Species Checklists

A catalog of the biodiversity of Martha’s vineyard

In 2008, after years of research and writing, the book Island Life: A Catalog of the Biodiversity On and Around Martha’s Vineyard was privately published by its primary author, the Chilmark naturalist Allan R. Keith. The volume was co-authored by Stephen A. Spongberg (1942-2021), an eminent botanist and director of Polly Hill Arboretum from 1998 to 2004, and scores of naturalists and biologists contributed their knowledge.

In 2018, BiodiversityWorks conceived the idea of converting Island Life to a digital, web-based format, making it more widely accessible and easier to keep current or expand. Checklists and narratives from the original book, updated and re-edited, can be accessed by clicking the cards below. We will be adding more sections as they become ready and have added several new sections based on research conducted since Island Life was published. The book’s introduction and overview essays have not been fully updated but remain useful and informative; they can be accessed by clicking on the “Island Life” card.

Please help us make this material as authoritative as possible by letting us know of any errors or calling our attention to any new records. You can reach Matt Pelikan, the director of the Martha’s Vineyard Atlas of Life project, by mail at BiodiversityWorks, 455 State Road PMB #179, Vineyard Haven, MA, 02568, or by using the form in the “Report Sightings” menu tab at the top of your screen.