The Earliest Inhabitants: The Dynamics of the Jamaican Taino
by Lesley-Gail Atkinson
by Lesley-Gail Atkinson
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Biodiversity<br />
Biodiversity refers to <strong>the</strong> variety and abundance <strong>of</strong> life forms in a particular<br />
place or ecosystem. Biodiversity comprises flora (plants) and fauna (animals).<br />
Indigenous species are plants and animals that naturally occur in a particular<br />
country but may also be found elsewhere in <strong>the</strong> world. An endemic species is<br />
any kind <strong>of</strong> plant or animal that is found only in a particular area (usually<br />
refers to a country). For a small island, Jamaica has a relatively large number<br />
<strong>of</strong> endemic species <strong>of</strong> flora and fauna – species that are found nowhere else in<br />
<strong>the</strong> world.<br />
Examples <strong>of</strong> biodiversity include flowering plants such as grasses and<br />
palms, orchids, cacti and ferns, and fauna including mammals, birds, reptiles,<br />
amphibians, fish and invertebrates.<br />
Flora<br />
Jamaica is well known for its many species <strong>of</strong> flowering plants and ferns, more<br />
than four hundred <strong>of</strong> which are considered threatened or endangered due to<br />
clearing <strong>of</strong> land and o<strong>the</strong>r changes in habitat or over-harvesting. Flowering<br />
plants include numerous species <strong>of</strong> orchids, bromeliads, cacti, palms, trees,<br />
vines, shrubs and grasses. Approximately 30 per cent <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> island’s flowering<br />
plants are endemics. Indigenous plants include <strong>the</strong> national flower, <strong>the</strong> lignum<br />
vitae (Guaiacum <strong>of</strong>ficinale), pimento (Pimenta dioica), pawpaw or papaya<br />
(Carica papaya), sweet potato (Ipomea batatas), pineapple (Ananas comosus),<br />
cassava (Manihot esculenta) and guava (Psidium guajava). Many <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> island’s<br />
most familiar and useful plants have been introduced since European colonization<br />
in <strong>the</strong> sixteenth century. Introduced plants include ackee (Blighia sapida),<br />
breadfruit (Atrocarpus altilis), coconuts (Cocos nucifera), mangoes<br />
(Mangifera indica), bananas and plantain (Musa spp.) and a great many ornamental<br />
plants used in horticulture. <strong>The</strong> latter include hibiscus, bougainvillaea,<br />
oleander, anthuriums, and poinsettia. Many introduced plants have become so<br />
Table 6.3 Total Number <strong>of</strong> Species<br />
Total Species Endemic Species Per cent Endemic<br />
Flowering plants (all) 3,003 830 28<br />
Orchids and bromeliads 267 82 31<br />
Ferns 579 82 14<br />
Source: Adams 1971, 1972; Bretting 1983a, 1983b; Johnson 1988.<br />
94 T HE E ARLIEST I NHABITANTS