Species abundance and potential biological control services in shade vs. sun coffee in Puerto Rico
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Published source details
Borkhataria R.R., Collazo J.A. & Groom M.J. (2012) Species abundance and potential biological control services in shade vs. sun coffee in Puerto Rico. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, 151.
Published source details Borkhataria R.R., Collazo J.A. & Groom M.J. (2012) Species abundance and potential biological control services in shade vs. sun coffee in Puerto Rico. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, 151.
Actions
This study is summarised as evidence for the following.
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Diversify ground vegetation and canopy structure in the habitat around woody crops Action Link |
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Diversify ground vegetation and canopy structure in the habitat around woody crops
A replicated, site comparison study in 2000 in six coffee plantations in north-central Puerto Rico (Borkhataria et al. 2012) found that two of three lizard species were less abundant in shade-grown than sun-grown coffee plantations. Puerto Rican crested anole Anolis cristatellus and barred anole Anolis stratulus were less abundant in shade-grown (crested: 1,642 individuals/m2; barred: 294) than sun-grown coffee plantations (2,034; 631). Upland grass anoles Anolis krugi abundance was similar in shade-grown and sun-grown coffee plantations (shade: 411 individuals/m2; sun: 384). Four further species were observed, but in too low numbers to assess population differences between plantation types. Yellow-chinned anole Anolis. gundlachi and emerald anole Anolis evermanni were mostly observed in shade-grown (yellow: 525 individuals observed; emerald: 241) rather than sun-grown coffee plantations (2; 6), whereas common grass anole Anolis puchellus tended to be less frequently observed in shade-grown compared to sun-grown coffee plantations (shade: 2 individuals observed; sun: 28). Puerto Rican giant anole A. cuvieri observations were the same in shade-grown and sun-grown coffee plantations (5 individuals observed in both). Lizard abundance was estimated using mark-resightings in 4–6 circular 400m2 plots in three sun-grown (closely-spaced 2–3 m high sun tolerant coffee trees with dense foliage) and three shade-grown coffee plantations (irregularly-spaced 2–4 m high coffee (or banana or citrus) trees under a canopy of medium and tall shade trees) in March–May 2000. Each plot was sampled for four consecutive days in spring. Lizards were marked at a distance using tree-marking spray paint guns and latex house paint.
(Summarised by: Maggie Watson, Katie Sainsbury)
