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Population dynamics of Zea diploperennis , an endangered perennial herb: effect of slash and burn practice
Author(s) -
SánchezVelásquez Lázaro R.,
Ezcurra Exequiel,
MartínezRamos Miguel,
ÁlvarezBuylla Elena,
Lorente Rogelia
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
journal of ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.452
H-Index - 181
eISSN - 1365-2745
pISSN - 0022-0477
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2745.2002.00702.x
Subject(s) - biology , perennial plant , disturbance (geology) , semelparity and iteroparity , endangered species , ecology , population , slash (logging) , herb , habitat , demography , reproduction , medicinal herbs , paleontology , sociology , medicine , traditional medicine
Summary1 Zea diploperennis is a wild relative of maize that is endemic to the Sierra de Manantlán Biosphere Reserve in Mexico. Because this species is a priority for conservation in the reserve, the effects on its populations of the most common types of anthropogenic disturbance – slash‐and‐burn, and slash without subsequent burning – were investigated in three populations for 5 years. 2 The patterns of establishment and mortality were similar in all populations studied. Numbers of ears and fruits produced were significantly higher when disturbances were applied. 3 Because permanence is the most important stage in contributing to λ, the results suggest that the first genets to become established have an advantage over newly recruited plants. 4 When the two disturbance types were applied, λ was close to 1 or > 1. After the first disturbance, λ increased by almost 100%. In almost all situations, with or without disturbance, the persistence loops of Z. diploperennis are the most important life history pathways in the relative contribution to λ. In general, when λ increases, sexual growth loops also increase in importance, and persistence loops decrease. Changes in λ are not related to changes in vegetative growth loops. 5 If populations of Z. diploperennis are not disturbed at least once every 5 years, then species will go locally extinct in the wild.