Indian Journal of Science and Technology

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Ecology of a Dioecious Palm Phoenix pusilla (Arecaceae), Endemic to Coromandel Coast of India


Affiliations
1 Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Pondicherry University, Puducherry- 605014, India
 

The influence of light on Phoenix pusilla, in different matrices- savanna, plantation, tropical dry evergreen forest and open area was studied. Its individuals in 40, 100m2 quadrats were classed into four ontogenic stages. The palm showed increasing clumping up to juvenile stage in plantation, savanna and forest, with decreasing densities in succeeding ontogenic stage, suggesting survival of Phoenix pusilla only in favorable microhabitats. In addition, Phoenix pusilla found in multi-species aggregates in open area, show decreasing clumping with decreasing densities, caused by density-dependant forces also. Sex ratio deviates only in open area from 1:1. Mantel test results indicate preference to microhabitats with higher light intensity by female but not male adults, suggesting a partial niche differentiation between sexes. Thus micro-habitat heterogeneity influences dispersion and population structure of Phoenix pusilla.

Keywords

Dispersion, Light Gradient, Microhabitat, Niche Differentiation, Phoenix Palm, Population Structure
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  • Ecology of a Dioecious Palm Phoenix pusilla (Arecaceae), Endemic to Coromandel Coast of India

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Authors

Vijayalaxmi Kinhal
Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Pondicherry University, Puducherry- 605014, India
N. Parthasarathy
Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Pondicherry University, Puducherry- 605014, India

Abstract


The influence of light on Phoenix pusilla, in different matrices- savanna, plantation, tropical dry evergreen forest and open area was studied. Its individuals in 40, 100m2 quadrats were classed into four ontogenic stages. The palm showed increasing clumping up to juvenile stage in plantation, savanna and forest, with decreasing densities in succeeding ontogenic stage, suggesting survival of Phoenix pusilla only in favorable microhabitats. In addition, Phoenix pusilla found in multi-species aggregates in open area, show decreasing clumping with decreasing densities, caused by density-dependant forces also. Sex ratio deviates only in open area from 1:1. Mantel test results indicate preference to microhabitats with higher light intensity by female but not male adults, suggesting a partial niche differentiation between sexes. Thus micro-habitat heterogeneity influences dispersion and population structure of Phoenix pusilla.

Keywords


Dispersion, Light Gradient, Microhabitat, Niche Differentiation, Phoenix Palm, Population Structure

References





DOI: https://doi.org/10.17485/ijst%2F2008%2Fv1i3%2F29227