The risks of introduction of the Amazonian palm Euterpe oleracea in the Atlantic rainforest.

The introduction of a species may alter ecological processes of native populations, such as pollination and dispersal patterns, leading to changes in population structure. When the introduced and the native species are congeners, interference in pollination can also lead to hybridization. We aimed to understand the ecological aspects of Euterpe oleracea introduction in the Atlantic forest and the possible consequences for the conservation of the native congener Euterpe edulis. We analysed the population structure of palm populations, including hybrids, and observed the interaction with frugivorous birds of both palm species after E. oleracea introduction. We observed that E. edulis had significantly lower density and a smaller number of seedlings when occurring with E. oleracea. Native and introduced Euterpe species shared nine frugivorous bird species. E. oleracea and hybrids had dispersed outside the original planting area. Consequently, the risks of introduction of E. oleracea may mostly be related to the disruption of interactions between E. edulis and frugivorous birds and the spontaneous production of hybrids. Finally, the cultivation of E. oleracea and hybrids in Atlantic rainforest could affect the conservation of the already endangered E. edulis.

The risks of introduction of the Amazonian palm Euterpe oleracea in the Atlantic rainforest / Os riscos da introdução da palmeira amazônica Euterpe oleracea na Floresta Atlântica

Abstract The introduction of a species may alter ecological processes of native populations, such as pollination and dispersal patterns, leading to changes in population structure. When the introduced and the native species are congeners, interference in pollination can also lead to hybridization. We aimed to understand the ecological aspects of Euterpe oleracea introduction in the Atlantic forest and the possible consequences for the conservation of the native congener Euterpe edulis. We analysed the population structure of palm populations, including hybrids, and observed the interaction with frugivorous birds of both palm species after E. oleracea introduction. We observed that E. edulis had significantly lower density and a smaller number of seedlings when occurring with E. oleracea. Native and introduced Euterpe species shared nine frugivorous bird species. E. oleracea and hybrids had dispersed outside the original planting area. Consequently, the risks of introduction of E. oleracea may mostly be related to the disruption of interactions between E. edulis and frugivorous birds and the spontaneous production of hybrids. Finally, the cultivation of E. oleracea and hybrids in Atlantic rainforest could affect the conservation of the already endangered E. edulis.

Resumo A introdução de uma espécie pode alterar processos ecológicos de populações nativas, tais como padrões de polinização e dispersão, levando a mudanças na estrutura populacional. Quando espécies introduzidas e nativas são congêneres, a interferência na polinização pode levar também à hibridização. Nossos objetivos foram entender os aspectos ecológicos da introdução de Euterpe oleracea na Floresta Atlântica e as possíveis consequências sobre a conservação da congênere nativa Euterpe edulis. Para isso, analisamos a estrutura populacional, incluindo híbridos, e observamos a interação de aves frugívoras com ambas as espécies de palmeira após a introdução de E. oleracea. Observamos que E. edulis apresentou densidade total e número de plântulas menores quando coocorrente com E. oleracea. As palmeiras congenéricas compartilharam nove espécies de aves frugívoras. E. oleracea e híbridos foram dispersos além da área original de plantio. Consequentemente, os riscos da introdução de E. oleracea podem estar principalmente relacionados com o possível deslocamento de interações entre E. edulis e aves frugívoras e com a produção de híbridos. Desta forma, o cultivo de E. oleracea e híbridos podem afetar a conservação da já ameaçada E. edulis.

Germination and allometry of the native palm tree Euterpe edulis compared to the introduced E. oleracea and their hybrids in Atlantic rainforest.

Palms are distinctive plants of tropics and have peculiar allometric relations. Understanding such relations is useful in the case of introduced species because their ability to establish and invade must be clarified in terms of their responses in the new site. Our purpose was to assess the survival and invasive capacity of an introduced palm species in the Atlantic rainforest, Euterpe oleracea Mart., compared to the native Euterpe edulis Mart. and to the hybrids produced between the two species. Considering this, we compared the allometry in different ontogenetic stages, the germination rates, and aspects of the initial development. The ontogenetic stages proposed for both Euterpe illustrated the growth patterns described for palm trees. E. oleracea and hybrids adjusted to the geometric similarity allometric model, while E. edulis presented a slope greater than would be expected considering this model, indicating a greater height for a given diameter. E. oleracea showed the same amount of pulp per fruit as E. edulis and a similar initial development of seedlings. The main differences observed were a lower germination rate and a faster height gain of E. oleracea seedlings. We conclude that E. oleracea, which is similar to E. edulis in aspects of allometry, development, seed and seedling morphology, may be an important competitor of this native palm tree in the Atlantic Forest.