Premium
Forest Fragmentation Alters the Population Dynamics of a Late‐successional Tropical Tree
Author(s) -
Zambrano Jenny,
SalgueroGómez Roberto
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
biotropica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.813
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1744-7429
pISSN - 0006-3606
DOI - 10.1111/btp.12144
Subject(s) - ecology , habitat fragmentation , fragmentation (computing) , fecundity , population , biology , juvenile , habitat , habitat destruction , population growth , vital rates , forest dynamics , population decline , demography , sociology
Tropical late‐successional tree species are at high risk of local extinction due to habitat loss and fragmentation. Population‐growth rates in fragmented populations are predicted to decline as a result of reduced fecundity, survival and growth. We examined the demographic effects of habitat fragmentation by comparing the population dynamics of the late‐successional tree P oulsenia armata (Moraceae) in southern Mexico between a continuous forest and several forest fragments using integral projection models ( IPM s) during 2010–2012. Forest fragmentation did not lead to differences in population density and even resulted in a higher population‐growth rate ( λ ) in fragments compared to continuous forests. Habitat fragmentation had drastic effects on the dynamics of P. armata , causing the population structure to shift toward smaller sizes. Fragmented populations experienced a significant decrease in juvenile survival and growth compared to unaltered populations. Adult survival and growth made the greatest relative contributions to λ in both habitat types during 2011–2012. However, the relative importance of juvenile survival and growth to λ was highest in the fragmented forest in 2010–2011. Our Life Table Response Experiment analysis revealed that positive contributions of adult fecundity explained most of the variation of λ between both habitats and annual periods. Finally, P. armata has a relatively slow speed of recovery after disturbances, compromising persistence of fragmented populations. Developing a mechanistic understanding of how forest fragmentation affects plant population dynamics, as done here, will prove essential for the preservation of natural areas.