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ECOLOGICAL STUDY OF THE FLORIDA ROYAL PALM, ROYSTONEA ELATA (BARTRAM) F. HARPER

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Date Issued:
1983
Summary:
The object of this study was to determine habitat preference (seedlings) and adults) and the population status of the Florida Royal Palm (Roystonea elata (Bartram) F. Harper], in the Fakahatchee Strand State Preserve. Associated species, seedling establishment and germination, growth rates, size class ratios and elevation of establishment (epiphytic nature) were examined. The palm showed a preference for high ground as indicated by the increasing colonization of elevated logging tramways. Seeds germinated under low light conditions in 17-22 days. Seedlings had an escalating growth rate from 4.2 em/year for seedlings to approximately 50 em/year for adults. Each size class was well represented in the Fakahatchee Strand, suggesting that reproduction was not being hindered by changes in water level, cold and area urbanization. Elevation of seedling establishment was a function of water level during that particular year and did not correlate year to year. These data indicate a stabilization of the Royal Palm population in the Fakahatchee Strand.
Title: AN ECOLOGICAL STUDY OF THE FLORIDA ROYAL PALM, ROYSTONEA ELATA (BARTRAM) F. HARPER.
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Name(s): JONES, JULIE LYNN
Florida Atlantic University, Degree grantor
Austin, Daniel F., Thesis advisor
Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
Department of Biological Sciences
Type of Resource: text
Genre: Electronic Thesis Or Dissertation
Issuance: monographic
Date Issued: 1983
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
Place of Publication: Boca Raton, FL
Physical Form: application/pdf
Extent: 64 p.
Language(s): English
Summary: The object of this study was to determine habitat preference (seedlings) and adults) and the population status of the Florida Royal Palm (Roystonea elata (Bartram) F. Harper], in the Fakahatchee Strand State Preserve. Associated species, seedling establishment and germination, growth rates, size class ratios and elevation of establishment (epiphytic nature) were examined. The palm showed a preference for high ground as indicated by the increasing colonization of elevated logging tramways. Seeds germinated under low light conditions in 17-22 days. Seedlings had an escalating growth rate from 4.2 em/year for seedlings to approximately 50 em/year for adults. Each size class was well represented in the Fakahatchee Strand, suggesting that reproduction was not being hindered by changes in water level, cold and area urbanization. Elevation of seedling establishment was a function of water level during that particular year and did not correlate year to year. These data indicate a stabilization of the Royal Palm population in the Fakahatchee Strand.
Identifier: 14154 (digitool), FADT14154 (IID), fau:10966 (fedora)
Degree granted: Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 1983.
Collection: FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection
Note(s): Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
Subject(s): Palms--Florida
Held by: Florida Atlantic University Libraries
Persistent Link to This Record: http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/14154
Sublocation: Digital Library
Use and Reproduction: Copyright © is held by the author with permission granted to Florida Atlantic University to digitize, archive and distribute this item for non-profit research and educational purposes. Any reuse of this item in excess of fair use or other copyright exemptions requires permission of the copyright holder.
Use and Reproduction: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
Host Institution: FAU
Is Part of Series: Florida Atlantic University Digital Library Collections.