Vegetatio

, Volume 77, Issue 1–3, pp 87–93 | Cite as

Stand-level dieback and regeneration of forests in the Galápagos Islands

  • Jonas Erik Lawesson
Article
Accepted:

Abstract

Stand-level dieback and regeneration of forests in Galápagos are discussed, and related to natural- and man-made disturbances. The dieback of Scalesia pedunculata (Asteraceae) in Galápagos seems to follow the etiology and patterns seen in other pacific island groups. The currently large and synchronized cohorts of this early-successional species, found on Santa Cruz Island, may be explained by severe disturbances such as the natural el Niño 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.

Keywords

Cohort Disturbance Oceanic island Pioneer tree Scalesia Senescence 
This is a preview of subscription content, log in to check access.

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. de Vries, T. & Tupiza, A. in press. The dynamics of six stands of Scalesia cordata in permanent plots in different habitats in Sierra Negra, Isabela, Galápagos. Monogr. Syst. Bot.Google Scholar
  2. Eckhardt R. C. 1972. Introduced plants and animals in the Galápagos Islands. Bioscience 22: 585–598.Google Scholar
  3. Eliasson U. 1984. Native climax forests. In: Perry R. (ed.), Key environments. Galápagos, pp. 101–114. Pergamon Press, Oxford.Google Scholar
  4. Hallé F., Oldeman R. A. A. & Tomlinson P. B. 1978. Tropical trees and forests. An architectural analysis. Springer Verlag, Berlin.Google Scholar
  5. Hamann O. 1979. Dynamics of a stand of Scalesia pedunculata Hooker fil., Santa Cruz Island, Galápagos. J. Linn. Soc. Bot. 78: 67–84.Google Scholar
  6. Hamann O. 1981. Plant communities of the Galápagos Islands. Dansk Bot. Ark. 34: 1–163.Google Scholar
  7. Hamann O. 1985. The el Niño influence on the Galápagos vegetation. In: Robinson G. & del Pino E. M. (eds), The Niño in the Galápagos Islands: the 1982–1983 event: 299–330. Charles Darwin Foundation, Quito, Ecuador.Google Scholar
  8. Hendrix L. B. & Smith S. D. 1986. Post-eruption Revegetation of Isla Fernandina, Galápagos: II. Nat. Geogr. Res. 2(1): 6–16.Google Scholar
  9. Kastdalen A. 1982. Changes in the biology of Santa Cruz Island between 1935 and 1965. Not. Galápagos 35: 7–12.Google Scholar
  10. Mueller-Dombois D. 1983. Canopy dieback and successional processes in pacific forests. Pacific Sci. 37: 317–325.Google Scholar
  11. Mueller-Dombois D. 1987. Natural dieback in forests. Bioscience 37: 575–583.Google Scholar
  12. Naranjo P. 1985. El fenomeno el Niño y sus efectos en el clima del Ecuador. In: G. Robinson & E. M. del Pino (eds), El Niño in the Galápagos Islands: The 1982–1983 Event. Charles Darwin Foundation, Quito, Ecuador.Google Scholar
  13. Nowak, J. B., Lawesson, J. E., Adsersen, H. & de Vries, T. in press. The post fire vegetation dynamics on southern Isabela, Galápagos Islands, Monogr. Syst. Bot.Google Scholar
  14. Perry R. 1984 (ed.). Key environments. Galápagos. Pergamon Press, Oxford.Google Scholar
  15. Robinson G. & del Pino E. M. 1985 (eds). El Niño in the Galápagos Islands: the 1982–1983 event. Charles Darwin Foundation, Quito, Ecuador.Google Scholar
  16. van der Werff, H. H. 1978. The vegetation of the Galápagos Islands. Thesis Utrecht.Google Scholar

Copyright information

© Kluwer Academic Publishers 1988

Authors and Affiliations

  • Jonas Erik Lawesson
    • 1
  1. 1.Botanical InstituteUniversity of AarhusRisskovDenmark

Personalised recommendations