Abstract
The takamaka tree Calophyllum inophyllum is animportant component of indigenous coastal forests in the granitic Seychelles,found on most islands of the archipelago. In 1994, a fungal pathogen previouslyunrecorded in the Seychelles (Leptographium calophylli) wasdetected on takamaka. Since the first cases of the disease were observed, spreadof the disease has been rapid, both within and between islands. Attempts tocontrol the disease, involving both legislation and forest management, appear tohave had little impact in controlling the spread. In the six yearssince the disease was first recorded in the Seychelles, it has reached10 islands, including most of the large islands of the archipelago. Mortality ratesand rates of spread between trees appear to vary in different islands andsituations, but in some cases both appear to be high. This paper describes thedistribution of the disease in the granitic Seychelles six yearsafter it was first recorded, reviews the potential impact of the disease onconservation value and discusses management strategies to minimise the impact ofthe disease on endemic vertebrates.
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Hill, M., Currie, D. & Jivan Shah, N. The impacts of vascular wilt disease of the takamaka tree Calophyllum inophyllum on conservation value of islands in the granite Seychelles. Biodiversity and Conservation 12, 555–566 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1022436916922
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1022436916922