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The wildlife of the Falkland Islands is quite similar to that of Patagonia. The Falkland Islands have no native reptiles or amphibians, and the only native mammal, the warrah, is now extinct. However, a large number of bird species have been seen around the islands, and many of them breed on the smaller islands of the archipelago. Insects play a large role in the ecosystem of the islands, and over 200 species have been recorded. The waters around the Falkland Islands sustain many animals, including a large number of marine mammals. Three pinniped species breed on the islands. There are no trees native to the area, leading to a wide proliferation of grass species. This includes tussac grass, the dense leaves of which provide a micro-climate for many bird and invertebrate species. Small bushes are also found, along with a small number of freshwater plants. The plant species vary with different factors such as the fertility of the soil, the humidity, and altitude. There is a lack of data about many species in the islands, as well as a lack of long term data about the environment. Introduced animals are having a detrimental effect on native wildlife, which is now mainly restricted to smaller offshore islands. Some native animals are protected, but many are not, due to a lack of information about them. ==Ecological zones and habitats== The Falkland islands are an archipelago located some off South America in the south Atlantic Ocean.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=Location )〕 Biogeographically, the Falkland Islands are classified as part of the Antarctic ecozone and Antarctic Floristic Kingdom. Strong connections exist with the flora and fauna of Patagonia in South America, especially to those in Tierra del Fuego. As the Falkland Islands were originally connected to the African rather than South American mainland, the connections with Patagonia suggest wildlife on the islands arrived through dispersal.〔McDowall, R.M. 2005. (Falkland Islands biogeography: converging trajectories in the South Atlantic Ocean ). ''J. Biogeogr.'' 32: 49–62.〕 There are two main islands in the archipelago, East Falkland and West Falkland, along with over 700 smaller ones.〔 19 land habitats are recognised.〔 The soil types in the island vary, due to the relative dryness of the west compared to the east and differences in altitude. Many coastal areas have Tussac grass, which needs high humidity and salty air to flourish. Inland habitats are often heath, either grass or shrubs, or feldmark made of cushion plants. Lowlands have acidic peaty soil with a low fertility. These lowlands support grass in wetter areas, but only shrubs in the drier areas. In the areas with high nutrient levels, the lowlands can support turf, however most peat is very shallow and lies on top of clay. The mountains usually have clay or stony soils, on which only feldmark plants such as cushion plants can grow and which support a very small diversity of species.〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Wildlife of the Falkland Islands」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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