Deforestation is the turning point for the spreading of a weedy epiphyte: an IBM approach

Author(s)

Neves Chaves, Cleber Juliano ^{[1, 2]} ; Santos Leal, Barbara Simoes ^{[1, 2]} ; Rossatto, Davi Rodrigo ^[3] ; Berger, Uta ^[4] ; Palma-Silva, Clarisse ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Estadual Campinas, Inst Biol, Dept Biol Vegetal, BR-13083862 Campinas - Brazil

^[2] Univ Estadual Paulista, Inst Biociencias, Programa Posgrad Ecol & Biodiversidade, BR-13506900 Rio Claro - Brazil

^[3] Univ Estadual Paulista, Dept Biol, BR-14884900 Jaboticabal - Brazil

^[4] Tech Univ Dresden, Inst Forest Growth & Comp Sci, D-01737 Tharandt - Germany

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: SCIENTIFIC REPORTS; v. 11, n. 1 OCT 14 2021.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

The rapid spread of many weeds into intensely disturbed landscapes is boosted by clonal growth and self-fertilization strategies, which conversely increases the genetic structure of populations. Here, we use empirical and modeling approaches to evaluate the spreading dynamics of Tillandsia recurvata (L.) L. populations, a common epiphytic weed with self-reproduction and clonal growth widespread in dry forests and deforested landscapes in the American continent. We introduce the TRec model, an individual-based approach to simulate the spreading of T. recurvata over time and across landscapes subjected to abrupt changes in tree density with the parameters adjusted according to the empirical genetic data based on microsatellites genotypes. Simulations with this model showed that the strong spatial genetic structure observed from empirical data in T. recurvata can be explained by a rapid increase in abundance and gene flow followed by stabilization after ca. 25 years. TRec model's results also indicate that deforestation is a turning point for the rapid increase in both individual abundance and gene flow among T. recurvata subpopulations occurring in formerly dense forests. Active reforestation can, in turn, reverse such a scenario, although with a milder intensity. The genetic-based study suggests that anthropogenic changes in landscapes may strongly affect the population dynamics of species with `weedy' traits. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 14/08087-0 - Phylogeography, adaptive variation and reproductive biology of Pitcairnia lanuginosa complex (Bromeliaceae)
• Grantee: Bárbara Simões Santos Leal
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 17/01559-2 - Local and regional coexistence of atmospheric bromeliads in epiphyte communities: unraveling intra and interspecific mechanisms of competition among species with highly overlapping niches
• Grantee: Cleber Juliano Neves Chaves
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 16/04396-4 - COMMUNITIES DOMINATED BY ATMOSPHERIC BROMELIADS AS A MODEL FOR METACOMMUNITIES STUDIES
• Grantee: Cleber Juliano Neves Chaves
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate