Blue Mountains (Jamaica)
| Introduction | Permanent Plot | Kibale | Kimboza | Blue Mountains | Publications |
Tropical Forest Ecology
The Blue Mountains of Jamaica are covered by large areas of forest that contain a high number of endemic species. On much of the lower slopes forest cover was removed over time to make place for agriculture, including coffee plantations. Natural forests remain on the upper slopes and are mainly found on very steep ground. However, these forests are threatened by the spread of introduced species planted in the Cinchona botanic garden soon after its inception. The tree Pittosporum undulatum is currently the most troublesome species and threatens the survival the many endemic taxa. Other species that have extensively spread from various gardens include: - Angiopteris evecta: this fern bearing enormous fronds is found in a number places in undisturbed forest. - Aristea gerrardii: an iris common along open paths and in grasslands. - Cuphea ignea: ubiquitous shrub along the path leading to Blue Mountain Peak. - Hedychium spp: first recorded as weedy around Cinchona in the 1910s and now spreading into natural forest. - Melinis minutiflora: a South African grass introduced in 1925 that is troublesome in coffee plantations and vegetable plots. - Polygonum chinense: scrambling shrubby herb forming monotypic stands in disturbed areas, including landslides. Found here and there in the natural forest. A major weed of coffee. Along most roads and tracks there is a rich complement of invasive species and these are mainly forbs. A rated list of invasive plants in the West Blue Mountains can be found in the review by Goodland & Healey (1996). |
 Heavily invaded forest. With the exception of the odd large tree and a limited amount of juveniles all stems belong to Pittosporum undulatum. Note the fallen-down trees in the foreground that readily survive and thrive, and the general scarcity of the shrub layer. The shrub layer of un-invaded forest is extremely variable in density due to varying levels of canopy cover. However, even under the densest canopies there is a variety of native species and ferns in particular. |
Since the late 19th century the Blue Mountains have been the focus of much scientific research. In recent decades the ecology of the forest and the impact of introduced species, and Pittosporum undulatum in particular, have been extensively studied by teams from Cambridge and Bangor. A bibliography of the main scientific publications relating to the Blue Mountains has been produced. A number of document relating to to the ecology of the Blue Mountains can be downloaded:
|
 |
|
 Many
epiphytic species abound
including this orchid. Trunks of fallen down, but live, trees are particularly favourable micro-habitats. |