Is Oncidium poikilostalix an invasive species? Population ecology and reproductive behavior of this epiphytic orchid in Chiapas, Mexico

Background and Aims: Biological invasions are considered as second to habitat loss as a cause of the extinction of species. The study of population dynamics is particularly relevant for species with expansive behavior. The aims of this study were to: (1) evaluate the population ecology of Oncidium p...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Acta botánica mexicana 2018 (125), p.215-230
Main Authors: Raventós Bonvehí, José, García González, Alfredo, Aguilar Romero, Osiris, Riverón-Giró, Frander Brian, Damon, Anne
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
conservación
conservation
demografía
demography
epiphytic orchids
floración
flowering
orquídeas epífitas
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Summary:Background and Aims: Biological invasions are considered as second to habitat loss as a cause of the extinction of species. The study of population dynamics is particularly relevant for species with expansive behavior. The aims of this study were to: (1) evaluate the population ecology of Oncidium poikilostalix in shaded coffee plantations in Mexico, (2) evaluate the reproductive behavior of O. poikilostalix in this habitat, and (3) determine whether this orchid should be considered as an invasive species. Methods: During 2013-2015, most of the individuals of the Mexican population of O. poikilostalix (located south of the state Chiapas) were marked and measured. Additionally, the flower and fruit production (first flowering and repeated flowering), mortality and recruitment of new individuals were registered annually, and its potential distribution was modeled. Key results: Within this period a population increase of 1.11% was observed, with a proportional increase in the number of flowers and fruits. There was a strong correlation between the leaf area of individuals and the production of flower spikes (R=0.690, p
ISSN:2448-7589
0187-7151
DOI:10.21829/abm125.2018.1370