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Ecology and Conservation of the Endangered Puerto Rican Endemic Varronia bellonis (Boraginaceae)
Ana María Sánchez-Cuervo1,2,*, Benjamin J. Crain2, and Víctor José Vega-López1,2
1Department of Biology, University of Puerto Rico-Mayagüez , PO Box 9012, Mayagüez, PR 00681, USA. 2Department of Biology, University of Puerto Rico-Río Piedras, PO Box 23360, San Juan, PR 00931, USA. *Corresponding author.
Caribbean Naturalist, No. 20 (2014)
Abstract
Varronia bellonis (Serpentine Manjack) is an endangered shrub endemic to Puerto Rico that is in need of renewed management strategies. To address this issue, we examined V. bellonis’ distribution, habitat requirements, population dynamics, population structure, and reproductive phenology. Our ultimate goals were to uncover critical ecological characteristics of this species, evaluate the current recovery strategies, and help guide conservation management practices. We found that V. bellonis could grow in various habitats, yet its overall range has been reduced to a single site. Moreover, the population has recently declined by 42% and a deterministic growth model suggests the species will be extinct in 44 years. While the population did not have a biased sex ratio, the majority of individuals were small and incapable of reproduction. For those individuals capable of reproduction, their flowering, fruiting, and recruitment were seasonally synchronized and corresponded with changes in rainfall patterns. Floral visitors were few, seed dispersal distances were short, and recruit survival was low. Overall, our study reveals that V. bellonis has multiple ecological characteristics contributing to its rare status and limiting its recovery, but preventable anthropogenic disturbances are the leading causes of this species’ decline. Although V. bellonis is protected under the US Endangered Species Act, the initial recovery strategies and management practices have not been successful, and therefore we argue for additional proactive strategies that include in situ and ex situ measures such as increased protection, improved habitat management, active propagation and reintroduction programs, and continued research efforts.
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