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The ecology of Araucaria species in New Guinea. III. Population dynamics of sample stands
Author(s) -
ENRIGHT N. J.
Publication year - 1982
Publication title -
australian journal of ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1442-9993
pISSN - 0307-692X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1442-9993.1982.tb01502.x
Subject(s) - new guinea , araucaria , ecology , canopy , population , geography , biology , demography , history , ethnology , sociology
Abstract Life table data for A. cunninghamii and A. hunsteinii from a total of four sites near Bulolo, Papua New Guinea are presented. Sample populations are analysed using the Leslie matrix method. Values of λ, the ‘finite rate of natural increase’, vary between sites and species in the predicted manner. The value of λ calculated for the A. cunninghamii population is close to, and slightly above 1.0, while the three values calculated for A. hunsteinii show wide variation, with values both above and below 1.0. It is argued that A. hunsteinii is a gap regenerating species and cannot regenerate beneath a closed canopy. Evidence presented here and elsewhere indicates that A. cunninghamii is more shade tolerant and therefore, theoretically, better adapted to stable forest situations.