Resumen de Contribución al conocimiento de la ecología de "Rhododendron Ponticum" L. subsp. "Baeticum" (Boiss. and Reuter.) Hand.-Mazz. en el Campo de Gibraltar
M. Blanco, A. Loza, S. Pantión, J. L. Ramirez
Rhododendronponticum L. subsp. baeticum (Boiss. & Reuter) Hand.-Mazz. is un interesting species, given its narrow geographical range and the particular envirommental conditions present in its habitats. The knowledge of aspects of its ecology may help in the management and conservatión of thepopulations. Some of these aspects have been studied in two contrasted populations in Sierra de la Luna (Tarifa).
In this study the apparent foliar damage has been quantijied in both populations, their possible agents being identified. Among vegetative aspects, the most interesting one, has been the regeneratiónfrom a lignotuber through productión of vegetative buds and growth of the stems.Given the climatic conditions of the region, corresponding to a wet mediterranean clima with oceanic injluence, the relationship between dry weight of leaves and foliar area of Rhododendron and other Mediterranean, temperate and Macaronesican species has been employed as a comparative index in relatión to their phytoclimatic position.Additiona1 aspects analysed were the determinatión of the spatial structure of the populations and the possible allelopathic effects on rapid growth species.
