Revista de Biología Tropical, ISSN: 2215-2075, Vol. 69(2): 649-664, April-June 2021 (Published Jun. 09, 2021) 649 Martínez, B., López Camacho, R., Castillo, L.S., & Bernal, R. (2021). Phenology of the endangered palm Ceroxylon quindiuense (Arecaceae) along an altitudinal gradient in Colombia. Revista de Biología Tropical, 69(2), 649-664. https://doi.org/10.15517/rbt.v69i2.44835 https://doi.org/10.15517/rbt.v69i2.44835 Phenology of the endangered palm Ceroxylon quindiuense (Arecaceae) along an altitudinal gradient in Colombia Blanca Martínez1*; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7074-3534 René López Camacho1; https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2026-0371 Luis Santiago Castillo2; https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2193-7516 Rodrigo Bernal3; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9832-8498 1. Universidad Distrital Francisco José de Caldas, Bogotá, Colombia;
[email protected] (*Correspondence),
[email protected] 2. Instituto de Investigación de Recursos Biológicos Alexander von Humboldt, Bogotá, Colombia;
[email protected] 3. Reserva Natural Guadualito, Montenegro, Quindío, Colombia;
[email protected] Received 27-XI-2020. Corrected 20-III-2021. Accepted 18-V-2021. ABSTRACT Introduction: Understanding the phenology of plant populations is vital for their conservation and management. We studied the vegetative and reproductive phenology of the endangered palm Ceroxylon quindiuense along an altitudinal gradient in the Central Cordillera of Colombia. Objective: We describe the leaf production rate, and flowering and fruiting cycles, and calculate food offer for the fauna, as a tool for the proper management of the palm. Methods: At each sampling site (2 400, 2 600, 2 800, 3 000 m.a.s.l.), we marked 40 adult individuals (20 pistillate, 20 staminate), which we followed bimonthly for 24 months.