| Summary: | 博士 === 國立中興大學 === 森林學系所 === 106 === In the context of global climate change, the global average temperature rises, the intensity of typhoon increases, and the sea level also increases. The increased frequency of strong typhoon threatens the survival of coastal plant species. Ficus pedunculosa var. mearnsii (Mearns fig), which inhabits only on the coastal uplifted coral reef is a pioneer species. Because of a small population and living in such harsh environment (thin soil, high temperature, scarce nutrition and fresh water coupled frequent sea-sprays increasing the environment salinity), Mearns fig is a vulnerable species.
For the conservation of this species, this study estimated the crop characteristics, phenological dynamic, and relations with meteorological factors of Mearns fig during seven years (2010-2016) in Frog Rock Trail and Jialeshuei in Hengchun Peninsula. From this data, a model was built to simulate the fig phenology and assess the persistence of pollinating wasp population for a given period in given climatic conditions. The result showed that Mearns fig is adapted the harsh coastal environment and can maintain its wasp population through high productivity and rapid recovery. Even in a single branch, Mearns fig still can have overlapping production cycles. The basic features of leaf and fig phenologies in Frog Rock Trail ware similar to that of Jialeshuei. The phenological differences between the two populations were due to different environmental conditions. Typhoons, cold wave, and extreme temperature events were the major negative factor. Typhoon and cold wave not only caused direct physical damages, but also induced physiological damages caused by salt, and leading to leaf, fig, branch, even tree death. The production of leaves and figs was continuous all year-round. Tender leaves tended to appear before early rains in spring; the largest amount mature leaves concentrated in spring and summer, while the largest amount of senescent leaves concentrated in summer. In fig phenology, the highest abundance of female figs was in spring and summer. The male individual produced figs all year-around, and the amount of interfloral phase figs indirectly affected by temperature.
The model simulation was in the line with observation dynamic, indicating that the model has a predictive ability in the actual phenology dynamic. The results of the model estimation show that the current population is sufficient to sustain the population of pollinators in Frog Rock Trail. However, the population of pollinator in Jialeshui still have a certain probability of extinction, if the frequency and intensity of extreme temperature events and typhoons increase.
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