title: The risks of introduction of the Amazonian palm Euterpe oleracea in the Atlantic rainforest.
abstract: The introduction of a species may alter ecological processes of native populations, such as pollination and dispersal patterns, leading to changes in population structure. When the introduced and the native species are congeners, interference in pollination can also lead to hybridization. We aimed to understand the ecological aspects of Euterpe oleracea introduction in the Atlantic forest and the possible consequences for the conservation of the native congener Euterpe edulis. We analysed the population structure of palm populations, including hybrids, and observed the interaction with frugivorous birds of both palm species after E. oleracea introduction. We observed that E. edulis had significantly lower density and a smaller number of seedlings when occurring with E. oleracea. Native and introduced Euterpe species shared nine frugivorous bird species. E. oleracea and hybrids had dispersed outside the original planting area. Consequently, the risks of introduction of E. oleracea may mostly be related to the disruption of interactions between E. edulis and frugivorous birds and the spontaneous production of hybrids. Finally, the cultivation of E. oleracea and hybrids in Atlantic rainforest could affect the conservation of the already endangered E. edulis.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Hidrobiologia, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Carlos, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: F C S
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Tiberio
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Hidrobiologia, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Carlos, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Sampaio-E-Silva
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Hidrobiologia, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Carlos, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: D M S
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Matos
authors.affiliation: Divisão de Dasonomia, Instituto Florestal do Estado de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: A Z
authors.initials: AZ
authors.lastname: Antunes
mesh_terms: D001938:Brazil; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D065748:Euterpe / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D020387:Food Chain; D006824:Hybridization, Genetic; D058865:Introduced Species; D063148:Plant Dispersal; D011157:Population Dynamics; D065947:Rainforest; D013045:Species Specificity