Modes de colonisation de la savane arborée par des plantes de foret tropicale sèche en Nouvelle-Calédonie
Bocquet, A.; Chambrey, C.; Derroire, G.; Tassin, J.
Abstract:
Dry forests are the most endangered tropical forest in the world. Fortunately, they sometimes show some ability to colonize abandoned lands. Such a colonization potential has been investigated in the south of New Caledonia (Pacific Ocean). We analyzed the composition of the vegetation from transects from dry forest to proximate woody savannah, where an extension of the forest had been observed from the analysis of old aerial pictures. Three transects were followed in each of the four studied sites. Within 52 observed species, six ones were observed in more than 50% of the plots belonging to colonized sites. Within these six species, four species provided suckers: Croton insularis, Elattostachys apetala, Emmenosperma pancherianum and Halfordia kendac. Ornithochory and barochory represented the dominant modes of seed dispersal of the colonizing species. Consequently, we conclude that fire control and bird conservation are relevant components of the conservation strategy of dry forest in New Caledonia.