Abstract

PUECHAGUT, Patricia Beatriz; POLITI, Natalia; BELLIS, Laura Marisa  and  RIVERA, Luis Osvaldo. Flowering and fruiting patterns of Copernicia alba in northwestern Argentina in relation to palm size, precipitation and temperature. Ecología en Bolivia [online]. 2023, vol.58, n.1, pp.15-23.  Epub Apr 31, 2023. ISSN 1605-2528.

The aim of this work was to analyze Copernicia alba flowering and fruiting patterns and the number of fruits produced in relation to the height of the palms, rainfall, and temperature in a reference palm forest in northwestern Argentina. During 19 months 50 palm trees were followed to determine presence of flowers and fruits and count the number of fruits. Through logistic or Poisson regression models we assessed the probability of palms producing flowers, fruits and the number of fruits in relation to the height of the palm, rainfall, and temperature. Flowering was positively related to the palm size (z= 4.26; P< 0.01) and temperature (z= 3.00; P< 0.01). Fruiting was related positively to palm size (z= 4.73; P< 0.01), but negatively related to temperature (z= -1.93; P= 0.05). There was also, a positive relationship between the number of fruits and the palm size (z= 3.53; P < 0.05), but a negative relationship with temperature (z= -2.86; P < 0.05). The association of C. alba to produce reproductive structures according to the temperature is relevant in the current a context of global climate change. Higher temperatures could lead to earlier events of flowering and could compromise fruit production of C. alba in northwestern Argentina.

Keywords : Climate change; Palm forests; Phenology; Reproductive structures.

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