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Efectos de la Fragmentación de Patrones Fenológicos y Éxito Reproductivo del Árbol de Bosque Tropical Seco Ceiba aesculifolia
Author(s) -
HERRERÍASDIEGO YVONNE,
QUESADA MAURICIO,
STONER KATHRYN E.,
LOBO JORGE A.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
conservation biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.2
H-Index - 222
eISSN - 1523-1739
pISSN - 0888-8892
DOI - 10.1111/j.1523-1739.2006.00370.x
Subject(s) - phenology , habitat , biology , ceiba , tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests , habitat fragmentation , ecology
Spatial isolation caused by forest fragmentation and temporal isolation caused by asynchronous flowering of plants have been proposed as important factors that affect the reproduction of plant populations. In a 4‐year study, we determined the effects of forest fragmentation and spatial isolation on flowering phenology and reproductive success of the tropical tree Ceiba aesculifolia ([Kunth] Britton & Rose). We conducted our study in the dry forest of Mexico and compared populations in two habitat conditions based on density and environmental conditions: (1) disturbed habitat (four populations of ≤3 reproductive individuals/ha surrounded by agricultural fields or pastures) and (2) undisturbed habitat (three populations of groups of ≥6 reproductive individuals/ha surrounded by undisturbed mature forest). We compared the following variables within these populations over 4 years: flowering overlap, proportion of individuals with flowers and fruit, total flower production, total fruit production, fruit set, seed production, and seed abortion. Little overlap in flowering occurred among the populations in the two habitat conditions. The flowering period of trees in the disturbed habitat initiated between 15 to 20 days before the flowering period of trees in the undisturbed habitat during 3 years. Flowering of trees in the undisturbed habitat peaked at the end of the flowering period of the trees in the disturbed habitat. The proportion of trees that flowered was greater in the undisturbed habitat. Nevertheless, total flower production was greater in the disturbed habitat and these differences were maintained across 3 years. The proportion of individuals that produced fruit did not differ across habitat conditions but did differ across years. Total fruit production was greater in the disturbed habitat, but fruit set and seed production were the same across years and between habitat conditions. Seed abortion varied over years between habitats. We concluded that forest fragmentation does not negatively affect the reproductive success of C. aesculifolia . It appears that the highly mobile bat pollinators maintain reproductive connectivity between trees in both habitats.