DOCSLIB.ORG

Seychelles Vegetation

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text

Load more

Plant Formations in the Seychellean BioProvince Peter Martin Rhind Seychellean Mountain Moss Forest These humid moss or cloud forests are confined to the higher ridges of Mahé and Silhouette between altitudes of 550 and 880 m. Evergreen trees predominate with thick, leathery often strap-shaped leaves. The foliage often has a peculiar reddish or purplish tinge. This may include all of the leaves, as in the case of the endemic Randia ericea (Rubiaceae), or be confined to their under-surfaces as in the endemic Northea seychellarum (Sapotaceae). This together with the almost universal red bark and russet colour of epiphytic mosses gives the interior of these forests a gloomy somber appearance. Three stories can usually be distinguished. The canopy, which can reach heights of 16 m, is co-dominated by Neowormia ferruginea and Northea seychellarum. Other canopy trees include the endemic Campnospermum seychellarum (Anacardiaceae), Dillenia ferruginea (Dilleniaceae), Mimusops sechellarum (Sapotaceae), Northea hornei (Sapotaceae) and Vateria seychellarum (Dipterocarpaceae). The latter species is the only dipterocarp on the island and the only member of the Dipterocarpoidaea found outside of Australasia. A second story comprises several medium sized trees characteristic of which is the endemic palm Roscheria melanochoetes (Arecaceae), which in places can form pure stands. At higher altitudes this is typically jointed by the endemic tree Timonius sechellensis (Rubiaceae) and the two tall endemic shrubs Psychotria pervillei and P. sechellarum (Rubiaceae). However, at slightly lower elevations the main species include Colea peduculata, Randia lancifolia and the endemic Aphloia sechellensis (Aphloiaceae), Erythroxylum sechellarum (Erythroxylaceae), Eugenia wrightii (Myrtaceae), Indokingia crassa (Araliaceae), the endemic screw pines Pandanus multispicatus and P. sechellarum (Pandanaceae), and the endemic tree fern Cyathea sechellarum (Cyatheaceae). Other sub-canopy and shrub layer species include endemics like Canthium carinatum (Rubiaceae), Colea seychellarum (Bignoniaceae), Craterispermum microdon (Rubiaceae), Drypetes riseleyi (Putranjivaceae), Ficus bojeri (Moraceae), Gastonia sechellarum (Araliaceae), Gynura seychellensis (Asteraceae), Ixora pudica (Rubiaceae), Pittosporum wrightii (Pittosporaceae), Roscheria melanochaetes (Arecaceae), Tarenna sechellensis (Rubiaceae), Timonius sechellensis (Rubiaceae) and Verschaffeltia splendida (Arecaceae). At ground level, ferns such as Dryopteris wardii, Lindsaya kirkii, Nephrolepis biserrata, Polystichum adiantiforme and Vittaria scolopendrum are particularly prominent. Among the flowering plants there are beds of the endemic Curculigo sechellensis (Hypoxidaceae) and clumps of the endemic sedge-like Thoracostachyum floribundum (Cyperaceae). Other endemic herbs are Begonia seychellensis (Begoniaceae), Protarum sechellarum (Araceae), Thoracostachyum angustifolium (Cyperaceae), the pitcher plant Nepenthes pervillei (Nepenthaceae) and the rare saprophyte Seychellaria thomassetii (Triuridaceae). Seychellean Sub-Montane or Intermediate Forest At lower elevations below the moss forest where the soils tend to be deeper, and mist and cloud less frequent, a taller more species rich forest is thought to have been widespread at one time, but much of this has now been destroyed. None of the original canopy appears to be intact, but it seems likely that it mainly comprised Neowormia ferruginea and the endemic Northea seychellarum (Sapotaceae) and Vateria sechellarum (Dipterocarpaceae). It is also not now possible to ascertain whether there were three or four stories, although much of the remaining evidence suggests the latter. Today conspicuous elements of the second story are the endemic Campnosperma sechellarum (Anacardiaceae) and the palm Verschaffeltia spendida (Arecaceae), both of which do not Copyright © 2010 Peter Martin Rhind extend into the moss forest. Less frequent second story species are Brexia madagascariensis, Riseleya griffithii and the endemic Craterispermum microdon (Rubiaceae), Soulamea terminalioides (Simaroubaceae) and Tarenna sechellensis (Rubiaceae). The third story comprises small trees and saplings although there appear to be few if any species that only grow at this level. The endemic palms Nephrosperma vanhoutteana, Phoenicophorium sechellarum and Rosheria melanochaeta (Areaceae) commonly occur while other species include the endemic Canthium bibracteatum (Rubiaceae), Erythroxylum sechellarum (Erythroxylaceae), Indokingia crass (Araliaceae), Ixora pudica (Rubiaceae) and Maba (Diospyros) sechellarum (Ebenaceae). The fourth or ground layer comprises various herbs notably Begonia aptera and the endemic Impatiens gordoni (Balsaminaceae) and Senecio sechellensis (Asteraceae). The epiphytic flora is well developed but has fewer species than the moss forest and festoons of moss are absent. Lianas, on the other hand, are scarce although the endemic Geopanax procumbens (Araliaceae) is relatively common on Silhouette. On certain ridges of Mahé the two endemic trees Excoecaria benthamiana (Euphorbiaceae) and Mimusops sechellarum (Sapotaceae) form what appears to be a local association, while on several rocky knolls such as ‘sugar loaf’ hill above Grande Anse on Mahé, the endemic palm Deckenia nobilis (Arecaceae) characterizes another local association. The latter formation possibly represents an outlier of the palm forests of Praslin. Seychellean Lowland Dry Forest In the least disturbed areas these forests support a number of endemic palms such as Deckenia nobilis, Lodoicea maldivica (on deeper soils), Nephrosperma vanhoutteana, Phoenicophorium borsigianum, and endemic pandanas such as Pandanus multispicatus, Pandanus sechellarum and Pandanus balfourii (on the coast). This is also the habitat of the strange Medusagyna oppositifolia (in the monotypic family Medusagynaceae). Growing to a height of about 9 m, it has a sinuous stem and a dense umbrella-shaped crown. The species is thought to be of considerable age and is possibly a surviving ancient relict of Gondanaland. Seychellean Coco De Mer Palm Forest Forest dominated by the endemic coco de mer palm Lodoicea maldivica (Arecaceae), which incidentally has the largest seed in the world, is now largely confined to the Vallee De Mai on Praslin Island. This World Heritage sites includes several other endemic palms such as Deckenia nobilis, Nephroperma vanhoutteanum, Roscheria melanochaetes and Verschaffeltia splendida, while other endemic trees include Canthium bibracteatum (Rubiaceae), Dillenia ferruginea (Dilleniaceae), Erythroxylum sechellarum (Erythroxylaceae), Eugenia wrightii (Myrtaceae), Maba (Diospyros) sechellarum (Ebenaceae), Memecylon elaeagni (Melastomataceae) and the pandans Pandanus hornei, P. multispicatus and P. sechellarum (Pandanaceae). Common epiphytes include the ferns Asplenium nidus and Phymatodes scolopendria together with several introduced species like Philodendron. The ground layer in these forests is typically littered with the dry, dead remains of palm leaves preventing the development of an extensive ground flora. However, clumps of the endemic sedge Lophoschoenus hornei (Cyperaceae) may be found together with the strange endemic herb Hypoxidia rhizophylla (Hypoxidiaceae). The latter has tough strap-shapes leaves and a basal star-shaped flower, which varies in colour from yellow to maroon-brown. Seychellean Glacis Vegetation This varies according to whether the exposed rocks are in the upland moist forest areas or lowland dry forest areas. Soils accumulate in pockets and fissures and largely consisting of quartz with variable amounts of peat. In the upland areas peat is more abundant and on Copyright © 2010 Peter Martin Rhind Mahé the characteristic species include Dianella ensifolia and various endemic species such as Erythroxylon sechellarum (Erythroxylaceae), Excoecaria benthamiana (Euphorbiaceae), Lophoschoenus hornei (Cyperaceae), Memecylon eleagni (Melastomataceae), Mimusops sechellarum (Sapotaceae), Pandanus multispicatus, P. sechellarum (Pandanaceae) and Soulamea terminalioides (Simaroubaceae). At high altitudes the endemic Garnotia sechellensis (Poaceae), Nepenthes pervillei (Nepenthaceae) and Randia sericea (Rubiaceae) are more or less confined to this habitat. In the dryer lowland areas of Mahé were peat is less plentiful the curious endemic Medusagyne oppositifolia (Medusagynaceae) becomes one of the characteristic species. Associated taxa include many of the aforementioned species of moist glacis, but in addition other endemics such as Canthium bibracteatum (Rubiaceae), Curculigo seychellensis (Amaryllidaceae), Deckenia noblis (Arecaceae), Dillenia ferruginea (Dilleniaceae), Eugenia wrightii (Myrtaceae), Maba seychellarum (Ebenaceae), Nephrosperma vanhoutteana (Arecaceae), Phoenicophorium borsigianum (Arecaceae), Timonius sechellensis (Rubiaceae) and Vanilla phalaenopsis (Orchidaceae) may be present. However, in coastal areas many of these species are replaced by Pandanus balfourii, Sarcostemma viminale and the endemic Euphorbia pyrifolia (Euphorbiaceae), and Canthium bibracteatum becomes more abundant. Seychellean Riverine Vegetation Many of the mountain ravines are humid boulder strewn areas with little soil due to the action of flowing water. This factor together the relatively low light levels make many of these ideal for bryophytes and ferns. On Mahé these include the giant fern Angiopteris erecta and the endemic tree fern Cyathea sechellarum (Cyatheaceae). Begonias are also well represented
Recommended publications
  • Ecological Archives Christopher N. Kaiser-Bunbury, Diego P. Vázquez

    Ecological Archives Christopher N. Kaiser-Bunbury, Diego P. Vázquez

    1 Ecological Archives 2 3Christopher N. Kaiser-Bunbury, Diego P. Vázquez, Martina Stang, and Jaboury Ghazoul. 2014. 4Determinants of the microstructure of plant-pollinator networks. Ecology. 5 6Appendix A: Detailed supplementary information on the methods, including tables and figures 7 8 A.1 Plant–pollinator networks 9In total, 97 flower visitor taxa were recorded, of which 14 taxa, belonging to the groups of 10spiders, crickets, true bugs (hemiptera) and ants, were excluded from the networks as they were 11not considered pollinators of the inselberg plants. Pollinators were identified to species level for 1228 taxa (34%) and to morpho-species level for the remaining 55 taxa (66%; hereafter all 13pollinator taxa are referred to as ‘pollinator species’). Morpho-species were not pooled based on 14morphological traits such as size, but they were distinguished at the smallest possible level 15without taxonomic determination and assigned a species code. Flower visitors were recorded as 16pollinators when they touched the sexual parts of flowers. Sampling of interactions was 17conducted by the same three observers throughout the 8-month flowering season and sampling 18was standardized between observers fortnightly. We used equal observation periods for all plant 19species to reduce sampling bias and to collect data on interaction frequency independent of size 20constraints and flower abundance (Ollerton and Cranmer 2002). 21 To assess the effect of sampling on network dissimilarities we conducted a rarefaction 22analysis (Hurlbert 1971, Heck et al. 1975). We calculated Bray-Curtis dissimilarities (see Section 23D below for a detailed description on dissimilarity matrices) between rarefied interaction 24matrices sampled at four different proportions (0.8, 0.6, 0.4 and 0.2) and compared the resulting 25mean ± 95% CI dissimilarities of the rarefied matrices to the dissimilarity between the original 26matrices.
  • 2020 Conservation Outlook Assessment

    2020 Conservation Outlook Assessment

    IUCN World Heritage Outlook: https://worldheritageoutlook.iucn.org/ Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve - 2020 Conservation Outlook Assessment Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve 2020 Conservation Outlook Assessment SITE INFORMATION Country: Seychelles Inscribed in: 1983 Criteria: (vii) (viii) (ix) (x) In the heart of the small island of Praslin, the reserve has the vestiges of a natural palm forest preserved in almost its original state. The famouscoco de mer, from a palm-tree once believed to grow in the depths of the sea, is the largest seed in the plant kingdom. © UNESCO SUMMARY 2020 Conservation Outlook Finalised on 01 Dec 2020 GOOD WITH SOME CONCERNS The protection and management of Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve is generally effective and is supported by a national legal framework, although there is a lack of a national protected area system. The management authority is very competent and is effectively implementing science-based programs and outreach and education schemes. However, the future of the site’s key value, the coco de mer palm, is still under threat from illegal collection and over-exploitation for its nuts and kernel. The site's management has reduced both commercial harvesting and illegal collection of nuts based on scientific research, although the conservation impacts of these requires further assessment. The National Government and the managing agency are implementing targeted conservation measures and aim to tighten law and legislation to protect the species, which include an increase in penalty for poaching of coco de mer nuts. Current priorities for the Nature Reserve include continuation and expansion of the outreach and education programme; promoting an increase in the size and connectivity of Vallée de Mai within the Praslin Island landscape, with a legally designated buffer zone; increasing anti-poaching; and continuing to control the harvesting of coco de mer seeds while expanding a program of replanting seedlings.
  • Vallee De Mai Nature Reserve Seychelles

    Vallee De Mai Nature Reserve Seychelles

    VALLEE DE MAI NATURE RESERVE SEYCHELLES The scenically superlative palm forest of the Vallée de Mai is a living museum of a flora that developed before the evolution of more advanced plant families. It also supports one of the three main areas of coco-de-mer forest still remaining, a tree which has the largest of all plant seeds. The valley is also the only place where all six palm species endemic to the Seychelles are found together. The valley’s flora and fauna is rich with many endemic and several threatened species. COUNTRY Seychelles NAME Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve NATURAL WORLD HERITAGE SITE 1983: Inscribed on the World Heritage List under Natural Criteria vii, viii, ix and x. STATEMENT OF OUTSTANDING UNIVERSAL VALUE The UNESCO World Heritage Committee issued the following Statement of Outstanding Universal Value at the time of inscription Brief Synthesis Located on the granitic island of Praslin, the Vallée de Mai is a 19.5 ha area of palm forest which remains largely unchanged since prehistoric times. Dominating the landscape is the world's largest population of endemic coco-de- mer, a flagship species of global significance as the bearer of the largest seed in the plant kingdom. The forest is also home to five other endemic palms and many endemic fauna species. The property is a scenically attractive area with a distinctive natural beauty. Criterion (vii): The property contains a scenic mature palm forest. The natural formations of the palm forests are of aesthetic appeal with dappled sunlight and a spectrum of green, red and brown palm fronds.
  • Wendland's Palms

    Wendland's Palms

    Wendland’s Palms Hermann Wendland (1825 – 1903) of Herrenhausen Gardens, Hannover: his contribution to the taxonomy and horticulture of the palms ( Arecaceae ) John Leslie Dowe Published by the Botanic Garden and Botanical Museum Berlin as Englera 36 Serial publication of the Botanic Garden and Botanical Museum Berlin November 2019 Englera is an international monographic series published at irregular intervals by the Botanic Garden and Botanical Museum Berlin (BGBM), Freie Universität Berlin. The scope of Englera is original peer-reviewed material from the entire fields of plant, algal and fungal taxonomy and systematics, also covering related fields such as floristics, plant geography and history of botany, provided that it is monographic in approach and of considerable volume. Editor: Nicholas J. Turland Production Editor: Michael Rodewald Printing and bookbinding: Laserline Druckzentrum Berlin KG Englera online access: Previous volumes at least three years old are available through JSTOR: https://www.jstor.org/journal/englera Englera homepage: https://www.bgbm.org/englera Submission of manuscripts: Before submitting a manuscript please contact Nicholas J. Turland, Editor of Englera, Botanic Garden and Botanical Museum Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin, Königin- Luise-Str. 6 – 8, 14195 Berlin, Germany; e-mail: [email protected] Subscription: Verlagsauslieferung Soyka, Goerzallee 299, 14167 Berlin, Germany; e-mail: kontakt@ soyka-berlin.de; https://shop.soyka-berlin.de/bgbm-press Exchange: BGBM Press, Botanic Garden and Botanical Museum Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin, Königin-Luise-Str. 6 – 8, 14195 Berlin, Germany; e-mail: [email protected] © 2019 Botanic Garden and Botanical Museum Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin All rights (including translations into other languages) reserved.
  • (Arecaceae): Évolution Du Système Sexuel Et Du Nombre D'étamines

    (Arecaceae): Évolution Du Système Sexuel Et Du Nombre D'étamines

    Etude de l’appareil reproducteur des palmiers (Arecaceae) : évolution du système sexuel et du nombre d’étamines Elodie Alapetite To cite this version: Elodie Alapetite. Etude de l’appareil reproducteur des palmiers (Arecaceae) : évolution du système sexuel et du nombre d’étamines. Sciences agricoles. Université Paris Sud - Paris XI, 2013. Français. NNT : 2013PA112063. tel-01017166 HAL Id: tel-01017166 https://tel.archives-ouvertes.fr/tel-01017166 Submitted on 2 Jul 2014 HAL is a multi-disciplinary open access L’archive ouverte pluridisciplinaire HAL, est archive for the deposit and dissemination of sci- destinée au dépôt et à la diffusion de documents entific research documents, whether they are pub- scientifiques de niveau recherche, publiés ou non, lished or not. The documents may come from émanant des établissements d’enseignement et de teaching and research institutions in France or recherche français ou étrangers, des laboratoires abroad, or from public or private research centers. publics ou privés. UNIVERSITE PARIS-SUD ÉCOLE DOCTORALE : Sciences du Végétal (ED 45) Laboratoire d'Ecologie, Systématique et E,olution (ESE) DISCIPLINE : -iologie THÈSE DE DOCTORAT SUR TRAVAUX soutenue le ./05/10 2 par Elodie ALAPETITE ETUDE DE L'APPAREIL REPRODUCTEUR DES PAL4IERS (ARECACEAE) : EVOLUTION DU S5STE4E SE6UEL ET DU NO4-RE D'ETA4INES Directeur de thèse : Sophie NADOT Professeur (Uni,ersité Paris-Sud Orsay) Com osition du jury : Rapporteurs : 9ean-5,es DU-UISSON Professeur (Uni,ersité Pierre et 4arie Curie : Paris VI) Porter P. LOWR5 Professeur (4issouri -otanical Garden USA et 4uséum National d'Histoire Naturelle Paris) Examinateurs : Anders S. -ARFOD Professeur (Aarhus Uni,ersity Danemark) Isabelle DA9OA Professeur (Uni,ersité Paris Diderot : Paris VII) 4ichel DRON Professeur (Uni,ersité Paris-Sud Orsay) 3 4 Résumé Les palmiers constituent une famille emblématique de monocotylédones, comprenant 183 genres et environ 2500 espèces distribuées sur tous les continents dans les zones tropicales et subtropicales.
  • Mar2009sale Finalfinal.Pub

    Mar2009sale Finalfinal.Pub

    March SFPS Board of Directors 2009 2009 The Palm Report www.southfloridapalmsociety.com Tim McKernan President John Demott Vice President Featured Palm George Alvarez Treasurer Bill Olson Recording Secretary Lou Sguros Corresponding Secretary Jeff Chait Director Sandra Farwell Director Tim Blake Director Linda Talbott Director Claude Roatta Director Leonard Goldstein Director Jody Haynes Director Licuala ramsayi Palm and Cycad Sale The Palm Report - March 2009 March 14th & 15th This publication is produced by the South Florida Palm Society as Montgomery Botanical Center a service to it’s members. The statements and opinions expressed 12205 Old Cutler Road, Coral Gables, FL herein do not necessarily represent the views of the SFPS, it’s Free rare palm seedlings while supplies last Board of Directors or its editors. Likewise, the appearance of ad- vertisers does not constitute an endorsement of the products or Please visit us at... featured services. www.southfloridapalmsociety.com South Florida Palm Society Palm Florida South In This Issue Featured Palm Ask the Grower ………… 4 Licuala ramsayi Request for E-mail Addresses ………… 5 This large and beautiful Licuala will grow 45-50’ tall in habitat and makes its Membership Renewal ………… 6 home along the riverbanks and in the swamps of the rainforest of north Queen- sland, Australia. The slow-growing, water-loving Licuala ramsayi prefers heavy Featured Palm ………… 7 shade as a juvenile but will tolerate several hours of direct sun as it matures. It prefers a slightly acidic soil and will appreciate regular mulching and protection Upcoming Events ………… 8 from heavy winds. While being one of the more cold-tolerant licualas, it is still subtropical and should be protected from frost.
  • Arecaceae 1 Arecaceae

    Arecaceae 1 Arecaceae

    Arecaceae 1 Arecaceae Arécacées Cocos nucifera Classification de Cronquist Règne Plantae Sous-règne Tracheobionta Division Magnoliophyta Classe Liliopsida Sous-classe Arecidae Ordre Arecales Famille Arecaceae Bercht. & J.Presl, 1820 Synonymes Palmae Juss., 1789 Classification APG III Arecaceae 2 Classification APG III Clade Angiospermes Clade Monocotylédones Clade Commelinidées Ordre Arecales Famille Arecaceae Les palmiers, palmacées (Palmae) ou arécacées (Arecaceae) - les deux noms sont reconnus - forment une famille de plantes monocotylédones. Facilement reconnaissables à leur tige non ramifiée, le stipe, surmonté d'un bouquet de feuilles pennées ou palmées, les palmiers symbolisent les déserts chauds et les côtes et paysages tropicaux. Botanique La famille des arécacées comprend (selon Watson & Dallwitz) plus de 2 500 espèces réparties en plus de 200 genres, dans les régions tropicales, subtropicales et tempérées chaudes, de l'Afrique aux Amériques et à l'Asie : • Liste alphabétique des genres de la famille des Arecacées Conformément aux règles de la nomenclature scientifique, le nom de la famille découle de celui du genre le plus représentatif (dans le cas d'espèce, il s'agit du genre Areca, qui comprend notamment Areca catechu L., l'aréquier ou palmier à bétel). D'un point de vue botanique, les palmiers sont des monocotylédones et ne sont donc pas des arbres, mais des « herbes géantes » : ils ne possèdent pas de vrai bois au sens botanique, l'épaississement du stipe résultant de l'addition répétée de faisceaux appelée « croissance secondaire diffuse », processus différent de celui à l'origine de la formation du bois des dicotylédones et des gymnospermes. Cela n'empêche pas les Ceroxylon des Andes de posséder les plus hauts stipes du monde (40 à 60 m).
  • Universidade Federal Do Rio Grande Do Sul Instituto De

    Universidade Federal Do Rio Grande Do Sul Instituto De

    UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DO RIO GRANDE DO SUL INSTITUTO DE BIOCIÊNCIAS DEPARTAMENTO DE GENÉTICA PROGRAMA DE PÓS-GRADUAÇÃO EM GENÉTICA E BIOLOGIA MOLECULAR Uso de DNA barcode para identificação de espécies de palmito como ferramenta para a genética forense CRISTINA CORRÊA TODESCHINI Orientadora: Profª. Dra. Fernanda Bered Porto Alegre, março de 2019. 1 UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DO RIO GRANDE DO SUL INSTITUTO DE BIOCIÊNCIAS DEPARTAMENTO DE GENÉTICA PROGRAMA DE PÓS-GRADUAÇÃO EM GENÉTICA E BIOLOGIA MOLECULAR Uso de DNA barcode para identificação de espécies de palmito como ferramenta para a genética forense CRISTINA CORRÊA TODESCHINI Dissertação submetida ao Programa de Pós- Graduação em Genética e Biologia Molecular da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul como requisito parcial para a obtenção do grau de Mestre em Genética e Biologia Molecular. Orientadora: Profª. Dra. Fernanda Bered Porto Alegre, março de 2019. 2 Agradecimentos Agradecer não é o suficiente, mas é a forma como tenho para expressar sua importância na minha vida, mesmo que seja durante anos ou minutos, cada instante foi essencial para que no decorrer da minha caminhada eu me encontrasse agora onde estou. Agradeço a vocês meus amados, pai Fernando, mãe Maria Idelma e irmãos Fernando, Victor e Débora que durante toda minha existência sempre me apoiaram, me deram força quando eu achava obstáculos difíceis demais e sempre foram exemplos para mim. A toda minha família obrigada pelo amor incondicional. Agradeço a ti, minha querida orientadora, professora Fernanda Bered, por toda sua dedicação, paciência, empenho e esforço para que eu me tornasse melhor como pessoa e como profissional. Muito obrigada por todas as oportunidades e por sua confiança em mim.
  • A Survey of Cyanogenesis in Palms (Arecaceae) Carl E

    A Survey of Cyanogenesis in Palms (Arecaceae) Carl E

    Biochemical Systematics and Ecology 28 (2000) 219}228 A survey of cyanogenesis in palms (Arecaceae) Carl E. Lewis!,*, Scott Zona",# !L.H. Bailey Hortorium, 462 Mann Library, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA "Fairchild Tropical Garden, 11935 Old Cutler Road, Miami, FL 33156, USA #Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199, USA Received 21 December 1998; received in revised form 25 January 1999; accepted 27 May 1999 Abstract We surveyed leaf material of 545 individual palms representing 108 genera and 155 species for cyanogenesis using the Feigl-Anger test. We detected HCN production in only two species of one genus, Drymophloeus. Additional smaller surveys of shoot meristems and roots revealed cyanogenesis only in the shoot meristem of one species of Dypsis. Our results indicate that cyanogenesis is rather rare in the family. ( 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved. Keywords: Drymophloeus; Dypsis; Arecaceae; Palmae; Palms; Cyanogenesis; Cyanide; HCN 1. Introduction Cyanide production is a widespread phenomenon in plants, with cyanogenic compounds present in many species across the plant kingdom (Hegnauer, 1977). These compounds are often ecologically signi"cant and can be hazardous to human health when they occur in crop plants. Although cyanogenesis has arisen indepen- dently in several lineages, it is a good taxonomic marker for several groups of plants (e.g., Passi#oraceae; Olafsdottir et al., 1989). Cyanogenic plants typically store cyanide in the form of cyanogenic glycosides. These plants release HCN only after tissue damage brings apoplastic {-glucosidases into contact with vacuolar glycosides. Some phenotypically acyanogenic plants * Corresponding author. Tel.: #1-607-255-8916 fax: #1-607-255-7979.

  • Supplement to Global Patterns and Drivers of Phylogenetic Structure In

    Supplementary information Weigelt, P., Kissling, W.D., Kisel, Y., Fritz, S.A., Karger, D.N., Kessler, M., Lehtonen, S., Svenning, J.-C. and Kreft, H. Global patterns and drivers of phylogenetic structure in island floras. Scientific Reports. Content Supplementary Text S1. Ecological and biogeographical characteristics of angiosperms, palms and ferns relevant to the hypothesized relationships between environmental factors and phylogenetic diversity and structure. Supplementary Methods S1. Floras and phylogenies. Supplementary Methods S2. Statistical models and spatial autocorrelation. Supplementary Table S1. Pearson correlations of phylogenetic community metrics within angiosperms, palms and ferns on islands worldwide. Supplementary Table S2. Pearson correlations of phylogenetic community metrics among angiosperms, palms and ferns on islands worldwide. Supplementary Table S3. Best Generalized Additive Models based on Akaike's Information Criterion corrected for small sampling sizes of the relationships of the standardized effect size of phylogenetic diversity of angiosperms, palms and ferns with environmental factors on islands. Supplementary Table S4. Variable importance estimated from all possible multi-predictor Generalized Additive Models for the standardized effect size of mean pairwise phylogenetic distance of angiosperms, palms and ferns on islands in dependence on environmental predictors. Supplementary Table S5. Best Generalized Additive Models based on Akaike's Information Criterion corrected for small sampling sizes of the relationships of the standardized effect size of mean pairwise phylogenetic distance of angiosperms, palms and ferns with environmental factors on islands. Supplementary Table S6. Pearson correlations among predictor variables used to explain phylogenetic structure of island floras. Supplementary Table S7. Pearson correlations among phylogenetic community metrics calculated with a global island species pool and three different regional species pool delineations.
  • Ecosystem Restoration Strengthens Pollination Network Resilience and Function

    Ecosystem Restoration Strengthens Pollination Network Resilience and Function

    https://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v542/n7640/full/nature21071.html Nature - Letters Ecosystem restoration strengthens pollination network resilience and function Christopher N. Kaiser-Bunbury1, James Mougal2, Andrew E. Whittington3, Terence Valentin2, Ronny Gabriel2, Jens M. Olesen4, and Nico Blüthgen1 1 Ecological Networks, Department of Biology, TU Darmstadt, 64287 Darmstadt, Germany 2 Seychelles National Parks Authority, PO Box 1240, Mahé, Seychelles 3 Department of Archaeology, Anthropology & Forensic Science, Bournemouth University, Poole, BH12 5BB, UK 4 Ecology and Genetics, Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark Land degradation results in declining biodiversity and disruption of ecosystem functioning worldwide, particularly in the tropics1. Vegetation restoration is a common tool to mitigate these impacts, increasingly aiming to restore ecosystem functions rather than species diversity per se2. However, evidence from community experiments on the impact of restoration practices on ecosystem functions is scarce3. Pollination is an important ecosystem function, and global pollinator declines attenuate the resistance of natural areas and agro-environments to disturbances4. Thus, the ability of pollination functions to resist or recover from disturbance (i.e. the functional resilience)5,6 may be critical for ensuring a successful restoration process7. We use a community field experiment to investigate the effects of vegetation restoration – here the removal of exotic shrubs – on pollination. We analyse 64 plant- pollinator networks and reproductive performance of the ten most abundant plant species across four restored and four unrestored, disturbed mountaintop communities. Restoration resulted in a marked increase in pollinator species, visits to flowers, and interaction diversity. Interactions in restored networks were more generalised than in unrestored networks, indicating higher 1 https://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v542/n7640/full/nature21071.html functional redundancy in restored communities.
  • Forestry Department Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

    Forestry Department Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

    Forestry Department Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Forest Health & Biosecurity Working Papers Case Studies on the Status of Invasive Woody Plant Species in the Western Indian Ocean 5. Seychelles By C. Kueffer1 and P. Vos2 1. Geobotanical Institute, ETH (Federal Institute of Technology), Zurich, Switzerland 2. Forestry Section, Ministry of Environment & Natural Resources, Seychelles May 2004 Forest Resources Development Service Working Paper FBS/4-5E Forest Resources Division FAO, Rome, Italy Disclaimer The FAO Forestry Department Working Papers report on issues and activities related to the conservation, sustainable use and management of forest resources. The purpose of these papers is to provide early information on on-going activities and programmes, and to stimulate discussion. This paper is one of a series of FAO documents on forestry-related health and biosecurity issues. The study was carried out from November 2002 to May 2003, and was financially supported by a special contribution of the FAO-Netherlands Partnership Programme on Agro-Biodiversity. The designations employed and the presentation of material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. Quantitative information regarding the status of forest resources has been compiled according to sources, methodologies and protocols identified and selected by the authors, for assessing the diversity and status of forest resources. For standardized methodologies and assessments on forest resources, please refer to FAO, 2003.