Abstract

CAMBRONERO, Liz Brenes  and  DI STEFANO, José Francisco. Rev. biol. trop [online]. 2006, vol.54, n.4, pp.1179-1188. ISSN 0034-7744.

Possible influence of ramets on the population structure and distribution of the giant tree Warszewiczia uxpanapensis, Tilarán Mountain Range, Costa Rica. The distribution and population structure of Warszewiczia (=Elaeagia) uxpanapensis , a tree that reaches a height of 45 m, a DBH of 1.40 m and 8 m tall buttresses, was studied on two 1-ha plots of premontane pluvial forest. It had a frequency of 49 % and a mean dominance of 6.5 %. The adult distribution was random (mean distance to the nearest neighboring tree in plot 1, it was 14.26 m, n= 15; Clark-Evans Index (IC-E)= 1.07; in plot 2, it was 15.33 m, n= 18, IC-E= 1.34,). The seedlings represented 60.3 % of the sampled population (plot 1, n= 94; plot 2, n= 85). This species has a very high capability of propagating itself vegetatively through clones ("ramets"), which influence its distribution and population structure. With a ramet density in plot 1 of 0.8 and in plot 2 of 0.3/ 100 m², its propagation could be from fallen trees or branches (which also create clearings in the forest) or from standing trees and even live branches that produce adventitious roots. Rev. Biol. Trop. 54 (4): 1179-1188. Epub 2006 Dec. 15

Keywords : clone; damage; population structure; ramets; Rubiaceae; vegetative propagation.

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