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The Conservation Genetics and Demography of Tahina spectabilis a Recently Discovered Monospecific Palm Genus from Madagascar
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The Conservation Genetics and Demography of Tahina spectabilis a Recently Discovered Monospecific Palm Genus from Madagascar

Heather E James, M Rakotoarinivo, W J Baker, J Dransfield and Alison Shapcott
International Meeting of the Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation (ATBC), 2010 (Bali, Indonesia, 19-Jul-2010–23-Jul-2010)
2010
url
http://atbc2010.org/View
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Abstract

Plant Biology
The recent discovery of the giant fan palm Tahina spectabilis from the foot of a small outcrop of 'tsingy' (karst limestone) in remote northwestern Madagascar caused great excitement in the world's press. The crowns of the palms are so large that they are visible using Google Earth. The species is the only member of a newly described coryphoid palm genus with its closest relatives in Asia; the palm is thus genetically and physically isolated. It flowers only once with a massive compound terminal inflorescence; after flowering and fruiting the individual palm dies. We undertook a complete survey of the population structure of T spectabilis and mapped the relative locations of all known individuals to determine the size of the population and the distribution of size classes of individuals. We also made collections of mature leaf material from all plants in the population that were greater than 30cm in height and from a selection of smaller seedlings. We thus sampled a total of 110 plants from three sites for analysis to determine the genetic variation within the species and the genetic relationships among the individuals within the population. The majority (85 out of 87) of the plants 30cm and taller and all the seedlings were found in a single population. Preliminary results will be presented. Together these results will be used to assess the long term viability of the species and to assist with its conservation management. There has been considerable interest in this species and local conservation management has been established; our results will be useful to guide further actions such as possible introductions of the species to new sites.

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