Zhang Lixin. Ecology and population dynamics of aquilaria crassna in Khao Yai national park of Thailand. Doctoral Degree(Biology ). Mahidol University. : Mahidol University, 2004.
Ecology and population dynamics of aquilaria crassna in Khao Yai national park of Thailand
Abstract:
The goal of this study was to elucidate the population dynamics of the tree,
Aquilaria crassna, which produces highly valued aloewood. Through this we can
obtain an overall scenario of recent state of the population and then provide advice
for conservation management. We used a matrix projection model and failure time
analysis to determine the magnitude and consequences of seedfall dynamics and
recruitment limitation, and demographic parameters. We obtained 3 years (2001-
2003) of empirical data from a completely censused 9-ha plot, using seedtrap data
and sowing experiments to construct a basic size-structured projection matrix. This
size-structured population was characterized by a short-lived seed bank (mean
expected life of fruits were about 4-8 days), severe establishment limitation of
seedlings (0.44 recruits per tree), high mortality of seedlings (4-16 %), and low or
moderate mortality of juveniles and adults (0-4 %). Growth of seedlings varied
from 6-14 cm/y in height, and that of juveniles increased with size reaching a peak
at the largest size at 0.62 cm/y in dbh. We assumed that (1) fecundity of the tree
was random for seed produced supra-annually, or masting, (2) large trees didn’t
necessarily produce more fruits and more recruits, and (3) the population was
clumped and mortality inversely density-dependent spatially .The observed size
distribution was reasonably close to the stable size distribution (similarity = 73 %).
The major difference between stable size (SSD) and initial size distribution (ISD)
was in the first size-class, whose frequency was low owing to severe establishment
limitation. The population growth rate (λ), given by the dominant eigenvalue of the
matrix, was 1.015. The confidence interval of bootstrapped λ was 1.006~1.056.
Incorporating density-dependence, λ was 0.9947. These results coincided with the
paradigm that many of tropical tree growth rates are near 1. This equilibrium was
realized both by density-dependent and density-independent factors. Population
growth was more sensitive to tree growth rate than to survivorship, and fecundity
was the least sensitive. And large trees had large sensitivities and elasticities. That
is, if large trees are poached, the population would be affected more and would
become threatened