Germination niche breadth differs in two co-occurring palms of the Atlantic Rainforest

Abstract

Niche germination breadth may determine species occurrence under distinct environmental conditions. We choose Euterpe edulis and Lytocaryum weddellianum to evaluate germination niche breadth under light or dark at water potential of 0 MPa, and in either decreasing water potentials (−0.4 and −0.8 MPa) or flooded. In contrast to L. weddellianum, E. edulis showed high seed germination at both light conditions and expressive seed germination at low water potentials and flooding. E. edulis had wide seed germination niche breadth and seed addition of the same geographic region might be used for the reintroduction of populations of this threatened palm in different types of habitats of the Atlantic Rainforest. L. weddellianum, however, is unlikely to be able to germinate under altered conditions due to narrower germination niches and might be more vulnerable to extinction if the restricted germination cues no longer occur. Thus, ex situ initiatives might be used for the species conservation.