Disturbance and demography of Phylica arborea Rha

Authors: MILTON S J RYAN P G MOLONEY C L COOPER J DEAN W R J MEDEIROS A C

Publish Date: 1993/01/01

Volume: 111, Issue: 1, Pages: 55-70

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Abstract

S J MILTON P G RYAN C L MOLONEY J COOPER W R J DEAN A C MEDEIROS Disturbance and demography of Phylica arborea Rhamnaceae on the TristanGough group of islands Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society Volume 111 Issue 1 January 1993 Pages 55–70 https//doiorg/101111/j109583391993tb01890xPopulations of Phylica arborea Thouars an evergreen tree endemic to six southern oceanic islands have been depleted by wood gathering and browsing on Amsterdam Island and Tristan da Cunha and it was feared that introduced rodents were destroying seed and reducing regeneration on uninhabited Gough Island A comparison of the demography of this species on four islands in the TristanGough group suggests that rodents have little effect on seedling numberS Regeneration seldom occurs in undisturbed P Arborea groves germination and seedling survival appears to be dependent on periodical removal of established trees and understorey vegetation by soilslips and occasional fireS Climatic and vegetation differences problably account for the less frequent regeneration at Gough Island relative to that at the Tristan islands

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