Precipitation variation and its effects on the reproductive success and survival of Lepanthes jimenezii (Orchidaceae), May 2007

Alternative Title

Variación en la precipitación y sus efectos sobre el éxito reproductivo y la supervivencia de Lepanthes jimenezii (Orchidaceae)

Creator

Katherine McCall

Files

Publication Date

May 2007

Abstract

Tropical cloud forests like that found in Monteverde, Costa Rica rely heavily on daily precipitation in the form of mist during the misty-windy and dry seasons. Studies have shown that this mist is occurring less frequently due to climate change (Pounds et al. 1999). This field study examines the effects of increased precipitation frequency, to mimic that found in the 1970s, on a specific member of the Orchidaceae family, Lepanthes jimenezii (Pounds et al. 1999). Additionally it compares such effects with those that L. jimenezii experiences in current conditions and those that may occur in the future. I divided a group of 83 orchids into three different sample groups. The first was exposed to ambient (and contemporary) conditions, the second to supplemented mist (1970s conditions) and the third to conditions that decreased the frequency of current precipitation (potential future conditions), although not volume. An ANCOVA test of covariance determined that average leaf change was positive only in the supplemented orchids showing that higher reproductive success is more common in orchids with more frequent precipitation (F = 56.59, p < 0.0001). With 82% mortality in the orchid group with restricted precipitation frequency, 64 % mortality in the ambient orchids, and only 10% mortality in the group of orchids given supplemented mist, results suggest that L. jimenezii is negatively impacted by current and future conditions with more variable precipitation, and that the mistier 1970s conditions provide an adequate habitat for the orchids.

Resumen

Este estudio examina los efectos del aumento de frecuencia en las precipitaciones, para imitar la que se encontro en 1970, en un determinado miembro de la familia Orchidaceae, Lepanthes jimenezii (Pounds et al. 1999). Además compara tales efectos con los que L. jimenezii experimenta en las condiciones actuales y las que pueden ocurrir en el futuro.

Keywords

Orchids, Rainfall anomalies, Reproduction, CIEE Spring 2007

Palabras claves

Orquídeas, Anomalías de precipitación, Reproducción, CIEE Primavera 2007

Extent

13 pages

Geographic Location

Monteverde (Puntarenas, Costa Rica)

Holding Location

Monteverde Institute

Language

English; Spanish

Media Type

Articles

Format

Digital Only

Identifier

M39-00382

Type

Book

Recommended Citation

McCall, Katherine, "Precipitation variation and its effects on the reproductive success and survival of Lepanthes jimenezii (Orchidaceae), May 2007" (2007). Monteverde Institute: Tropical Ecology and Conservation. 547.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/tropical_ecology/547