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Microsite specialization and spatial distribution of Geonoma brevispatha, a clonal palm in south‐eastern Brazil

Microsite specialization and spatial distribution of Geonoma brevispatha, a clonal palm in... We tested the hypotheses that: (i) reproductive Geonoma brevispatha, an understorey clonal palm endemic to South American swamps, is most abundant in more brightly lit microsites but the abundance of juveniles is not responsive to light availability, (ii) the species is restricted to the transitional zones between flooded and well‐drained microsites, (iii) if hypotheses (i) and/or (ii) are accepted, the microhabitat specialization they represent should be reflected in the spatial distribution of the individuals at distinct scales. The study was carried out in a swamp forest in south‐eastern Brazil. Soil moisture was autocorrelated at distances up to approximately 1 m, reflecting a fine‐scale microtopographic pattern of flooded pits and channels delimited by drier mounds. The first hypothesis was rejected, but the second hypothesis was accepted. No genets occurred on flooded microsites. A juvenile emergence experiment showed that seeds were unable to develop into juveniles under flooded conditions, but canopy openness did not influence the number of juveniles emerging. The third hypothesis was accepted. Individual genets were randomly distributed at scales corresponding to soil moisture patches, but were aggregated at larger scales. Juvenile genets were positively associated with reproducer genets. Our results indicate that palms may specialize on narrow parts of moisture gradients in swamp forests, and that this specialization can exclude them from even subtly distinct microhabitats. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Ecological Research Wiley

Microsite specialization and spatial distribution of Geonoma brevispatha, a clonal palm in south‐eastern Brazil

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References (80)

Publisher
Wiley
Copyright
Copyright © 2004 Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company
ISSN
0912-3814
eISSN
1440-1703
DOI
10.1111/j.1440-1703.2004.00670.x
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

We tested the hypotheses that: (i) reproductive Geonoma brevispatha, an understorey clonal palm endemic to South American swamps, is most abundant in more brightly lit microsites but the abundance of juveniles is not responsive to light availability, (ii) the species is restricted to the transitional zones between flooded and well‐drained microsites, (iii) if hypotheses (i) and/or (ii) are accepted, the microhabitat specialization they represent should be reflected in the spatial distribution of the individuals at distinct scales. The study was carried out in a swamp forest in south‐eastern Brazil. Soil moisture was autocorrelated at distances up to approximately 1 m, reflecting a fine‐scale microtopographic pattern of flooded pits and channels delimited by drier mounds. The first hypothesis was rejected, but the second hypothesis was accepted. No genets occurred on flooded microsites. A juvenile emergence experiment showed that seeds were unable to develop into juveniles under flooded conditions, but canopy openness did not influence the number of juveniles emerging. The third hypothesis was accepted. Individual genets were randomly distributed at scales corresponding to soil moisture patches, but were aggregated at larger scales. Juvenile genets were positively associated with reproducer genets. Our results indicate that palms may specialize on narrow parts of moisture gradients in swamp forests, and that this specialization can exclude them from even subtly distinct microhabitats.

Journal

Ecological ResearchWiley

Published: Sep 1, 2004

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