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Gayella
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| Gayella | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Ericales |
| Family: | Sapotaceae |
| Genus: | Gayella Pierre |
| Species: | G. valparadisaea
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| Binomial name | |
| Gayella valparadisaea (Molina) Pierre
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| Synonyms[2] | |
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Gayella valparadisaea is a species of plant in the family Sapotaceae. It is the sole species in genus Gayella.[3] It is a tree endemic to the coastal areas of central Chile. Due to the current rates of habitat loss, this species is classified as Endangered.[4][1] It produces an edible fruit similar to that of lúcuma fruit.
Description
[edit]Gayella valparadisaea is an evergreen tree or shrub that grows up to 5m in height.[5] The leaves are sclerophyllous, oval, and grow either opposite, three-whorled, or alternate.[5][6]
The flowers are borne in clusters growing from the leaf axils. There are five sepals, and corolla lobes generally number six though are occasionally five.[6] Flowers are generally a pale whiteish color, however the corolla can sometimes contain pink or yellow hues, while the pistil is typically light green shifting to pink towards the stigma.[6]
The fruit is a large, fleshy, single-seeded drupe, ranging from yellow to red.[5] The seed is recalcitrant.[7]
Distribution and habitat
[edit]This species is a narrow endemic with remaining populations limited to coastal, central Chile, particularly the provinces of Choapa and San Antonio.[6][8] The largest existing natural population is around the town of Los Molles.[7]
The climate of its current range is semiarid, Mediterranean, and typically below an altitude of 100m, where sea mist from the nearby ocean acts as a source of moisture.[7] Smaller subpopulations exist up to 400m.[6] Its habitat consists of heterogenous rocky slopes, gullies, and ravines.[7]
Ecology
[edit]There are no living mammalian frugivores large enough or birds with a large enough gape to act as effective seed dispersers to the plant, while extant vertebrates have shown low seed-dispersal effectiveness.[5][7] Researchers have hypothesized that seed dispersal was previously carried out by megafauna that have gone extinct since human arrival.[5][9] There are, however, extant seed predators.[5][7] Leaf litter has been found to increase seed survival by limiting seed predation, and also potentially improving germination conditions with greater maintained soil moisture.[7] Pollination has not been closely studied in this species.
Conservation status
[edit]Gayella valparadisaea is currently classified by the IUCN Red List as Endangered. Primary threats to the species are severe loss and fragmentation of habitat caused by development.[4] Projected increase in drought frequency, fires, and other shifts under climate change are predicted to affect this plant[4]
Researchers investigating genetic structure and genetic diversity between and within extant populations found evidence suggesting that the species historically had a larger and more continuous metapopulation that has only recently become fragmented.[4] While current genetic diversity is relatively high between the fragmented populations, declines in genetic diversity due to fragmentation and low dispersal are proposed to be a potential threat to the species.[4][5]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Castro Valdivia, V.B. (2022). "Pouteria splendens". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2022 e.T32051A63586475. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-2.RLTS.T32051A63586475.en. Retrieved 6 April 2025.
- ^ Gayella valparadisaea (Molina) Pierre Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 6 April 2025.
- ^ "Gayella Pierre". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 6 April 2025.
- ^ a b c d e Morales et al. (2015). Combining Niche Modelling, Land-Use Change, and Genetic Information to Assess the Conservation Status of Pouteria splendens Populations in Central Chile. International Journal of Ecology. http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/612194
- ^ a b c d e f g Peña‐Egaña, Mara; Loayza, Andrea P.; Squeo, Francisco A. (2018-10-04). "Are pulp consumers effective seed dispersers? Tests with a large‐seeded tropical relict tree". Biotropica. 50 (6): 898–907. doi:10.1111/btp.12604. ISSN 0006-3606. Archived from the original on 2023-01-20.
- ^ a b c d e Swenson, Ulf; Nylinder, Stephan; Marticorena, Alicia; Thulin, Mats; Lepschi, Brendan (2023). "Phylogenetic position and reinstatement of Gayella (Sapotaceae), a monotypic genus endemic to Chile with an Eocene origin in continental Australia". TAXON. 72 (2): 360–374. doi:10.1002/tax.12826. ISSN 1996-8175.
- ^ a b c d e f g Sotes, Gastón Javier; Bustamante, Ramiro Osciel; Henríquez, Carolina Andrea (2018-01-15). "Leaf litter is essential for seed survival of the endemic endangered tree Pouteria splendens (Sapotaceae) from central Chile". Web Ecology. 18 (1): 1–5. doi:10.5194/we-18-1-2018. ISSN 2193-3081.
- ^ Morales, Narkis S.; Fernández, Ignacio C.; Carrasco, Basilio; Orchard, Cristina (2015). "Combining Niche Modelling, Land-Use Change, and Genetic Information to Assess the Conservation Status of Pouteria splendens Populations in Central Chile". International Journal of Ecology. 2015: 1–12. doi:10.1155/2015/612194. ISSN 1687-9708.
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: unflagged free DOI (link) - ^ Jr, Paulo R. Guimarães; Galetti, Mauro; Jordano, Pedro (2008-03-05). "Seed Dispersal Anachronisms: Rethinking the Fruits Extinct Megafauna Ate". PLOS ONE. 3 (3): e1745. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0001745. ISSN 1932-6203. PMC 2258420. PMID 18320062.
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: article number as page number (link)