The flora and fauna of Bermuda forms part of a unique ecosystem thanks to Bermuda's isolation from the mainland of North America. An ecosystem is a natural unit consisting of all plants animals and micro-organisms( Biotic factors in an area functioning together with all of the non-living physical ( Ba (officially The Bermuda Islands or The Somers Isles) is a British overseas territory in the North Atlantic Ocean. There are a wide range of endemic species and the islands form a distinct ecoregion. Endemism is the Ecological state of being unique to a place Endemic species are not naturally found elsewhere An ecoregion ( ecological region) sometimes called a bioregion, is an ecologically and geographically defined area smaller than a "realm" or "
Bermuda's wildlife is limited to those species which were able to fly to the island or were carried by winds and currents. This has resulted in some groups such as mammals being poorly represented. Mammals ( class Mammalia) are a class of Vertebrate Animals characterized by the presence of Sweat glands, including sweat glands Once on the island, organisms had to adapt to local conditions such as the climate, lack of fresh water, frequent storms and salt spray. Climate encompasses the temperatures humidity rainfall atmospheric particle count and numerous other meteorogical factors in a given region over long periods of The islands shrank as water levels rose at the end of the Pleistocene epoch and fewer species were able to survive in the reduced land-area. The Pleistocene ('plaɪstəsin is the epoch from 18 million to 10000 years BP covering the world's recent period
Today the variety of species on Bermuda has been greatly increased by introductions, both deliberate and accidental. An introduced species (also known as naturalized species or exotic species) is an Organism that is not indigenous to a given location but Many of these introduced species now pose a threat to the native flora and fauna.
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Plants
Over 1000 species of vascular plant are found on the islands, the majority of which are introduced. Vascular plants (also known as tracheophytes or higher plants) are those Plants that have lignified tissues for conducting Of the 165 native species, 15 are endemic.
At the time of the first human settlement, Bermuda was dominated by forests of Bermuda cedar (Juniperus bermudiana). Juniperus bermudiana is a species of Juniper endemic to Bermuda. By the 1830s, the shipbuilding industry had denuded the landscape, but the forest was able to recover. In the 1940s the cedar forests were devastated by introduced scale insects which killed roughly 8 million trees. The scale insects are small Insects of the order Hemiptera, generally classified as the Superfamily Coccoidea. Replanting using resistant trees has taken place since then but the area covered by cedar is still only 10% of what it formerly was. Another important component of the original forest was Bermuda palmetto (Sabal bermudana), a small palm tree which now only grows in a few small patches, notably at Paget Marsh. Sabal bermudana, also known as Bermuda Palmetto, Palmetto, is one of 15 species of palmetto palm (Arecaceae genus Sabal Arecaceae or Palmae (also known by the name Palmaceae, which is taxonomically invalid or commonly palm tree) the palm family is a family of Flowering Other trees and shrubs include Bermuda olivewood (Cassine laneana) and Bermuda snowberry (Chiococca bermudiana). Elaeodendron laneanum, the Bermuda Olivewood, is a large tree that is endemic to the islands of Bermuda, which was found in the sub-tropical forests There are remnant patches of mangrove swamp around the coast and at some inland sites where black mangrove (Avicennia nitida) and red mangrove (Rhizophora mangle) grow. Mangroves (generally are Trees and Shrubs that grow in saline coastal habitats in the Tropics and Subtropics. Avicennia germinans, the black mangrove, plays a key role in the Mangrove ecosystem by trapping debris and detritus brought in by tides and as feeding Rhizophora mangle, known as the red mangrove, is distributed in estuarine ecosystems throughout the tropics
Bermuda has four endemic ferns: Bermuda maidenhair fern (Adiantum bellum), Bermuda shield fern (Goniopteris bermudiana), Bermuda cave fern (Ctenitis sloanei) and Governor Laffan's fern (Diplazium laffanianum). A fern is any one of a group of about 20000 Species of Plants classified in the phylum or division Pteridophyta, also known as Filicophyta The latter is extinct in the wild but is grown at Bermuda Botanical Gardens. Bermuda Botanical Gardens features 36 acres of flowers shrubs and trees The endemic flora of the island also includes two mosses, ten lichens and forty fungi. Mosses are small soft Plants that are typically 1–10 cm (0 Lichens (ˈlaɪkən or /lɪtʃən/ are symbiotic associations of a Fungus (the mycobiont with a photosynthetic partner (the photobiont also known as A fungus (ˈfʌŋgəs is a eukaryotic Organism that is a member of the kingdom Fungi (ˈfʌndʒaɪ
Among the many introduced species are the casuarina (Casuarina equisetifolia) and Surinam cherry (Eugenia uniflora)
Animals
Mammals, reptiles and amphibians
Bermuda has no native land mammals but four species of migratory North American bats of the genus Lasiurus visit occasionally: the Hoary Bat, Eastern Red Bat, Seminole Bat and Silver-haired Bat. Casuarina is a Genus of 17 species in the family Casuarinaceae, native to Australasia, southeastern Asia, and islands of the The Surinam Cherry, Brazilian Cherry, or Cayenne Cherry ( Eugenia uniflora) is a plant in the family Myrtaceae, native to tropical America Mammals ( class Mammalia) are a class of Vertebrate Animals characterized by the presence of Sweat glands, including sweat glands Lasiurus is the genus comprising hairy-tailed bats. The name Lasiurus is derived from the Greek lasios (hairy and oura The hoary bat ( Lasiurus cinereus) is a " Hairy-tailed bat " (genus Lasiurus) in the family of Vesper bats (Vespertilionidae The Eastern Red Bat ( Lasiurus borealis) is a species of Bat from the Vespertilionidae family UserPolbot. -->The Seminole Bat ( Lasiurus seminolus) is a species of Vesper bat in the Vespertilionidae UserPolbot. --> The Silver-haired Bat ( Lasionycteris noctivagans) is a species of Vesper bat in The House Mouse, Brown Rat and Black Rat have all been introduced and feral cats are common also Feral Pigs,Dogs and Goats are common too there are also Paca,Cavy,Otter,Possum,Hare,Rabbit and Mule Deer also Mongoose. The House Mouse ( Mus musculus) is one of the most numerous species of the genus Mus commonly termed a Mouse. A feral organism is one that has escaped from Domestication and returned partly or wholly to its wild state WikipediaManual of Style (spelling, articles should conform to one overall spelling style of English typically the one most linked to the article topic (if it is geographic
The only native reptile is the endangered Bermuda Skink, or Rock Lizard, (Eumeces longirostris). Reptiles, or members of the class Reptilia are air-breathing Cold-blooded Vertebrates that have skin covered in scales as opposed to hair or feathers The Bermuda Rock Skink or Rock Lizard ( Eumeces longirostris) is the only endemic terrestrial Vertebrate animal of the Bermudas It Three species of anole lizard and two terrapins have been introduced`as well as Iguana,Tortoise,Turtles,Lacertas,Chameleons and Caimans. A terrapin is a Turtle that lives in fresh or Brackish water Taxonomy Although sometimes superficially similar to Sea turtles
There are no native amphibians but two species of whistling frog (Eleutherodactylus) and the Cane Toad have been introduced. Prehistoric amphibian Amphibians (class Amphibia such as Frogs Toads Salamanders Newts Gymnophiona, Sirens and This article is about the block cipher algorithm For the ultrafast laser pulse measurement technique see Frequency-resolved optical gating. Eleutherodactylus is a diverse Genus of leptodactylid Frogs This is typically described as the largest Vertebrate genus on Earth All three are declining and one species, Eleutherodactylus gossei, has probably already disappeared also included Mountain Chicken,Bullfrog,Newts,Spotted Salamanders and Green Toad.
Birds
Over 360 species of bird have been recorded on Bermuda. Birds ( class Aves) are bipedal endothermic ( Warm-blooded) Vertebrate animals that lay eggs. The majority of these are migrants or vagrants from North America or elsewhere. Bird migration refers to the regular seasonal journeys undertaken by many species of Birds Bird movements include those made in response to changes in food availability See also Vagrancy (people for an alternative use of the term Vagrancy is a phenomenon in Biology whereby individual animals appear well Only 24 species breed; 13 of these are thought to be native.
There is one endemic species, the Bermuda Petrel or Cahow (Pterodroma cahow). The Bermuda Petrel, Pterodroma cahow, is a gadfly Petrel. Commonly known in Bermuda as the Cahow There is also an endemic subspecies, the Bermuda White-eyed Vireo or Chick-of-the-village (Vireo griseus bermudianus). The White-eyed Vireo, Vireo griseus, is a small Songbird. It breeds in the southeastern USA from New Jersey west to northern Missouri The national bird of Bermuda is the White-tailed Tropicbird or Longtail which is a summer migrant to Bermuda, its most northerly breeding site in the world. The White-tailed Tropicbird Phaethon lepturus is a Tropicbird, smallest of three closely related Seabirds of the tropical oceans and smallest member of Other native birds include the Eastern Bluebird, Grey Catbird and perhaps the Common Ground-Dove. The Eastern Bluebird, Sialia sialis, is a medium-sized thrush found in open woodlands farmlands and orchards The Grey Catbird ( Dumetella carolinensis)is a medium-sized northern American perching bird of the Mimid family. The Common Ground Dove ( Columbina passerina) is a small New World tropical Dove. The Common Moorhen is the commonest native waterbird with very small numbers of American Coot and Pied-billed Grebe breeding. The Common Moorhen ( Gallinula chloropus) is a Bird in the Rail family with an almost worldwide distribution outside Australasia as well The American Coot ( Fulica americana) is a bird of the family Rallidae, inhabiting wetlands and open water bodies The Pied-billed Grebe ( Podilymbus podiceps) is a Species of the Grebe family of water birds Small numbers of Common Tern nest around the coast. The Common Tern ( Sterna hirundo) is a Seabird of the Tern family Sternidae The Barn Owl and Mourning Dove colonized the island during the 20th century and the Green Heron has recently begun to breed also Spoonbill,Egret,Common Stork,Painted Bunting,Bluebird and Ivory Billed Woodpecker. The city in Russia is spelled Barnaul. The Barn Owl ( Tyto alba) is the most widely distributed species of For the Native American author of the same name see Mourning Dove (author The Mourning Dove ( Zenaida macroura) is a member of the The Green Heron ( Butorides virescens) is a small Heron of North and Central America.
Of the introduced birds, the European Starling, House Sparrow, Great Kiskadee, Rock Dove and American Crow are all very numerous and considered to be pests. The European Starling, Common Starling or just Starling, Sturnus vulgaris, is a Passerine Bird in the family The House Sparrow ( Passer domesticus) is a member of the Old World Sparrow family Passeridae, considered by some to be a relative of the The Great Kiskadee, Pitangus sulphuratus, is a Passerine Bird. The American Crow, Corvus brachyrhynchos, is a large Passerine bird Species of the family Corvidae. Other introduced species include the Mallard, Northern Cardinal, European Goldfinch and small numbers of Orange-cheeked and Common Waxbills. The Mallard ( Anas platyrhynchos) probably the best-known and most recognizable of all ducks is a Dabbling duck which breeds throughout the Temperate The Northern Cardinal ( Cardinalis cardinalis) is a North American Bird in the Cardinal family. The Goldfinch or European Goldfinch ( Carduelis carduelis) is a small Passerine Bird in the Finch family The Orange-cheeked Waxbill Estrilda melpoda is a common species of Estrildid finch native to western and central Africa, with an estimated global extent The Common Waxbill ( Estrilda astrild) also known as St Helena Waxbill, is a small Passerine bird belonging to the Estrildid finch family The Yellow-crowned Night Heron was introduced in the 1970s to replace the extinct native heron. The Yellow-crowned Night Heron, Nycticorax violaceus or Nyctanassa violacea, is a smaller Heron, similar in appearance to the Black-crowned Night
Fossil remains of a variety of species have been found on the island including a crane, an owl and the Short-tailed Albatross. Cranes are large long-legged and long-necked Birds of the order Gruiformes, and family Gruidae. The Owls are an order of birds of prey. Most are Solitary, and nocturnal, with some exceptions (e The Short-tailed Albatross or Steller's Albatross ( Phoebastria albatrus) is a large rare Seabird from the North Pacific. Some of these became extinct as the islands' land-mass shrunk while others were exterminated by early settlers. The Bermuda Petrel was thought to be extinct until its rediscovery in 1951 another is Emu.
Among the many non-breeding migrants are a variety of shorebirds, herons and ducks. Waders, called shorebirds in North America (where "wader" is used to refer to long-legged wading Birds such as Storks and The herons are wading Birds in the Ardeidae family Some are called Egrets or Bitterns instead of herons For duck as a food see Duck (food; for other meanings see Duck (disambiguation. In spring many shearwaters can be seen of the South Shore. Shearwaters are medium-sized long-winged Seabirds There are more than 20 Species of shearwaters a few larger ones in the genus Calonectris Over 30 species of New World warbler are seen each year with the Yellow-rumped Warbler being the most abundant. This article refers to the New World wood warbler family of birds the Parulidae Four closely related North American bird forms—the eastern Myrtle Warbler (ssp coronata) its western counterpart Audubon's Warbler (ssp group The arrival of many species is dependent on weather conditions with low-pressure systems moving across from North America bringing many birds. Among the rare visitors to have occurred are the Siberian Flycatcher from Asia and the Fork-tailed Flycatcher and Tropical Kingbird from South America. The Dark-sided Flycatcher ( Muscicapa sibirica) is a small Passerine Bird belonging to the genus Muscicapa in the Old World flycatcher The Fork-tailed Flycatcher, Tyrannus savana, is a Passerine bird of Tyrant flycatcher family which includes the Kingbirds Description The Tropical Kingbird ( Tyrannus melancholicus) is a large Tyrant flycatcher.
Terrestrial invertebrates
More than 1100 kinds of insect and spider are found on Bermuda including 41 endemic insects and a possibly endemic spider. Insects ( Class Insecta) are a major group of Arthropods and the most diverse group of Animals on the Earth with over a million described Spiders are Predatory Invertebrate Animals that have two body segments, eight legs no chewing mouth parts and no wings 18 species of butterfly have been seen, about six of these breed including the large Monarch butterfly and the very common Bermuda buckeye (Junonia coenia bergi). A butterfly is an Insect of the order Lepidoptera. Like all Lepidoptera butterflies are notable for their unusual life cycle with a The monarch ( Danaus plexippus) is a Milkweed butterfly ( Subfamily Danainae in the family Nymphalidae. Junonia coenia is the Common Buckeye butterfly It is found in all parts of the United States except the northwest and is especially common in the South the More than 200 moths have been recorded, one of the most conspicuous is Pseudosphinx tetrio which can reach 9cm in length. A moth is an Insect closely related to the Butterfly, both being of the order Lepidoptera. The Tetrio sphinx ( Pseudosphinx tetrio) is a Moth of the Sphingidae family
Bermuda has lost a number of its endemic invertebrates including the Bermuda cicada (Tibicen bermudiana) which became extinct when the cedar forests disappeared. Some species feared extinct have been rediscovered including the Bermuda land snail (Poecilozonties circumfirmatus) and the Bermuda ant (Odontomachus insularis). Bermuda land snails are an endemic genus of Pulmonate land snail that scientists believe colonised the mid-Atlantic island of Bermuda at least 300000
Marine life
Bermuda lies on the western edge of the Sargasso Sea, an area with high salinity and temperature and few currents. The Sargasso Sea is an elongated region in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean surrounded by Ocean currents. Large quantities of seaweed of the genus Sargassum are present and there are high concentrations of plankton but the area is less attractive to commercial fish species and seabirds. Sargassum is a genus of generally planktonic (free-floating macroalgae ( Seaweed) in the order Fucales. Plankton consist of any drifting Organisms ( Animals Plants Archaea, or Bacteria) that inhabit the Pelagic zone of Fish are aquatic Vertebrate animals that are typically ectothermic (previously Cold-blooded) covered with scales, and equipped with two Seabirds are Birds that have adapted to life within the marine environment
Greater diversity is present in the coral reefs which surround the island. Coral reefs are Aragonite structures produced by living organisms found in marine waters with little to no nutrients in the water
A variety of whales, dolphins and porpoises have been recorded in the waters around Bermuda. Whales are marine mammals which are neither Dolphins (ie members of the families Delphinidae or Platanistoidae) nor Porpoises Orcas Dolphins are Marine mammals that are closely related to Whales and Porpoises There are almost forty species of dolphin in seventeen genera. Porpoises are Small Cetaceans of the Family Phocoenidae; they are related to Whales and Dolphins They are distinct from dolphins The commonest of these is the Humpback Whale which passes the islands in April and May during its northward migration. The humpback whale ( Megaptera novaeangliae) is a Baleen Whale.
References
- Eric J. R. Amos (1991) A Guide to the Birds of Bermuda, privately published.
- Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo Bermuda Biodiversity Project, downloaded 21/02/07.
- A. Dobson (2002) A Birdwatching Guide to Bermuda, Arlequin Press, Chelmsford, UK.
- Keith Archibald Forbes (2007) Bermuda's Fauna, downloaded 21/02/07.
- André Raine (2003) A Field Guide to the Birds of Bermuda, Macmillan, Oxford.
- World Wildlife Fund (2001) Bermuda subtropical conifer forests (NA0301), downloaded 21/02/07.
External links
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