Breeding system and pollination of Gesneria pauciflora (Gesneriaceae), a threatened Caribbean species

Pérez, Mervin E.; Meléndez‐Ackerman, Elvia J.; Monsegur-Rivera, Omar A.

doi:10.1016/j.flora.2018.02.009

Cited by 6 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 65 publications

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“…Gesneria pauciflora (Gesneriaceae) is a stemmed plant with a woody basal stem; branches are erect or decumbent (Liogier, ), and large plants tend to form creeping mats with fragile branches. Plants produce orange, tubular flowers that are about 2 cm long and are pollinated by hummingbirds (Pérez et al., ). Gesneria pauciflora is a self‐compatible species capable of producing fruits and seeds via autogamy (Pérez et al., ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Plants produce orange, tubular flowers that are about 2 cm long and are pollinated by hummingbirds (Pérez et al., ). Gesneria pauciflora is a self‐compatible species capable of producing fruits and seeds via autogamy (Pérez et al., ). In the wild, individual plants produce an average of 140.3 (±26.2) healthy seeds with a germination rate in vitro estimated at 67.5% (±8.1%; Pérez et al., ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Gesneria pauciflora is a self‐compatible species capable of producing fruits and seeds via autogamy (Pérez et al., ). In the wild, individual plants produce an average of 140.3 (±26.2) healthy seeds with a germination rate in vitro estimated at 67.5% (±8.1%; Pérez et al., ). Even though flowering and fruiting occur throughout the year, these processes peak during the wet and dry season, respectively (M. Pérez et al., unpublished manuscript).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Even though flowering and fruiting occur throughout the year, these processes peak during the wet and dry season, respectively (M. Pérez et al., unpublished manuscript). Floral herbivory of the species is low (12%; Pérez et al., ) and appears to track flower bud production (M. Pérez et al., unpublished manuscript). The species inhabits riparian environments and is always associated to wet rocky habitat near to the stream flow.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…We used logistic regression to evaluate the association of the size index with survival and flowering rates, generalized linear model using Poisson regression to evaluate the association of the size index with fruit production, and linear regression to evaluate the association of the size index with growth. To generate an establishment probability, we estimated the total number of seeds produced from time t to time t + 1 by multiplying the total number of fruits in census i by the estimated average number of seed produced per fruit in wild conditions (140.3 ± 26.2 seeds; Pérez et al., ), and divided the number of seedlings in census i by the number of seeds. We assumed that the size of new seedlings was independent of the maternal plant size (because it was not possible to link seedlings with individual plants) and fitted a linear regression model with the intercept only, and these parameters were included in the fecundity function assuming a normal distribution.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Variation across river channels in demographic dynamics of a riparian herb with threatened status: management and conservation implications

Pérez

Meléndez‐Ackerman

Monsegur-Rivera

2019

American J of Botany

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Premise Gesneria pauciflora is a rare, threatened plant in riparian forests. Periodic disturbances, expected in this habitat, could influence demographic dynamics on plant populations, yet their impact may not be the same across the watershed. We hypothesized that differences in disturbances between the main channel and tributaries may lead to spatial dissimilarities in population growth rate (λ), structure, and fecundity. Methods In the Maricao River Watershed in Puerto Rico, 1277 plants were tagged and monitored for 1.5 years. Every 6 months, we measured plant size and recorded survival, fecundity, and appearance of seedlings. These variables were used in integral projection models to assess the population status of G. pauciflora. Results Plants in the main channel were smaller but more likely to flower and fruit than those in the tributaries. Overall mortality was greater in the main channel and greater during the rainy season. At both sites, λ ranged from 0.9114 to 0.9865, and survival/growth of larger plants had a greater effect on λ (>0.90) regardless of site. Conclusions Values for population growth rates suggest that G. pauciflora is declining across the watershed. Higher mortality rates in the main channel (more‐perturbed sites) might drive G. pauciflora to reproduce at smaller sizes, while tributaries (less‐perturbed sites) might be better for growth and lead to larger plant sizes. Extreme climatic events are expected to increase in the Caribbean and might decrease the population if the population is left unmanaged. Management strategies that reduce the time plants require to reach larger sizes might be necessary to increase λ, and reintroduction using cuttings might be a possible solution.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Variation across river channels in demographic dynamics of a riparian herb with threatened status: management and conservation implications

Pérez

Meléndez‐Ackerman

Monsegur-Rivera

2019

American J of Botany

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Resolving a paradox—high mercury deposition, but low bioaccumulation in northeastern Puerto Rico

et al. 2019

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At a "clean air" trade winds site in northeastern Puerto Rico, we found an apparent paradox: atmospheric total mercury (THg) deposition was highest of any site in the USA Mercury Deposition Network, but assimilation into the local food web was quite low. Avian blood THg concentrations (n = 31, from eight species in five foraging guilds) ranged widely from 0.2 to 32 ng g−1 (median of 4.3 ng g−1). Within this population, THg was significantly greater at a low-elevation site near a wetland compared to an upland montane site, even when the comparison was limited to a single species. Overall, however, THg concentrations were approximately an order of magnitude lower than comparable populations in the continental U.S. In surface soil and sediment, potential rates of demethylation were 3 to 9-fold greater than those for Hg(II)-methylation (based on six radiotracer amendment incubations), but rates of change of ambient MeHg pools showed a slight net positive Hg(II)-methylation. Thus, the resolution of the paradox is that MeHg degradation approximately keeps pace with MeHg production in this landscape. Further, any net production of MeHg is subject to frequent flushing by high rainfall on chronically wet soils. The interplay of these microbial processes and hydrology appears to shield the local food web from adverse effects of high atmospheric mercury loading. This scenario may play out in other humid tropical ecosystems as well, but it is difficult to evaluate because coordinated studies of Hg deposition, methylation, and trophic uptake have not been conducted at other tropical sites.

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Multiple reproductive modes of Myrcianthes coquimbensis (Myrtaceae), an endangered shrub endemic to the Atacama Desert

García-Guzmán

Loayza

Squeo

2020

Flora

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Breeding system and pollination of Gesneria pauciflora (Gesneriaceae), a threatened Caribbean species

Cited by 6 publications

References 65 publications

Variation across river channels in demographic dynamics of a riparian herb with threatened status: management and conservation implications

Variation across river channels in demographic dynamics of a riparian herb with threatened status: management and conservation implications

Resolving a paradox—high mercury deposition, but low bioaccumulation in northeastern Puerto Rico

Multiple reproductive modes of Myrcianthes coquimbensis (Myrtaceae), an endangered shrub endemic to the Atacama Desert

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