Dendroecology of Montpellier maple's population (Acer monspessulanum) from the North Africa region: Analysis of maple stations characteristics and natural habitat

Acer monspessulanum (maple) is an endemic endangered tree with a wide but fragmented distribution in the Mediterranean mountains. The persistence of its small populations depends often on few adults, which makes it is highly vulnerable to limiting recruitment factors. In this paper, we examined the...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Plant biosystems 2018-01, Vol.152 (1), p.98-109
Main Authors: Mechergui, K., Jaouadi, W., Khouja, M. L.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acer monspessulanum
Adults
Alkaline soils
Biodiversity
biometry
Clay loam
Clay soils
dendroecology
Ecological monitoring
Ecological niches
Genetic diversity
Genetic variability
Geographical distribution
Herbivores
Loam
Loam soils
Maple variation
Mountains
National parks
North Africa
pH effects
Plants (botany)
Population
Populations
Recruitment
Regeneration
Sandy loam
Shrubs
Soil analysis
soil characteristic
Soil properties
Soil structure
Soil texture
Soils
Species diversity
Texture
Viability
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Summary:Acer monspessulanum (maple) is an endemic endangered tree with a wide but fragmented distribution in the Mediterranean mountains. The persistence of its small populations depends often on few adults, which makes it is highly vulnerable to limiting recruitment factors. In this paper, we examined the regeneration status of this maple in three populations through its geographical distribution in the mountain range of the Tunisian dorsal (Jbel Srerej national park and sacred site). Morphological parameters, genetic variability, and diversity were analyzed as species viability indicators. The ecological site of maple was studied based on the soil texture and structure under the population, additionally to the role of shrubs as nurse plants in maple regeneration dynamic. Here, the maple population in Tunisia was investigated for the first time. The results show that Acer monspessulanum population has a variation terms of height, stem diameter and crown diameter, it also shows that there is a good natural regeneration. Analysis of the soil's physicochemical parameters showed that the species grows on sandy loam and clay loam soil, shallow and slightly alkaline pH. This study contributes to better characterization of the Tunisian maple population and its ecological niche from the standpoint of soil and vegetation.
ISSN:1126-3504
1724-5575
DOI:10.1080/11263504.2016.1255269