Systematic and agroecological studies in the Attaleinae (Palmae).
Item
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Title
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Systematic and agroecological studies in the Attaleinae (Palmae).
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Identifier
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AAI9807984
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identifier
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9807984
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Creator
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Pinheiro, Claudio Urbano Bittencourt.
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Contributor
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Chairman: Michael J. Balick
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Date
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1997
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Language
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English
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Publisher
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City University of New York.
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Subject
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Biology, Botany | Biology, Ecology
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Abstract
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In Northeastern Brazil, palms play an important role in the lives of tens of thousands of people. More than a source of income for people, these plants are of great ecological importance, for their persistence as the main coverage of the soil where other less resilient species have failed. To study the palm species in the subtribe Attaleinae two lines of research were undertaken:;1. Systematic Studies. To provide new elements for the understanding of the taxonomic status of the species in the subtribe Attaleinae, a study of the leaf anatomy of representative species was carried out. The generic classification of the Attaleinae is discussed in view of the results obtained from the multivariate and cladistic approaches applied to the anatomical data collected. The results showed a significant discontinuity in the variation pattern within the subtribe Attaleinae. Groups could be separated on the basis of results from multivariate and cladistic analyses of the anatomical characters, and a high number of intermediates identified.;Multivariate analyses showed discontinuity in the patterns of variation among characters, between characters and taxa, and supported the separation of groups. The multivariate analyses showed the extreme complexity of character variation within the subtribe, particularly when a number of putative hybrids and intermediates were included. The subtribe was characterized as a monophyletic group, which diversified in three or four evolutionary directions. Overall, the results indicated that hybridization may have been a very important mechanism of speciation within the Attaleinae.;2. Agro-ecological Studies. This research comprised two experiments geared towards improving the management and cultivation of the babassu palm. The first experiment was set up in the Cocais region of the northeastern Brazilian state of Maranhao, as a continuation of long-term studies on seed germination and nursery management. It was designed to measure the responses of babassu seedlings to different types of soil and levels of fertilization. The second experiment tested the establishment of babassu in degraded soils in the pre-Amazon region of Maranhao. It confirmed the relative ability of the babassu palm to overcome unfavorable ecological conditions such as competition, low soil fertility and degradation, and ultimately its potential use for reforestation.
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Type
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dissertation
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Source
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PQT Legacy CUNY.xlsx
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degree
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Ph.D.
