Some Aspects of the Forest Edges of Martinique and Evaluation of the Potential of Herbaceous Rubiaceae in These Environments

Abstract

The flora of the Lesser Antilles archipelago located in the Caribbean, presents a remarkable diversity of species belonging to the Rubiaceae family, with a representation of all possible forms of life. More than twenty are herbaceous plants present in the archipelago (three of which are endemic) and about fifteen in Martinique. Although several species are rather rare, others are described as ruderal, arval or ubiquitous, colonizing different types of environments. We therefore undertook to explore the ecology of herbaceous Rubiaceae of the forest edges of the island of Martinique, following a protocol distinct from that used for woody species. The results reveal that it is possible to find Rubiaceae, whatever the type of forest edge and the type of bioclimate. However, if some herbaceous Rubiaceae thrive there, probably attracting various pollinators, ensuring their ecological success, the majority of them remain rare. Yet the study shows that these forest edges support a diverse biodiversity, playing a role as transitional habitats by offering unique conditions that neither dense forests nor other open spaces provide.