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Reproductive traits of tropical rain-forest trees in New Caledonia

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dc.contributor.authorCarpenter, R.
dc.contributor.authorRead, J.
dc.contributor.authorJaffre, T.
dc.date.issued2003
dc.description.abstractReproductive traits of 123 species of rain-forest tree from ultramafic regions of New Caledonia were assessed, mainly from herbarium specimens. Most species had extremely small, simple, pale-coloured flowers that are probably mainly pollinated by small insects, but not including bees. The seeds of most species were considered to be bird dispersed. However, wind is also important for pollination and seed dispersal. The phenological trend was for an increase in the number of species flowering and fruiting around the end of the warm dry season/start of the hot wet season, followed by a decline at the end of the wet season, and lower proportions during the cooler season. Seed size was significantly correlated with fruit size. Other correlations, between flower size and fruit size, and between seed size and seed number, were significant using species as independent observations, but did not hold following phylogenetic correction. Compared with non-dioecious species, dioecious species had significantly larger seeds, and a greater proportion of species with biotic dispersal, abiotic pollination and solitary (female) flowers. The long-term persistence of at least the larger-seeded tree species in New Caledonia is precarious, since the endemic giant pigeon, Ducula goliath, is probably their principal effective disperser, and this species is in decline.
dc.description.statementofresponsibilityRaymond J. Carpenter, Jennifer Read and Tanguy Jaffre
dc.identifier.citationJournal of Tropical Ecology, 2003; 19(4):351-365
dc.identifier.doi10.1017/S0266467403003407
dc.identifier.issn0266-4674
dc.identifier.issn1469-7831
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2440/48082
dc.language.isoen
dc.provenancePublished online by Cambridge University Press 04 Jul 2003
dc.publisherCambridge University Press (CUP)
dc.rightsCopyright © 2003 Cambridge University Press
dc.source.urihttps://doi.org/10.1017/s0266467403003407
dc.subjectdispersers
dc.subjectflowers
dc.subjectfruits
dc.subjectpollinators
dc.subjectseeds
dc.titleReproductive traits of tropical rain-forest trees in New Caledonia
dc.typeJournal article
pubs.publication-statusPublished

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