Publicação
Marcgravia longifolia, a keystone resource for vertebrates in Western Amazonia?
| Resumo: | Defining Keystone Plant Resources (KPRs) has been a difficult task amongst researchers. The most common parameters to describe a KPR relate to the impact of the latter on vertebrate assemblages, their fruit abundance and reliability and their importance during periods of fruit scarcity. This study, aims to fill a gap in the knowledge of Marcgravia longifolia ecology. This liana species is present in the Neotropics, and has the particular characteristic of producing fruits throughout its trunk, from low levels to the top. Therefore, we proposed it as a candidate KPR, since it can feed a wide range of vertebrates at different forest strata. The research was conducted at the Estación Biológica Quebrada Blanco (EBQB), in the Peruvian Amazon. Focal observations on different Marcgravia longifolia individuals revealed visitations by 17% by the bird species assemblage that exists at Quebrada Blanco (with approximately 324 species). When analyzing only species that actually fed on Marcgravia longifolia fruits, this percentage was still significant (14%). Additionally, phenology records showed that this species produced a high amount of fruits (ranging from 1516 to 5706 fruits per individual), while simultaneously having flowers available (with nectaries providing nectar). Fruits were shown to carry a high level of sugar, proteins and lipids, which potential makes them a very important resource for vertebrates in the community. Curiously, fruits also contained a considerable amount of tannins and phenols. These might constitute deterrents for vertebrate consumers of M. longifolia that are not efficient seed dispersers. Recognizing KPRs is of extreme importance when projecting or monitoring conservation areas, as well as for the creation of new policies and guidelines. However, it is important to highlight that the keystone status is not restricted to species, but instead context-dependent, with the community structure being the main responsible for this categorization. |
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| Autores principais: | Paciência, Filipa da Maia Domingues, 1986- |
| Assunto: | Ecologia Recursos chave Amazónia - Perú Teses de mestrado - 2014 |
| Ano: | 2014 |
| País: | Portugal |
| Tipo de documento: | dissertação de mestrado |
| Tipo de acesso: | acesso aberto |
| Instituição associada: | Universidade de Lisboa |
| Idioma: | inglês |
| Origem: | Repositório da Universidade de Lisboa |
| Resumo: | Defining Keystone Plant Resources (KPRs) has been a difficult task amongst researchers. The most common parameters to describe a KPR relate to the impact of the latter on vertebrate assemblages, their fruit abundance and reliability and their importance during periods of fruit scarcity. This study, aims to fill a gap in the knowledge of Marcgravia longifolia ecology. This liana species is present in the Neotropics, and has the particular characteristic of producing fruits throughout its trunk, from low levels to the top. Therefore, we proposed it as a candidate KPR, since it can feed a wide range of vertebrates at different forest strata. The research was conducted at the Estación Biológica Quebrada Blanco (EBQB), in the Peruvian Amazon. Focal observations on different Marcgravia longifolia individuals revealed visitations by 17% by the bird species assemblage that exists at Quebrada Blanco (with approximately 324 species). When analyzing only species that actually fed on Marcgravia longifolia fruits, this percentage was still significant (14%). Additionally, phenology records showed that this species produced a high amount of fruits (ranging from 1516 to 5706 fruits per individual), while simultaneously having flowers available (with nectaries providing nectar). Fruits were shown to carry a high level of sugar, proteins and lipids, which potential makes them a very important resource for vertebrates in the community. Curiously, fruits also contained a considerable amount of tannins and phenols. These might constitute deterrents for vertebrate consumers of M. longifolia that are not efficient seed dispersers. Recognizing KPRs is of extreme importance when projecting or monitoring conservation areas, as well as for the creation of new policies and guidelines. However, it is important to highlight that the keystone status is not restricted to species, but instead context-dependent, with the community structure being the main responsible for this categorization. |
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