Spatiotemporal effects of Hurricane Ivan on an endemic epiphytic orchid: 10 years of follow-up
| Autor: | Ernesto V. Vega-Peña, Elaine González-Hernández, Ernesto Mújica, Iván A. Ortiz-Rodríguez, Pilar Ortega-Larrocea, Cory Merow, Andreu Bonet, José Raventós |
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| Přispěvatelé: | Universidad de Alicante. Departamento de Ecología, Gestión de Ecosistemas y de la Biodiversidad (GEB) |
| Rok vydání: | 2019 |
| Předmět: |
Caribbean
0106 biological sciences Canopy Ecology Stochastic growth rate Ecological dynamics Plant Science Ecología 010603 evolutionary biology 01 natural sciences Transient behaviour Integral projection models Cyclones Geography Transfer functions Epiphyte Management strategies Plant population dynamics Ecology Evolution Behavior and Systematics 010606 plant biology & botany |
| Zdroj: | RUA. Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad de Alicante Universidad de Alicante (UA) |
| ISSN: | 1755-1668 1755-0874 |
| Popis: | Background: Hurricanes have a strong influence on the ecological dynamics and structure of tropical forests. Orchid populations are especially vulnerable to these perturbations due to their canopy exposure and lack of underground storage organs and seed banks. Aims: We evaluated the effects of Hurricane Ivan on the population of the endemic epiphytic orchid Encyclia bocourtii to propose a management strategy. Methods: Using a pre- and post-hurricane dataset (2003–2013), we assessed the population asymptotic and transient dynamics. We also identified the individual size-stages that maximise population inertia and E. bocourtii’s spatial arrangement relative to phorophytes and other epiphytes. Results: Hurricane Ivan severely affected the survival and growth of individuals of E. bocourtii, and caused an immediate decline of the population growth rate from λ = 1.05 to λ = 0.32, which was buffered by a population reactivity of ρ1 = 1.42. Our stochastic model predicted an annual population decrease of 14%. We found an aggregated spatial pattern between E. bocourtii and its host trees, and a random pattern relative to other epiphytes. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that E. bocourtii is not safe from local extinction. We propose the propagation and reintroduction of reproductive specimens, the relocation of surviving individuals, and the establishment of new plantations of phorophytes. This work was supported by the Inter-ministerial Commission for Science and Technology under Grant [CICYT-Spain, Project CGL2015-69985-R]; and the Havana Project of the University of Alicante. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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