Keywords
leaf production
Mompox Depression
NTFP
pioneer plants
population structure
seasonally flooded savanna
How to Cite
Abstract
Copernicia tectorum is a palm that grows in large populations on seasonally flooded savannas in the Caribbean region of Colombia, where its stems and expanded leaves are used in construction, and its unexpanded leaves are used to make handicrafts. We studied abundance and population structure in 34 plots of 20×10m (0.68 ha) of three localities (Plato, Córdoba and Magangué) at the Mompox Depression, an inner delta formed by the confluence of four large rivers. We recorded growth and mortality of 164 palms of different size classes over 13 months, and additionally we estimated seedling and juvenile mortality in two 10x10m plots within the same sites. Data analysis using Kolgomorov-Smirnov (KS), Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests were made on Statgraphics Plus and SPSS. We related the structure and dynamics of the palm stands to flood intensity. Copernicia tectorum has the fastest leaf production rate recorded for any palm (19-23 leaves/year in subadults and adults), and a short life span of ca. 46 years. The abundance, density and high leaf production rate of this palm offers a great potential for the sustainable use of its unexpanded leaves (especially at Plato, where there are ca. 480ha of palm stands with 300-1 000 individuals/ha), as leaf harvest from subadult and adult individuals does not appear to affect population structure. The palm is a pioneer of the flood plain, and the palm stands at particular sites appear to wax and wane following sedimentation dynamics, in which the species plays in important role. Current population structure and the scarce recruitment of juveniles at the study site suggest that the population is waning in that site. Management actions should be taken to reestablish natural river dynamics at the lagoon complex where the palm grows. Appropriate management of palm stands may contribute to minimize any negative effects of river dynamics.
References
Bernal, R., & Galeano, G. (Eds). (2013). Cosechar sin destruir: Aprovechamiento sostenible de palmas colombianas. Bogotá, Colombia: Universidad Nacional de Colombia.
Brueske, C. C., & Barrett, G. W. (1994). Effects of vegetation and hydrologic load on sedimentation patterns in experimental wetland ecosystems. Ecological Engineering, 3, 429-447.
Corner, E. J. H. (1966). The natural history of palms. London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson.
Defries, R. S. (1986). Effects of land-use history on sedimentation in the Potomac estuary Maryland: A water-quality study of the tidal Potomac River and estuary. Washington: United States Geological Survey, Water-Supply Paper 2234-K, United States Government Printing Office.
Fanshawe, D. (1967). The vegetable ivory palm Hyphaene ventricosa Kirk its ecology, silviculture and utilization. Kirkia, 6,105-117.
Galeano, G., & Bernal, R. (2010). Palmas de Colombia: Guía de Campo. Bogotá, Colombia: Editorial Universidad Nacional de Colombia.
Galeano, G., Bernal, R., Isaza, C., Navarro, J., García, N., Vallejo, M. I., & Torres, C. (2010). Evaluación de la sostenibilidad del manejo de palmas. Ecología en Bolivia, 45(3), 85-101.
Henderson, A. (2002). Evolution and ecology of palms. New York, NY: The New York Botanical Garden Press.
Instituto de Hidrología, Meteorología y Estudios Ambientales de Colombia. (2011). Informes hidrológicos diarios. Available at http://www.pronosticosyalertas.gov.co/jsp/loader.jsf?lServicio=Publicaciones&lTipo=publicaciones&lFuncion=loadContenidoPublicacion&id=751
Instituto Geográfico Agustín Codazzi. (1977). Zonas de vida o formaciones vegetales de Colombia. Bogotá, Colombia.
Kettner, A. J., Restrepo, J. D., & Syvitski, J. P. M. (2010). Spatial simulation experiment to replicate flufrasco sediment fluxes within the Magdalena River basin, Colombia. Journal of Geology, 118(4), 363-379.
Kitzke, E. D. (1958). A method for germinating Copernicia palm seeds. Principes, 2, 5-8.
Linares, E., Galeano, G., García, N., & Figueroa, Y. (2008). Fibras vegetales empleadas en artesanías en Colombia. Bogotá, Colombia: Artesanías de Colombia S.A., Universidad Nacional de Colombia.
Ministerio del Medio Ambiente. (2002). Plan de Manejo Integral de los Humedales, Subregión de la Depresión Momposina y Cuenca del Rio Sinú. Magangué, Colombia.
Parolin, P., Oliveira, A. C., Piedade, M. T. F., Wittmann, F., & Junk, W. J. (2002). Pioneer trees in Amazonian floodplains: Three key species form monospecific stands indifferent habitats. Folia Geobotanica, 37, 225-238.
Pasternak, G. B., & Brush, G. S. (1998). Sedimentation cycles in a river-mouth tidal freshwater marsh. Estuaries, 21, 407-415.
Peters, C. (1996). The ecology and management of non-timber forest resources. Washington, D.C.: The World Bank.
Pinard, M. A., & Putz, F. E. (1992). Population matrix models and palm resource management. Bulletin de I’Institut Franais d’Etudes Andines, 21, 637-649.
Plazas, C., Falchetti, A. M., van der Hammen, T., & Botero, P. (1988). Cambios ambientales y desarrollo cultural en el bajo río San Jorge. Boletín del Museo del Oro, 20, 58-59.
Puechagut, P., Politi, N., Bellis, L., & Rivera, L. (2012). A disappearing oasis in the semi-arid chaco: deficient palm regeneration and establishment. Journal for Nature Conservation, 21(1), 31-36.
Serodes, J. B., & Troude, J. P. (1984). Sedimentation cycle of a freshwater tidal flat in the St. Lawrence estuary. Estuaries, 7, 119-127.
Sokal, R. & Rohlf, F. (1995). Biometry: the principles and practice of statistics in biological research. 3rd edition. New York, NY: W. H. Freeman and Co.
Taube, E. (1952). Carnauba wax - product of a Braziliam palm. Economic Botany, 6, 379-401.
Ticktin, T. (2004). Review: the ecological implications of harvesting non-timber forest products. Journal of Applied Ecology, 41, 11-21.
Torres, M. C. (2013). Sará (Copernicia tectorum). In R. Bernal, & G. Galeano (Eds.), Cosechar sin destruir: Aprovechamiento sostenible de palmas colombianas (pp. 190-199). Bogotá, Colombia: Editorial Universidad Nacional de Colombia.
Troth, R. (1987). Ecology of woody plant communities in flooded savannas (Llanos) of central Venezuela, and the role of Copernicia tectorum (Palmae). (Ph. D. Dissertation). University of Michigan.
van der Hammen, T. (1986). Fluctuaciones holocénicas del nivel de inundaciones en la cuenca del Bajo Magdalena-Cauca-San Jorge (Colombia). Geología Norandina, 10, 11-18.
Vogl, R. J., & Mchargue, L. T. (1966). Vegetation of California Fan Palm Oases on the San Andreas Fault. Ecology, 47(4), 532-540.
Wong, J., Thornber, K., & Baker, N. (2001). Evaluación de los recursos de productos forestales no madereros: Experiencia y principios biométricos. (Productos forestales no madereros 13). Roma, Italia: Organización de las Naciones Unidas para la Agricultura y la Alimentación (FAO).
Comments
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Copyright (c) 2015 Revista de Biología Tropical