Plausible ecosystem responses to climate change: The case of vegetation in the Lesser Antilles

On all spatial levels, the contrasting topography of the Lesser Antilles represents a great number of biotopes. From the different species to the landscapes, including the phytocenoses and ecosystems, the multiple forms of flora organisation are one of the primary consequences. Despite strong anthropisation, this archipelago is an important component of a hotspot of global biodiversity: the land surrounding the Caribbean Basin. Climate change will have long-term consequences on vegetation spatial distribution, species’functioning and plant formations.