Abstract

RODRIGUEZ SOSA, José Luis; AGUILAR ESPINOSA, Calixto  and  RODRIGUEZ MILANES, José Yulier. Primary seed dispersal spatial patterns of Juglans jamaicensis C. DC. subsp. Jamaicensis. Rev cubana ciencias forestales [online]. 2018, vol.6, n.2, pp. 172-183. ISSN 2310-3469.

This work was carried out in two Zonal Units of Conservation of the Turquino National Park, with the seeds of seven trees in six locations, to characterize the dispersal of the seeds of Juglansjamaicensis subsp. jamaicensis in a protected area of national significance. For this, it was determined the dispersion of the seeds in parcels of 1 x 1 m located each 2 m along four 50-m length radial transects, guided toward the four cardinal points, from the base of the donating tree of seeds. Results revealed that the density of the seeds of Juglansjamaicensis dispersed on the surface of the ground, declined markedly with the distance from the plant. Maximum seed-dispersal distance was 23 m, and average distance was 13 m around the trees, comprising 84 % of dispersed seeds. Seed dispersal varied among the cardinal points, resulting in an asymmetric distribution pattern biased toward the north, as consequence of the land slope. Seed density on the ground surface averages 12 seeds per m2, forming a small seed bank under natural conditions. These elements constitute indicators of fragility of the species in front of interferences and external factors as well as the contagious distribution pattern of the species in the forest.

Keywords : Juglans jamaicensis; dispersion; seeds; seeds shadow.

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