Preparing seedlings for dry spells: drought acclimation in the seedlings of two tree species of a seasonal tropical dry forest

Abstract:Tree species are potential hosts for epiphytes; however in some forests epiphytes have a biased distribution among hosts. In a tropical dry forest of Mexico, previous research showed that there are trees with few epiphytes. It is possible that the bark of these hosts contain allelochemicals that influence epiphyte seed germination. The aims of this study were (1) to determine whether hosts with low epiphyte abundance (Ipomoea murucoides, I. pauciflora and Lysiloma acapulcense) would inhibit seed germination of Tillandsia recurvata through aqueous and organic bark extracts, (2) to determine whether germination of T. recurvata would differ among the hosts with low epiphyte abundance and a host with high epiphyte abundance (Bursera copallifera) and (3) to relate the chemical composition of organic bark extracts with inhibition of T. recurvata seed germination. Hexanic and dichloromethanic extracts were partially chemically characterized. Total phenolics and flavonoids concentrations of methanolic extracts were analysed. Aqueous and organic bark extracts from hosts with few epiphytes inhibited T. recurvata seed germination. Aqueous and dichloromethanic extracts of B. copallifera inhibited slightly the germination of T. recurvata. There was a positive correlation between concentration of flavonoids and inhibition of seed germination. Results suggest that a combination of compounds may be responsible for affecting the germination of T. recurvata. This study demonstrates the chemical effect of aqueous and organic bark extracts from hosts on germination of an epiphytic bromeliad.

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Density‐dependence in common tree species in a tropical dry forest in Mudumalai, southern India

Journal of Vegetation Science ◽

10.1658/1100-9233(2002)013[0045:ddicts]2.0.co;2 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 13 (1) ◽

pp. 45 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Robert John ◽

H.S. Dattaraja ◽

H.S. Suresh ◽

R. Sukumar

Keyword(s):

Density Dependence ◽

Tree Species ◽

Tropical Dry Forest ◽

Dry Forest ◽

Southern India ◽

Common Tree

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Differential Growth Responses to Water Balance of Coexisting Deciduous Tree Species Are Linked to Wood Density in a Bolivian Tropical Dry Forest

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0073855 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 8 (10) ◽

pp. e73855 ◽

Cited By ~ 25

Author(s):

Hooz A. Mendivelso ◽

J. Julio Camarero ◽

Oriol Royo Obregón ◽

Emilia Gutiérrez ◽

Marisol Toledo

Keyword(s):

Water Balance ◽

Wood Density ◽

Tree Species ◽

Tropical Dry Forest ◽

Dry Forest ◽

Deciduous Tree ◽

Growth Responses ◽

Differential Growth

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Tropical Dry Forest Phenology and Discrimination of Tropical Tree Species Using Hyperspectral Data

Hyperspectral Remote Sensing of Tropical and Sub-Tropical Forests ◽

10.1201/9781420053432.ch1 ◽

2008 ◽

pp. 1-25 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Karen Castro-Esau ◽

Margaret Kalacska

Keyword(s):

Tree Species ◽

Tropical Dry Forest ◽

Hyperspectral Data ◽

Dry Forest ◽

Tropical Tree ◽

Tropical Tree Species

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Seedling growth of five tropical dry forest tree species in relation to light and nitrogen gradients

Journal of Plant Ecology ◽

10.1093/jpe/rtt026 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 7 (3) ◽

pp. 250-263 ◽

Cited By ~ 22

Author(s):

S. N. Tripathi ◽

A. S. Raghubanshi

Keyword(s):

Seedling Growth ◽

Tree Species ◽

Tropical Dry Forest ◽

Forest Tree ◽

Dry Forest ◽

Forest Tree Species

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Secondary forest succession in a tropical dry forest: patterns of development across a 50-year chronosequence in lowland Bolivia

Journal of Tropical Ecology ◽

10.1017/s0266467402002031 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 18 (1) ◽

pp. 53-66 ◽

Cited By ~ 133

Author(s):

DEBORAH K. KENNARD

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Tree Species ◽

Stand Structure ◽

Secondary Forest ◽

Tropical Dry Forest ◽

Basal Area ◽

Forest Stand ◽

Dry Forest ◽

Stem Density ◽

Mature Forest

Stand structure, species richness and population structures of tree species were characterized in 12 stands representing 50 y of succession following slash-and-burn agriculture in a tropical dry forest in lowland Bolivia. Estimates of tree species richness, canopy cover and basal area reached or surpassed 75% of mature forest levels in the 5-, 8-, and 23-y-old stands respectively. Total stem density of the 50-y-old stand was almost twice that of the mature forest stand. This rapid recovery may be due to a high percentage of sprouting tree species, potentially high seed fall into abandoned fields, or the disturbance history of the mature stand. The even-aged size-class structures, dominance of long-lived pioneers, and presence of charcoal and pottery shards in soils of the mature forest stand suggest it formed after a severe disturbance, possibly fire of anthropogenic origin.

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