An investigation into the ecological requirements and niche partitioning of Pterostylidinae (Orchidaceae) species
Jasmine K. Janes A B , Dorothy A. Steane A and René E. Vaillancourt AA School of Plant Science, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 55, Hobart, Tas. 7001, Australia.
B Corresponding author. Email: jkjanes@utas.edu.au
Australian Journal of Botany 58(5) 335-341 https://doi.org/10.1071/BT10041
Submitted: 11 February 2010 Accepted: 6 May 2010 Published: 21 July 2010
Abstract
The in situ management of many orchid species is problematic because individual species’ ecology and habitat requirements are poorly understood. Here, the requirements of nine Pterostylis species are investigated for the first time. Individual species’ abundances were recorded from 35 sites and correlated with known environmental and climatic variables using canonical correspondence analysis to determine which variables may explain species distribution. Altitude, aspect, drainage, precipitation, radiation, temperature and moisture index were identified as important variables that influence distribution patterns. The positioning of several members of the Pterostylis longifolia species complex in ordination space was poorly resolved, as was the relationship between Pterostylis pedoglossa and Pterostylis parviflora. Distinct ecological partitioning was evident among the remaining three species. This study has identified important environmental variables that can be assessed in the field and assist in the detection of suitable habitat for orchid translocations.
Acknowledgements
This research was funded by a Discovery grant (DPO557260) from the Australian Research Council, an Australian Postgraduate Award to the lead author and research funding from the Australian Systematic Botany Society (Hansjörg Eichler Scientific Research Fund). The authors thank Marco Duretto (Tasmanian Herbarium) and Hans Wapstra for identification confirmation. The authors are indebted to Dr Wendy Potts and Matthew Larcombe from the Threatened Species Section (Department Primary Industries and Water, Tas.); and Dr Mark Hovenden and Dr Greg Jordan from the School of Plant Science (University of Tasmania) for their assistance and support.
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