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- Title
Growth and competition between seedlings of an invasive plantation tree,Acacia mangium,and those of a native Borneo heath-forest species,Melastoma beccarianum.
- Authors
Osunkoya, Olusegun O.; Othman, Farah E.; Kahar, Rafhiah S.
- Abstract
An introduced plantation tree species,Acacia mangiumWilld., is becoming invasive in the Brunei region of Borneo. To examine its invasive potential, a greenhouse, additive series experiment (target-neighbour) involving seedlings ofA. mangiumand those of a common native heath-forest (kerangas),Melastoma beccarianumCogn. was carried out under low and high light regimes in intra- and interspecific combinations over a 6-month period. Significant variations in growth parameters (other than biomass allocation patterns) existed amongst seedlings from different treatments. A major part of this variation in growth could be attributed to the main factors of target species, neighbour species, and competition (seedling density). For the growth variables examined, the target-species response was not consistent across light regimes. Under high light conditions,Acaciawas the better competitor; the Lotka-Volterra competition coefficient effect ofMelastomaonAcaciawas lower (a=0.30) than the effect ofAcaciaonMelastoma(ß=0.54). However, the reverse occurred under low light conditions withMelastomagaining the upper hand (a=1.45 andß=0.44). These results show that light (and hence disturbance) can strongly influence the pattern and intensity of both intra- and interspecific competition between invasive and local flora species. Relatively intact forest is unlikely to be invaded byAcaciatrees (as they are poor competitors under this scenario). On the other hand, theAcaciatrees can easily invade disturbed forests, especially those prone to recurring drought and fire, and over time convert the habitats to nearly monospecific stands, as is presently being observed in Brunei.
- Subjects
BRUNEI; SEEDLINGS; BIOMASS; GREENHOUSE gardening; ACACIA; BOTANY
- Publication
Ecological Research, 2005, Vol 20, Issue 2, p205
- ISSN
0912-3814
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1007/s11284-004-0027-4