Ethnobotanical
Leaflets 12: 343-347. 2008.
Resprouting of Pioneer and Climax Species in the Pachakumachi Hills,
Jegan,
G., Ramesh, G. and Muthuchelian,
K.
Centre for
Biodiversity and
Madurai – 625 021, Tamil Nadu, India.
Corresponding Author: drchelian1960@yahoo.co.in
Issued
Abstract
The
resprouting ability of plant species allows them to
remain in the ecosystem. Resprouting of pioneer and
climax species are dependent upon the light regime.
Pioneer species need light for regeneration as well as for resprouting.
But in the case of climax species it is reverse.
Keywords: Mallotus
tetracoccus, Diospyros ovalifolia and
forest gap.
Introduction
Woody plants are subjected to various types of
physical disturbances that lead to the loss of foliage or stems. Whether a
species is able to resprout is in many cases a direct
function of the frequency and intensity of the disturbance. Disturbance
and the possibility of damage are ubiquitous aspects of the life of plants. The
formation of open gaps in the forest leads to a rapid recruitment and
development of the canopy. Such forest gaps maintain high pioneer tree density
and diversity. However, forest openings do not appear to maintain species
diversity of non-pioneer, shade- tolerant trees. Patterns of plant growth and
other ecological processes are thought to vary as a function of gap size, since
gap size directly affects light levels and microclimates, and also affect
nutrient availability.
Commonly, tree species regenerate from their seeds and seedlings. However, another form of regeneration is resprouting, which is a form of vegetative reproduction in higher plants. In tropical forests that are prone to large-scale disturbances, such as hurricanes, plants of all sizes often survive and resprout after being damaged (Walker 1991; Yih et al., 1991; Basnet 1993; Bellingham et al. 1994). However, the question of exactly how frequently resprouting takes place in forest gaps is one which is not fully answered in detail in the literature. In this study we encountered the resprouting of the pioneer and climax species with respect to closed canopy, small gaps and larger gaps. Resprouting helps species to maintain their diversity in the forest community.
Materials and Methods
Study Site
Our study site in the Pachakumachi
hills, of
Resprouting
Mallotus tetracoccus (Roxb) Kurz and Diospyros ovalifolia Wight were identified as pioneer and climax species respectively. The resprouting of Mallotus tetracoccus (Roxb) Kurz (a pioneer species) and Diospyros ovalifolia Wight (a climax species) were noted under the following three conditions: 1) closed canopy regions; 2) small gaps; and, 3) forest gaps. We tagged the damaged trees in all three regions. Also, the authors noted the evidence of resprouting every month for a period of two years (2006- 2008).
Results and Discussion
Table 1 shows the number of damaged, resprouted and non-resprouted
individuals for both species. Larger gaps clearly favor the resprouting
of the pioneer species, Mallotus tetracoccus.
But in the case of Diospyros ovalifolia, closed canopy conditions stimulate resprouting; whereas non-sprouting individuals were more
common in open gap areas.
Acknowledgements
We thank UGC for their financial support of this project. We also thank Selvam for his help during the field study. Our sincere thanks to Tamil Nadu Forest Department for their permission.
References
Basnet, K., 1993. Recovery
of a tropical rain forest after hurricane damage. Vegetatio 109, 1-4.
Yih, K.,
Boucher, D.H., Vandermeer, J.H. & Zamora, N.
1991. Recovery of the rain forest of southeastern
Fig 1. Resprouting of the vegetation.
Fig 2.
