Stand-level dieback and regeneration of forests in the Gal�pagos Islands

✍ Scribed by Lawesson, Jonas Erik

• Publisher: Springer-Verlag
• Year: 1988
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 518 KB
• Volume: 77
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1573-5052
• DOI: 10.1007/bf00045754

✦ Synopsis

Stand-level dieback and regeneration of forests in Galdpagos are discussed, and related to natural-and manmade disturbances. The dieback of Scalesiapedunculata (Asteraceae) in Galdpagos seems to follow the etiology and patterns seen in other pacific island groups. The currently large and synchronized cohorts of this earlysuccessional species, found on Santa Cruz Island, may be explained by severe disturbances such as the natural el Nifio phenomenon and human caused fires. It is suggested, that slow-growing species such as Zanthoxylum fagara, Psidium galapageium and Acnistus ellipticus have been suppressed by frequent fires in the highlands of Santa Cruz. The population dynamics of Scalesia pedunculata are suggested to follow a cyclus of 10-20 years duration, caused by senescence in the Scalesia stand, and promoted by extreme stress. Stand-level dieback is also reported from Scalesia cordata, Erythrina velutina and Miconia robinsoniana.