Feeding Ecology Orangutans in Danum

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Feeding Ecology Orangutans in Danum American Journal of Primatology 72:820–840 (2010) RESEARCH ARTICLE Feeding Ecology of Bornean Orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus morio) in Danum Valley, Sabah, Malaysia: A 3-Year Record Including Two Mast Fruitings 1Ã 2 3 4 2 TOMOKO KANAMORI , NOKO KUZE , HENRY BERNARD , TITOL P. MALIM , AND SHIRO KOHSHIMA 1Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Ookayama Meguro-Ku, Tokyo, Japan 2Wildlife Research Center of Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan 3Sabah University of Malaysia, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia 4Sabah Wildlife Department, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia We observed the diet and activity of Bornean orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus morio) in the primary lowland dipterocarp forests of Danum Valley, Sabah, Malaysia, during 2005–2007, including two mast fruitings. We collected 1,785 hr of focal data on 26 orangutans. We identified 1,466 samples of their food plants and conducted a fallen fruit census to monitor fruit availability in the study area. Their activity budget was 47.2% feeding, 34.4% resting, and 16.9% traveling. Fruits accounted for the largest part (60.9%) of feeding time, especially during mast fruiting periods (64.0–100%), although the percentages of leaves (22.2%) and bark (12.3%) were higher than those reported for P. abelii and P. pygmaeus wurmbii. Although 119 genera and 160 plant species were consumed by focal animals, only 9 genera accounted for more than 3% of feeding time (total: 67.8% for 9 genera). In particular, the focal orangutans fed intensively on Ficus and Spatholobus during most of the study period, especially in periods of fruit shortage. The percentage of fruit feeding changed markedly from 11.7 to 100% across different months of the year, and was positively correlated with the amount of fallen fruit. When fruit feeding and availability decreased, orangutans fed primarily on leaves of Spatholobus and Ficus, and the bark of Spatholobus and dipterocarp. The percentage of time devoted to feeding during mast fruitings, when the orangutans foraged almost exclusively on fruits, was lower than during seasons when the orangutan diet included leaves and bark as well as fruits. Resting increased as feeding decreased in the late stage of each fruiting season, suggesting that the orangutans adopted an energy- minimizing strategy to survive the periods of fruit shortage by using energy stored during the fruit season. Am. J. Primatol. 72:820–840, 2010. r 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc. Key words: Bornean orangutans; feeding ecology; mast fruiting; fallback foods; activity budget INTRODUCTION Asian tropical forests, experience much greater inter- and intra-annual variability in fruit produc- Southeast Asian dipterocarp forests are known tion than do frugivorous primates in African and for their supra-annual masting events approximately South American rain forests [Fleming et al., 1987]. every 2–10 years, during which a majority of trees fruit in synchrony [Ashton et al., 1988]. Masts are periods of tremendous food abundance, permitting Contract grant sponsor: JSPS-HOPE (Primate Origins of high energy intake for various frugivorous verte- Human Evolution) Project Global Environment Research Fund, 21st Century COE Programs; Contract grant number: 0A06; brates [Curran & Leighton, 2000; Leighton & Contract grant sponsor: Graduate School of Science, Kyoto Leighton, 1983; Marshall & Leighton, 2006]. How- University, 21st Century COE; Contract grant number: A14; ever, mast fruitings are often followed by periods of Contract grant sponsor: Graduate School of Science, Tokyo Institute of Technology; Contract grant numbers: R12; A10; extremely low fruit availability [Knott, 1998]. Low Contract grant sponsor: The Japanese Association of Zoos and fruit production during intermast intervals has been Aquariums (JAZA). reported to cause famine-like emaciation or death in ÃCorrespondence to: Tomoko Kanamori, Graduate School of the sun bear (Helarctos malayanus) and bearded pigs Bioscience and Biotechnology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, W3-43, 2-12-1 Ookayama Meguro-Ku, Tokyo 152-8551, Japan. (Sus barbatus) in mixed dipterocarp forests of E-mail: [email protected] Borneo [Curran & Leighton, 2000; Wong et al., Received 24 November 2009; revised 28 April 2010; revision 2005]. In addition to mast-fruiting events, smaller accepted 28 April 2010 annual and seasonal changes in fruit production also DOI 10.1002/ajp.20848 occur [Knott & Kahlenberg, 2006]. Thus, orangu- Published online 1 June 2010 in Wiley InterScience (www. tans, the frugivorous great apes living in Southeast interscience.wiley.com). r 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc. Feeding Ecology of Bornean Orangutans / 821 However, detailed information on their feeding state government in 1996 and managed by the Sabah ecology, especially during mast fruiting and their Foundation (Yayasan Sabah Group) for conserva- response to the drastic fluctuations in fruit avail- tion, research, education, and tourism. The study ability, is limited [Knott, 1998; Morrogh-Bernard area (510101700N, 11714405000E, 231–384 m a.s.l.) is a et al., 2009; Wich et al., 2006]. primary forest of approximately 2 km2 surrounding a Pongo pygmaeus morio is the most eastern tourist lodge, Borneo Rainforest Lodge (BRL). BRL subspecies of Bornean orangutan, and inhabits was established in 2004 on the banks of the Danum forests in which mast-fruiting events occur in more River, a tributary of the Segama River. The forest is tree species and individual trees than reported for composed predominantly of lowland dipterocarp habitats of other Bornean orangutan subspecies forest, interspersed with some lower-hill dipterocarp (P. pygmaeus wurmbii and P. pygmaeus pygmaeus forest. Canopy height is approximately 50 m, with in the central and western Borneo), and the emergent trees more than 70 m. The mean tree Sumatran orangutan (P. abelii) [Curran et al., 1999; density in this area was reported to be 470 trees per van Schaik et al., 2009a; Walsh, 1996]. Masting hectare (430 cm dbh), and the trees in the forests events in Sumatra are less prominent than in Borneo (430 cm dbh) included Euphorbiaceae (21%) and because fewer mast-fruiting tree species exist in Dipterocarpaceae (16%), with basal areas of 7 and those forests [van Schaik, 1996]. Moreover, the 49%, respectively [Newbery et al., 1992]. Approxi- influence of the El Nin˜o/Southern Oscillation on mately 88% of the total volume of the large trees in mast fruiting is reportedly strongest in the eastern the conservation area was reported to be diptero- part of Borneo [Ashton et al., 1988; Wich & van carps [Marsh & Greer, 1992]. Schaik, 2000]. Thus, P. pygmaeus morio living in the dipterocarp forests of East Kalimantan and Sabah, Study Period experience dramatic fluctuation in fruit availability [Leighton & Leighton, 1983; Rijksen & Meijaard, We conducted field research from March 2005 to 1999]. P. pygmaeus morio exhibits the most robust December 2007, 27 months in total, although we only jaw and smallest skull of any orangutan taxa, obtained limited data in April–May 2005 and suggesting that this species has adapted to ecological November 2005–March 2006. We obtained no data conditions different from those of other Bornean in February 2006 owing to serious flooding in the subspecies and the Sumatran orangutan [Taylor, area. The study period included two mast fruitings 2006, 2009; Taylor & van Schaik, 2007]. Thus, the (July–August 2005 and May–September 2007). We study of P. pygmaeus morio is important for under- defined a mast year as one with months in which standing orangutan feeding ecology and their ability fruit scores were higher than 1.96 standard devia- to adapt to fluctuations in fruit availability. Earlier tions above the mean for the study period, following studies on P. pygmaeus morio have been conducted the definition for mast fruiting proposed by Wich and by Mackinnon in Ulu Segama and by Rodman and van Schaik [2000]. Leighton in Mentoko [Leighton, 1993; Mackinnon, 1974; Rodman, 1988]. Since these studies, however, Climate detailed studies of the ecology of this subspecies in The mean, maximum, and minimum tempera- primary dipterocarp forests has not been undertaken, tures in the study period, recorded at Danum Valley although studies have been conducted in logged Field Research Centre of DVCA next to the study area, forests in Kinabatangan, Sabah [Ancrenaz & were 27.11C, 31.71C, and 22.61C, respectively (The Lackman-Ancrenaz, 1999; Ancrenaz et al., 2004, 2005]. Royal Society Southeast Asia Rain Forest Research In this study, we conducted field research on the Program, unpublished data). Mean monthly tempera- feeding behavior and activity budget of P. pygmaeus turestendedtobehigherinAprilandMayandlower morio living in the primary lowland dipterocarp in November and December. Annual rainfall in the forests of Danum Valley, Sabah, Malaysia, from 2005 area varied between 3,083.1 and 2,349.5 mm during to 2007, including two mast fruiting periods. We 2005–2007. Mean monthly rainfall was 234.8 mm compared seasonal changes in the feeding time (SE 5 22.1), ranging from 60.3 mm in April 2005 to allocated to individual food items and plant species, 798.4 mm in February 2006. Although the seasonality and examined the dietary response of orangutans to of rainfall was not clear during the study period, major fluctuations in fruit availability. 10-year mean values of monthly rainfall from 1988 to 2007 show that rainfall in this area tended METHODS to be higher in May–June and October–January and The Study Area lower in March–April and July–September. The study area was located in Danum Valley Conservation Area (DVCA, 438 km2), East Borneo, Observation of Animals Sabah, Malaysia (Fig. 1A). DVCA is a Class I We observed 26 identified individuals, divided Protection Forest Reserve established by the Sabah into the following six age–sex classes based on Am. J. Primatol. 822 / Kanamori et al. Fig. 1. Map of the study area. (A) The location of the study area, based at Borneo Rainforest Lodge in the state of Sabah, East Borneo. (B) Transect around Borneo Rainforest Lodge. morphological characteristics [Kuze et al., 2005]: 3 females, 2 juveniles, and 5 infants (Table I).
Recommended publications
  • Apbvariation in the Functional Properties of Barringtonia Asiatica Extract on Selected Pathogens
    Journal of Pharmacology & Clinical Research ISSN: 2473-5574 Research Article J of Pharmacol & Clin Res Volume 6 Issue 3 - September 2018 Copyright © All rights are reserved by Isaac John Umaru DOI: 10.19080/JPCR.2018.06.555686 APBVariation in the Functional Properties of Barringtonia Asiatica Extract on Selected Pathogens Isaac John Umaru1,2*, Fasihuddin ABadruddin1, Hauwa AUmaru3, Ezeonu Chukwuma Stephen2 and Ojochenemi Yakubu 1Faculty of Resource Science and Technology, University of Malaysia Sarawak, Kuching, Kota-Samarahan, Malaysia 2Department of Biochemistry, Federal University Wukari Taraba State, Nigeria 3Department of biochemistry, ModiboAdama University of Technology Yola Adamawa state, Nigeria Submission: August 24, 2018; Published: September 10, 2018 *Corresponding author: Isaac John Umaru,Faculty of Resource Science and Technology, University of Malaysia Sarawak, Kuching, Kota-Samarahan Malaysia,Department of Biochemistry Federal university Wukari Taraba State, Email: Abstract Objective: on selected pathogens. The aim of this study is to look at the influence of different concentration from different solvent extract of Barringtonia asiatica Material and Methods: Barringtonia asiatica extracts were evaluated for their functional potential antimicrobial properties. The leaves of Antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli, salmonella typhi, staphylococcus aureus and Klebsielia pneumonia, were determined by a disc the plant were extracted with n-hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, chloroform and methanol and then vaporized
    [Show full text]
  • Ethnobotanical Profiles and Phytochemical Constituents of Barringtonia Racemosa L
    JOURNAL OF NATURAL REMEDIES DOI: 10.18311/jnr/2017/15945 Ethnobotanical Profiles and Phytochemical Constituents of Barringtonia racemosa L. for Potential Scrutiny of Bioactive Compounds through Plant Biotechnology Nurul Izzati Osman1, Norrizah Jaafar Sidik1* and Asmah Awal2 1Faculty of Applied Sciences, Universiti Teknologi MARA, 40450 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia. 2Faculty of Plantation and Agrotechnology, Universiti Teknologi MARA, 40450 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia. Abstract This paper reviews the traditional uses and customs of people in the use of Barringtonia racemosa L., a type of plant mangrove species in their daily life and medicinal approaches. In addition, the phytochemical constituents and the studies in plant biotechnology carried out on this species were also reviewed and summarized by referring to the available documented literatures. It is aimed to provide a systematic review of such topics to facilitate understanding and providing information regarding that particular species. From the current review of literature, it has been clearly depicted that B. racemosa is having promising potentials for natural product discovery through plant biotechnology to be further scrutinized in this species. The information gathered from the ethnobotanical uses of this species as well as its phytochemical constituents are useful to provide a significant background for future works regarding plant secondary metabolites from this species to be further explored by the application of plant biotechnology. Keywords: Barringtonia racemosa L., Ethnobotany, Ethnopharmacology, Plant Bioactive Compounds, Phytochemistry 1. Introduction of plants not only lies in its medicinal properties used in herbal treatment but in fact, plants have been among the Our mother nature has a great diversity of plant species most significant element in daily household needs and and the existence of plant kingdom provides various being incorporated in industrial setting for instance in the benefits towards mankind.
    [Show full text]
  • Republic of Fiji: the State of the World's Forest Genetic Resources
    REPUBLIC OF FIJI This country report is prepared as a contribution to the FAO publication, The Report on the State of the World’s Forest Genetic Resources. The content and the structure are in accordance with the recommendations and guidelines given by FAO in the document Guidelines for Preparation of Country Reports for the State of the World’s Forest Genetic Resources (2010). These guidelines set out recommendations for the objective, scope and structure of the country reports. Countries were requested to consider the current state of knowledge of forest genetic diversity, including: Between and within species diversity List of priority species; their roles and values and importance List of threatened/endangered species Threats, opportunities and challenges for the conservation, use and development of forest genetic resources These reports were submitted to FAO as official government documents. The report is presented on www. fao.org/documents as supportive and contextual information to be used in conjunction with other documentation on world forest genetic resources. The content and the views expressed in this report are the responsibility of the entity submitting the report to FAO. FAO may not be held responsible for the use which may be made of the information contained in this report. STATE OF THE FOREST GENETIC RESOURCES IN FIJI Department of Forests Ministry of Fisheries and Forests for The Republic of Fiji Islands and the Secreatriat of Pacific Communities (SPC) State of the Forest Genetic Resources in Fiji _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Table of Contents Executve Summary ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..…….. 5 Introduction ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..…….. 6 Chapter 1: The Current State of the Forest Genetic Resources in Fiji ………………………………………………………………….…….
    [Show full text]
  • Vegetation and Flora of the Aleipata Islands, Western Samoa1
    Pacific Science(1983), vol. 37, no. 3 © 1984 by the University of Hawaii Press. All rights reserved Vegetation and Flora of the Aleipata Islands, Western Samoa 1 W. ARTH UR WHISTLER 2 ABSTRACT: The botany offour small, relatively undisturbed tuff cone islands offthe east coast ofUpolu, Western Samoa, is examined. During a series ofvisits to the islands, the vegetation was studied in nine sample plots, and a checklist of the 260 species comprising the flora was compiled. Six types ofnative vegetation are recognized, one of which (Diospyros coastal forest) appears to be unique to tuff cone islands. Casual observations were made on the avifauna and turtle species, and the ecological significance of the islands is discussed. LYINGJU ST OFF TH EEAST coast ofthe Aleipata mind. The results ofthese visits culminated in district ofthe island ofUpolu, Western Samoa a checklist ofthe flora ofthe islands (Table 5). (Figure 1), is a chain of four small islands Dur ing the visits, voucher specimens were col­ (totaling about 1.7 krn") , which is known as lected and vegetation surveys carried out. The the Aleipata Islands. Although the coastal voucher specimens are in the author's personal and lowland area of the Aleipata coast adja­ collection at the Uni versity of Hawaii, with cent to the islands is almost entirely covered duplicates at the Smithsonian (us), Bishop with coconut plantations and villages, the Mu seum (BISH), Kew (K), Berlin (B), and islands are uninhabited and their plant com­ elsewhere. munities are relatively undisturbed. Because To determine species composition of the of the extensive disturbance to the vegetation forests, nine vegeta tion plots were sampled­ of the Aleipata coast, these islands serve as a six on Nu 'utele, two on Nu 'ulua, and one refuge for native plant communities as well on Namu 'a, No vegetation was sampled on as native plant and animal species (Whistler Fanuatapu due to the limited extent of that 1981).
    [Show full text]
  • The Floristic Characteristics of the Tropical Rainforest in Xishuangbanna
    CHINESE GEOGRAPHICAL SCIENCE Volume 4, Number 2, pp.174-- 185, 1994 Science Press, Beijing,China THE FLORISTIC CHARACTERISTICS OF THE TROPICAL RAINFOREST IN XISHUANGBANNA Zhu Hua(~ ~) ( Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, the ChineseAcademy of Sciences, Mengla 666303, PRC) ABSTRACT: The general floristic characteristics of the tropical rainforest of Xishuanghauna have been summarized in the present paper. The tropical rainforest is estimated to consist of more than 3,000 species of seed plant pertaining to more than 1,000 genera and about 180 families. Based on the comprehensive analysis of the distri- bution of taxa in two representative communities of the rainforest, the deduction is giv- en as follows: the families, genera and species of tropical distribution take up about 80%, 94% and more than 90% of the total of the flora separately in which the genera of tropical Asia take up 33%-42% of the total and the species of tropical Asia take up about 74% of the total. The flora is explicitly of tropics in nature and as a part of tropi- cal Asian flora. Occurring at the montane habitats of northern margin of tropical SE Asia, the flora also embodies conspicuous characters of marginal tropics. Xishuangbanna is geographically a transitional area from true tropics to subtropics and an ecotone where the floristic element of Indo-Malaysia from south, the one of S Asia or S Himalayas from west, the one of Indochina-S China from southeast and the one of S China from northeast meet and overlap in their areal boundaries each other. The flora is therefore enclosed with the characteristics offloristic ecotone.
    [Show full text]
  • Memory Enhancing Activity of Barringtonia Acutangula (L.) 0N Corticosterone Induced Dementia in Mice
    66 | P a g e e-ISSN: 2248-9126 Vol 4 | Issue 2 | 2014 | 66-70 Print ISSN: 2248-9118 Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Science & Research www.ijpsrjournal.com MEMORY ENHANCING ACTIVITY OF BARRINGTONIA ACUTANGULA (L.) 0N CORTICOSTERONE INDUCED DEMENTIA IN MICE G. Sandhyarani1*, Bikku Naik1, K. Praveen Kumar2, Alli Ramesh3 1Vaageswari College of Pharmacy, Karimnager, Andhra Pradesh, India. 2Vaagdevi College of Pharmacy, Medicinal Chemistry Research Division, Hanamkonda, Warangal,Andhra Pradesh, India. 3Vaagdevi Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Medicinal Chemistry Research Division, Bollikunta, Warangal, Andhra Pradesh, India. ABSTRACT The present study was undertaken to investigate the effects of Barringtonia acutangula (L.) on learning and memory in mice. Morris water maze and passive avoidance paradigm were employed to test learning and memory. Two doses (100 and 200mg/kg, p.o.) of methanolic extract were administered for 21 successive days in separate group of animals. The dose of 200 & 400‐mg/kg p.o. of EEBA significantly improved learning and memory of mice in dose dependent manner. Furthermore, this dose significantly reversed the amnesia induced by Corticosterone (5 mg/kg, s.c) induced amnesia. Hence Barringtonia acutangula (L.) appears to be a promising candidate for improving memory and it would be worthwhile to explore the potential of this plant in the management of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. However, further studies are necessitated to identify the exact mechanism of action. Keywords: Barringtonia acutangula (L.), Alzheimer’s disease. INTRODUCTION Alzheimer’s disease are acetylcholinesterase inhibitor Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive which increases the availability of acetylcholine at neurodegenerative brain disorder that is slow in onset but cholinergic synapses.
    [Show full text]
  • Federated States of Micronesia's Forest Resources, 2006
    Federated States of Micronesia’s Forest Resources, 2006 Joseph A. Donnegan, Sarah L. Butler, Olaf Kuegler, and Bruce A. Hiserote Yap Chuuk Kosrae Pohnpei Yap Chuuk Pohnpei Kosrae Resource Bulletin United States Forest Pacific Northwest PNW-RB-262 Department of Service Research Station October 2011 Agriculture The Forest Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture is dedicated to the principle of multiple use management of the Nation’s forest resources for sustained yields of wood, water, forage, wildlife, and recreation. Through forestry research, cooperation with the States and private forest owners, and management of the National Forests and National Grasslands, it strives—as directed by Congress—to provide increasingly greater service to a growing Nation. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Authors Joseph A. Donnegan is an ecologist, Sarah L.
    [Show full text]
  • Anti-Oxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Leaves of Barringtonia Racemosa
    Journal of Medicinal Plants Research pp. 095-102, December 2007 Available online http://www.academicjournals.org/JMPR ISSN 1996-0875©2007 Academic Journals Full Length Research Paper Anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of leaves of Barringtonia racemosa Mandana Behbahani, Abdul Manaf Ali, Radzali Muse and Noorjahan Banu Mohd Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, UPM, Malaysia. Accepted 17, July 2007 The medicinal plant of Barringtonia racemosa (lecythidaceae family) has been used widely in traditional medicine for anti-inflammation and anticancer in Malaysia. The present investigation was carried out to study of the anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of fully expanded leaf extracts of B. racemosa. Antioxidant activity was measured by using FTC, TBA and DPPH free radical scavenging methods and Griess assay was also used for the measurement of nitric oxide inhibition in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and interferon- (IFN- )-treated RAW 264.7 cells. Different crude extracts of fully expanded leaf extracts of B. racemosa have exhibited a very good level of nitric oxide (NO) inhibitory and antioxidant activities. In the Griess assay, non polar extracts such as chloroform and hexane extracts were found to be strong inhibitors of NO at different concentrations (25, 50, 100 and 200 µg/ml) in comparison with polar extract (ethanol extract). Chloroform extract didn’t show cytotoxicity against RAW 264.7 cells at different concentrations contrary to hexane and ethanol extracts. The chloroform and hexane extracts exhibited very strong antioxidant properties when compared to Vitamin E (a-tocopherol) in the FTC and TBA methods, the chloroform and hexane extracts exhibited the radical scavenging activity with an IC50 value of 54.29 and 63 µg/ml respectively.
    [Show full text]
  • On the Flora of Australia
    L'IBRARY'OF THE GRAY HERBARIUM HARVARD UNIVERSITY. BOUGHT. THE FLORA OF AUSTRALIA, ITS ORIGIN, AFFINITIES, AND DISTRIBUTION; BEING AN TO THE FLORA OF TASMANIA. BY JOSEPH DALTON HOOKER, M.D., F.R.S., L.S., & G.S.; LATE BOTANIST TO THE ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION. LONDON : LOVELL REEVE, HENRIETTA STREET, COVENT GARDEN. r^/f'ORElGN&ENGLISH' <^ . 1859. i^\BOOKSELLERS^.- PR 2G 1.912 Gray Herbarium Harvard University ON THE FLORA OF AUSTRALIA ITS ORIGIN, AFFINITIES, AND DISTRIBUTION. I I / ON THE FLORA OF AUSTRALIA, ITS ORIGIN, AFFINITIES, AND DISTRIBUTION; BEIKG AN TO THE FLORA OF TASMANIA. BY JOSEPH DALTON HOOKER, M.D., F.R.S., L.S., & G.S.; LATE BOTANIST TO THE ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION. Reprinted from the JJotany of the Antarctic Expedition, Part III., Flora of Tasmania, Vol. I. LONDON : LOVELL REEVE, HENRIETTA STREET, COVENT GARDEN. 1859. PRINTED BY JOHN EDWARD TAYLOR, LITTLE QUEEN STREET, LINCOLN'S INN FIELDS. CONTENTS OF THE INTRODUCTORY ESSAY. § i. Preliminary Remarks. PAGE Sources of Information, published and unpublished, materials, collections, etc i Object of arranging them to discuss the Origin, Peculiarities, and Distribution of the Vegetation of Australia, and to regard them in relation to the views of Darwin and others, on the Creation of Species .... iii^ § 2. On the General Phenomena of Variation in the Vegetable Kingdom. All plants more or less variable ; rate, extent, and nature of variability ; differences of amount and degree in different natural groups of plants v Parallelism of features of variability in different groups of individuals (varieties, species, genera, etc.), and in wild and cultivated plants vii Variation a centrifugal force ; the tendency in the progeny of varieties being to depart further from their original types, not to revert to them viii Effects of cross-impregnation and hybridization ultimately favourable to permanence of specific character x Darwin's Theory of Natural Selection ; — its effects on variable organisms under varying conditions is to give a temporary stability to races, species, genera, etc xi § 3.
    [Show full text]
  • Trees in Singapore in 2017 GRAHAM BAKER Visited Singapore; the Following Are His Notes on Some of the Trees He Admired There
    Trees in Singapore In 2017 GRAHAM BAKER visited Singapore; the following are his notes on some of the trees he admired there. A city in a garden In June 1963, Lee Quan Yew planted a Mempat tree (Cratoxylum formosum), a pink flowering, medium-sized, native tree, marking the start of his initiative to transform Singapore into a garden city. Since then, so many trees have been planted that his dream has become a reality. High rise condominiums, hotels and offices are enveloped in a green forest comprised principally of two species: the magnificent Angsana Pterocarpus( indicus) a tall, awe inspiring tower of green, billowing elm-like at the top, a southeast Asia species; and the spreading South American rain tree (Samanea saman) festooned in a clothing of epiphytes. A variety of other species complete the ‘forest’ including Singapore’s native favourite, the Tembusu (Fagraea fragrans). This tall, neat tree flowers in spring and late autumn (although there are no seasons in Singapore!) with small- ish, cream, highly scented flowers. Yellow flame (Peltophorum pterocarpum) is here too: a tall, spreading, southeast Asian tree, with pinnate leaves and yellow flowers. Tropical trees, to flower spectacularly, need a spell of dry weather which 210 Singapore doesn’t have. So flowering is sporadic, a branch here, a tree there, at random times. So flowering was sparse when I visited: some yellow flame trees had a partly yellow crown, whilst tropical shrubs coloured the pavements, particularly the lovely red Caesalpinia pulcherrima (from tropical America) and yellow Cassia species. To see avenues of rain trees arching over the highway is a magnificent sight.
    [Show full text]
  • Floristic Characteristics and Affinities in Lao PDR, with a Reference to the Biogeography of the Indochina Peninsula
    RESEARCH ARTICLE Floristic characteristics and affinities in Lao PDR, with a reference to the biogeography of the Indochina peninsula Hua Zhu* Center for Integrative Conservation, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, P. R. China * [email protected] a1111111111 a1111111111 Abstract a1111111111 a1111111111 The flora of Laos is composed of 5,005 species in 1,373 genera and 188 families of seed a1111111111 plants. Floristic and geographical attributes of the flora were analyzed. Tropical floristic ele- ments at the family and generic levels contributed a majority (62.23% of the families and 82.30% of the genera) of the flora, of which the dominant geographical elements were pan- tropical distribution (42.02% of families) and tropical Asian distribution (30.08% of genera). OPEN ACCESS This revealed that the flora of Lao PDR is tropical in nature and has a conspicuously tropical Citation: Zhu H (2017) Floristic characteristics and Asian affinity. Compared with the neighbouring countries of the Indochina peninsula, the affinities in Lao PDR, with a reference to the flora of Laos has similar floristic composition and geographical elements. The floras of these biogeography of the Indochina peninsula. PLoS ONE 12(6): e0179966. https://doi.org/10.1371/ Indochinese countries have similarities of more than 77.84% at the generic level, which journal.pone.0179966 suggests that they compose an affiliated biogeographical region. However, the flora of Editor: Tzen-Yuh Chiang, National Cheng Kung Laos showed the highest similarity to the flora of Vietnam (92.13%), followed by Myanmar University, TAIWAN (86.01%) at the generic level, but has less East Asian and North Temperate elements than Received: November 29, 2016 Vietnam, and less North Temperate elements than Myanmar.
    [Show full text]
  • Barringtonia Racemosa (L.) Spreng Lecythidaceae
    Barringtonia racemosa (L.) Spreng Lecythidaceae LOCAL NAMES Afrikaans (poeierkwasboom); Burmese (kyi,kye-bin); English (hippo apple,barringtonia,brack-water mangrove,common putat,freshwater mangrove,powder-puff tree,wild guava); Filipino (apalang); Indonesian (penggung,putat sungai,butun darat,butan darat); Lao (Sino-Tibetan) (som pawng); Malay (putat ayam,putat ayer,putat aying,putat kampong); Sanskrit (samudraphala); Swahili (mtomondo); Thai (chik suan,chik ban) BOTANIC DESCRIPTION Barringtonia racemosa is usually a small tree, 4-8 m in height but Flowers (Ellis RP) occasionally reaching 15 m; bark grey, yellow or brown, mottled, rather smooth to fissured; no aboveground roots but may have spreading surface roots. Leaves alternate, simple, crowded at the ends of the branches, large, obovate-oblong to oblanceolate, 8-35 x 4-13 cm; apex deep green, broadly tapering; base narrowly tapering, running into the petiole; margin entire or very shallowly toothed or scalloped; petiole very short, without hairs. Flowers attractive, white to pale pink, in many-flowered pendulous sprays; Foliage (Ellis RP) up to 60 cm in length or even more; bisexual; all floral parts in 4s; sepals joined at the base, separating in 3-4 lobes, green flushed with pink, about 10 x 7.5 mm; petal elliptic, up to 3 x 1 cm, attached to the staminal tube; stamens many, long, white or pinkish, forming a large central mass 3.5 cm in diameter; ovary 2 to 4 chambered; style red. Fruit conical to ovate, about 3 x 2 cm, crowned by the remains of the persistent calyx; style fleshy at first, later becoming hard, fibrous and yellowish-brown when mature.
    [Show full text]