. Unwin-Hyman, London, 1990.
Bush, M. B.; Whittaker, R. J: Krakatau: colonization patterns and hierarchies. J. Biogeogr. 18, 341–356 (1991)
Carlquist, S.: Chance dispersal. American Scientist 69, 509–516 (1981)
Dammerman, K. W.: The fauna of Krakatau 1883–1933. Verh. Kon. Ned. Akad. Wet. Afdeling Natuurkunde (Tweede Sectie) 44, 1–594 (1948)
De Neve, G. A.: Anak Krakatau (1930–1980): fifty years of geormophological development and growth with the petrographically derived consequences. Proceedings PIT x Ikatan Ahli Geologi Indonesia, Bandung 8–10 December 1981. Indonesian Association of Geologists, Bandung 1982.
De Neve, G. A.: The eruption of Krakatau. pp. 33–41. In: Proceedings of the workshop on coastal resources management of Krakatau and Sunda Strait Region, Indonesia, Jakarta: L.I.P.I. 1983.
Docters van Leeuwen, W. M.: Krakatau, 1883–1933. Ann. Jard. Bot. Buitenz. 46–47, 1–506 (1936)
Fosberg, F. R.: Botanical visits to Krakatau in 1958 and 1963. Atoll Res. Bull. 292, 39–45 (1985)
Neuman van Padang, M.: Catalogue of the active volcanoes of Indonesia. In: Catalogue of the volcanoes of the World, including solfatara fields. International Volcanological Association Naples. Part I, pp. 51–64, 1951.
New, T.; Thornton, I. W. B: Colonisation of the Krakatau Islands by invertebrates. (This volume) (1992).
Newsome, D.: Aspects of soil surface characteristics on Rakata and Anak Krakatau. In: Bush, M. B.; Jones, P.; Richards, K. (eds.) The Krakatoa Centenary Expedition 1983. Final report. Miscellaneous Series 33, pp. 134–156, Department of Geography, University of Hull, 1986.
Partomihardjo, T.: The pioneer vascular vegetation on Anak Krakatau and a comparison with the lower part of Sertung. pp. 187–213. In: Proceedings of the workshop on coastal resources management of Krakatau and the Sunda Strait Region, Indonesia, L.I.P.I. — U.N.U., Jakarta 1983.
Partomihardjo, T.; Riswan, S.; Abdulhadi, R.: Plant communities on the Anak Krakatau. pp. 411–416. In: Proceedings of the symposium on 100 years development of Krakatau and its surroundings. Vol. 1, L.I.P.I., 1985.
Patterson, B. D.: On the temporal development of nested subset patterns of species composition. Oikos 59: 330–342. (1990)
Pijl, L. van der: Botanische notities over een bezoek aan Anak Krakatau in Augustus 1949. Chronica Naturae 105 (11), 283–285 (1949)
Pijl, L. van der: Principles of dispersal in higher plants. 3rd edition. Springer-Verlag, Berlin 1982.
Richards, P. W.: The tropical rain forest: an ecological study. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, England 1052.
Ridley, H. N.: The dispersal of plants throughout the world. Reeve, Ashford (UK) 1930.
Stehn, C. E.: The geology and volcanism of the Krakatau group. Excursion guide, 4th Pan-Pacific Science Congress, Batavia, Jakarta 1929.
Sudradjat, A.: The morphological development of Krakatau volcano. pp. 22–31. In: Proceedings of the workshop on coastal resources management of Krakatau and the Sunda Strait Region, Indonesia. L.I.P.I. — U.N.U., 1983.
Sumartadipura, A.: The morphological development of Krakatau volcano, Sunda Strait, Indonesia. In: Proceedings of the symposium on 100 years development of Krakatau and its surrounding. L.I.P.I., 1985.
Tagawa, H.; Suzuki, E.; Partomihardjo, T.; Suriadarma, A.: Vegetation and succession on the Krakatau Islands, Indonesia. Vegetatio 60, 131–145 (1985)
Thornton, I. W. B.; Rosengren, N. J.: Zoological expeditions to the Krakatau Islands. General Introduction. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. B 322, 273–316 (1988)
Whittaker, R.J.; Bush, M. B.: Dispersal and establishment of tropical forest assemblages, Krakatau, Indonesia. In: Miles, J.; Walton, D. (eds.), Primary succession on land. BES Symposium Series, 1992 (in press).
Whittaker, R. J.; Bush, M. B.; Richards, K.: Plant recolonization and vegetation succession on the Krakatau Islands, Indonesia. Ecol. Monogr. 59(2), 59–123 (1989)
Whittaker, R. J.; Bush, M. B.; Partomihardjo, T.; Asquith, N.; Richards, K.: Ecological Aspects of Plant Colonisation of the Krakatau Islands. (This volume) (1992a)
Whittaker, R. J.; Bush, M. B.; Richards, K.; Partomihardjo, T.: The initiation of permanent vegetation plots on Krakatau. In: Whittaker, R. J.; Asquith, N. M.; Bush, M. B.; Partomihardjo, T. (eds.), Krakatau Research Project: 1989 Expedition Report. School of Geography, University of Oxford 1990.
Whittaker, R. J.; Richards, K.: Floral surveys on the Krakatau islands: their duration and efficiency. In: Bush, M. B.; Jones, P.; Richards, K. (eds.) The Krakatoa Centenary Expedition 1983. Final Report. Miscellaneous Series 33, pp. 182–186, Department of Geography, University of Hull, 1986.
Whittaker, R. J.; Walden, J.; Hill, E. J.: Post-1883 Ash Fall on Panjang and Sertung and its Ecological Impact. (This volume) (1992b)
Zann, R. A.; Male, E. B.; Darjono: Bird colonization of Anak Krakatau, an emergent volcanic islands. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. B 328, 95–121 (1990)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Partomihardjo, T., Mirmanto, E. & Whittaker, R.J. Anak Krakatau's vegetation and flora circa 1991, with observations on a decade of development and change. GeoJournal 28, 233–248 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00177238
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00177238