Trees and their seed networks: The social dynamics of urban fruit trees and implications for genetic diversity

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 16; no. 3; p. e0243017
• Main Authors: Rimlinger, Aurore, Avana, Marie-Louise, Awono, Abdon, Chakocha, Armel, Gakwavu, Alexis, Lemoine, Taïna, Marie, Lison, Mboujda, Franca, Vigouroux, Yves, Johnson, Vincent, Vinceti, Barbara, Carrière, Stéphanie M, Duminil, Jérôme
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 16.03.2021; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Agricultural sciences; Agronomy; Anthropogenic factors; Biodiversity; Biodiversity and Ecology; Biological diversity; Biology and Life Sciences; Birds; Carbon sequestration; Circulation patterns; Cities; Climate change; Climate change mitigation; Computer and Information Sciences; Dispersal; Dispersion; Distribution; Ecology and Environmental Sciences; Ecosystem services; Energy conservation; Environment and Society; Environmental Sciences; Forest humidity; Forestry; Fruit trees; Fruits; Gardens & gardening; Genetic diversity; Genetics; Life Sciences; Natural populations; Noise reduction; Plant diversity; Plant propagation; Planting; Plants genetics; Populations; Populations and Evolution; Propagation; Rural areas; Seed dispersal; Seeds; Social aspects; Social organization; Tree seeds; Trees; Trees in cities; Urban environments; Urbanization; Valery, Paul (1871-1945); Water conservation; Water purification; Water treatment; France; Italy; Cameroon; Central Africa
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0243017

Trees are a traditional component of urban spaces where they provide ecosystem services critical to urban wellbeing. In the Tropics, urban trees' seed origins have rarely been characterized. Yet, understanding the social dynamics linked to tree planting is critical given their influence on the distribution of associated genetic diversity. This study examines elements of these dynamics (seed exchange networks) in an emblematic indigenous fruit tree species from Central Africa, the African plum tree (Dacryodes edulis, Burseraceae), within the urban context of Yaoundé. We further evaluate the consequences of these social dynamics on the distribution of the genetic diversity of the species in the city. Urban trees were planted predominantly using seeds sourced from outside the city, resulting in a level of genetic diversity as high in Yaoundé as in a whole region of production of the species. Debating the different drivers that foster the genetic diversity in planted urban trees, the study argues that cities and urban dwellers can unconsciously act as effective guardians of indigenous tree genetic diversity.