Comparative analysis of the population dynamics of two bamboo species, Dendrocalamus hamiltonii and Neohouzeua dulloa, in a successional environment

Abstract

A comparative analysis of the population dynamics of two bamboo species, Dendrocalamus hamiltonii Nees and Arn. and Neohouzeua dulloa A. Camus, with varying degrees of plasticity in a successional environment was studied. N. dulloa with more plasticity had gregarious flowering followed by seed production. D. hamiltonii, in addition, had also sporadic flowering. Both species had extensive vegetative reproduction, which was optimal in fallows of 10-20 years of age. N. dulloa showed a decline in vigour of the culms in a 60-year-old fallow but with lesser effect on population size. Both vigour and population size of D. hamiltonii declined drastically in a 60-year-old fallow. Seedling recruitment in D. hamiltonii was poor but offers possibilities of better management through manipulation of surface mulching. Population recruitment patterns have implications in bamboo forest management.