Ecologia reprodutiva e morfometria de Melocactus ernestii (VAUPEL) no município de Nova Itarana – BA

Abstract

We present results of a population study using morphometric analysis of animalplant interaction and reproduction, with species Melocactus ernestii. The population is located in Nova Itarana - Bahia, the Fazenda Recreio dos Freitas. The observations and analysis out revealed high differentiation at intrapopulation morphological showing three morphotypes, these outcrops predominantly occupy distinct. The morphotypes were categorized by morphological floral and vegetative, and present phenology of growth and flower opening markedly different, the Mahalanobis distance among individuals in this population showed a value close to that found among the morphotypes and external taxon M. bahiensis. This condition of intrapopulation morphological substructures may be a result of pollinators behavior of Eupetomena macroura, Clhorostilbon lucidus, Phaethornis pretrei, Chrysolampis mosquitus and Amazilia fimbriata. These species have different foraging behavior, the dominance of E. macroura in the 12 months sampled and subordination of other species, which eventually visited some plants of the outcrops monitored during the year. Due to the spatial pattern of adult plants varing between random to aggregated at different scales and be surrounded by forest, the species territorialist E. macroura, prioritized it establishment of routes of preferential foraging among the plants of each outcrop. This restriction plants spatially concentrated in these outcrops reduces the flow of pollen between them. Indeed to this view of substructure, the presence of mixed mating system with both fruits produced by self-pollination and cross-pollination, but with a predominance of seeds per pollination between plants of each outcrop, reinforces the decrease in gene flow between these outcrops, the consider the territoriality as predominant. The difference in reproductive efficiency between the morphotypes studied supports the substructure observed morphological, and suggests the action of selective forces in these processes. The results from this study provide important information for understanding the population structure and conservation of this species.