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Distribution and population characteristics of the Cucumber Tree (Dendrosicyos socotranus Balf.f.)

  • Socotra biodiversity research and nature conservation
  • Published:
Rendiconti Lincei. Scienze Fisiche e Naturali Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

We conducted a study throughout Socotra Island (Yemen) to investigate the distribution, population structure and regeneration potential of the endemic and threatened tree species Dendrosicyos socotranus, the Cucumber Tree. In total, 163 live trees (excluding seedlings) were found in all (24) investigated locations, covering an area of 96 km2. The height, stem circumference, fertility and coordinates of each tree were measured and data regarding the ecotope, land cover and natural regeneration were recorded. We estimated that there could be more than 6400 Cucumber Tree individuals among the populations on Socotra Island. The majority of the trees occur in the “high Shrubland with succulents” and “wadi” land cover classes. In general, the fertility of the trees is good, and natural regeneration occurred in 77% of the locations with adult trees; it was found that 16% of the individual trees regenerated. Our study, collecting data on the regeneration of the species and estimating the size of local populations for the first time, can be used for local conservation and future monitoring of this important, endangered Socotran endemic.

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Photo by HH, November 2003

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Data are available upon request by corresponding author.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the group Friends of Soqotra for creating an environment of scientific interaction and enhance awareness on the rich biodiversity of the Socotra archipelago.

Funding

This research was supported by project CZDA nr. 08/2012/01, project nr. LDF_VT_2017009 and partly funded by project UNEP/GEF project #5347.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Forest Botany, Dendrology and Geobiocoenology, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology (FFWT), Mendel University in Brno (MENDELU), Zemedelska 3, 613 00, Brno, Czech Republic

    Hana Habrová

  2. Department of Forest Management and Applied Geoinformatics, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology (FFWT), Mendel University in Brno (MENDELU), Zemedelska 3, 613 00, Brno, Czech Republic

    Petr Vahalík & Karel Drápela

  3. Environment Protection Authority, Hadibo, Socotra, Yemen

    Abdulwahab Saad Saeed Ali

  4. Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology (FFWT), Mendel University in Brno (MENDELU), Brno, Czech Republic

    Abdulwahab Saad Saeed Ali

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  1. Hana Habrová
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  2. Petr Vahalík
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  3. Karel Drápela
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  4. Abdulwahab Saad Saeed Ali
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Correspondence to Hana Habrová.

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This paper belongs to a Topical Collection “Twenty years of biodiversity research and nature conservation in the Socotra Archipelago” edited by Fabio Attorre and Kay Van Damme, conceived at the 18th Friends of Socotra Conference, 26–29 September, 2019, Orto Botanico di Palermo, Palermo, Italy”.

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Habrová, H., Vahalík, P., Drápela, K. et al. Distribution and population characteristics of the Cucumber Tree (Dendrosicyos socotranus Balf.f.). Rend. Fis. Acc. Lincei 31, 725–736 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12210-020-00927-5

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