BotanyJulieanne Montaquila

How Do Endemic Hemiparasites Bakerella Poissoni and Viscum Multiflorum Affect the Nutrient Cycling and Seedling Biodiversity of a Highly Diverse Tropical Rainforest in Madagascar?

While hemiparasitic mistletoes found worldwide have been described as keystone species, their role in tropical rainforests has not been well studied. To contribute to our understanding of how these fascinating plant parasites impact nutrient cycling and biodiversity in tropical rainforests, I am conducting an experimental removal study of the endemic species Bakerella poissoni (Loranthaceae) and Viscum mulitflorum (Santalaceae, previously Viscaceae) in Ranomafana National Park, a highly biodiverse rainforest of Madagascar. There, mistletoes are known to be important food sources for vertebrates, including seed-dispersing lemurs and birds. Through its complex interactions with various partners, mistletoe may alter nutrient cycling and invertebrate and seedling diversity, ultimately altering the local community ecology of this highly-threatened ecosystem.