近日，國際期刊Journal of Applied Ecology 刊登了國外研究人員的最新研究成果“Limitations to sustainable frankincense production: blocked regeneration, high adult mortality and declining populations,。”,，文章中作者揭示了乳香產(chǎn)量將持續(xù)下降。
乳香是一種帶有芳香氣味的樹膠脂,，據(jù)《圣經(jīng)》記載,，耶穌出生時，有來自東方的三位博士帶著神秘禮物,，來到耶路撒冷朝拜耶穌,。
“東方三博士”進(jìn)獻(xiàn)的神秘禮物為黃金、乳香和沒藥,。這三樣禮物代表著當(dāng)時可以獻(xiàn)給國王的最稀有和最珍貴的貢品,。
其中，乳香是一種帶有芳香氣味的樹膠脂,，取自沙漠里的乳香屬樹木,，在古代用于祭祀，現(xiàn)在是一種重要的中藥材,。不幸的是,，如今，乳香已經(jīng)變得更為稀少,，并且將會持續(xù)減少下去,。研究人員在最新出版的英國《應(yīng)用生態(tài)學(xué)期刊》上報告了此發(fā)現(xiàn)。
近年來,，乳香屬樹木在樹種繁衍上已經(jīng)遇到困難,。此前，生態(tài)學(xué)家們認(rèn)為,，當(dāng)貿(mào)易商從此類樹木上獲取樹脂時,，樹木自身便會變得衰弱。
在埃塞俄比亞工作的兩年時間里,，研究人員共監(jiān)控了12株構(gòu)樹,，其中6株被提取過樹液，6株沒有,。他們發(fā)現(xiàn),，曾被提取過樹液的構(gòu)樹,，可以和未被提取過的構(gòu)樹一樣正常繁衍。這排除了人類的干擾是其主要?dú)⑹值目赡?。相反,，最大的威脅似乎來自放牧的家畜、火災(zāi)和一種叫天牛的昆蟲,。其中,，天牛能夠打洞，并鉆進(jìn)樹皮里殺死樹木,，使構(gòu)樹只能成為森林火災(zāi)的燃料,。
如果這些問題不能被及時地補(bǔ)救，該研究團(tuán)隊的模型顯示,，在未來的15年里,，乳香的產(chǎn)量將會減少50%；而這對乳香的出口國,，埃塞俄比亞和厄立特里亞國的經(jīng)濟(jì)將會是一個沉重的打擊,。（生物谷Bioon.com）
doi:10.1111/j.1365-2664.2011.02078.x
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Limitations to sustainable frankincense production: blocked regeneration, high adult mortality and declining populations
Groenendijk, Peter; Eshete, Abeje; Sterck, Frank J.; Zuidema, Pieter A.; Bongers, Frans
Keywords: Boswellia papyrifera;Ethiopia;frankincense;matrix model;non-timber forest products;regeneration bottleneck;resin;restoration;sustainable use;tapping Summary 1. Resins are highly valued non-timber forest products (NTFP). One of the most widely traded resins is frankincense, tapped from several Boswellia tree species (Burseraceae). Exploited Boswellia populations often show poor regeneration, but the demographic consequences of these bottlenecks are unknown. Here we report on the first large-scale demographic study of frankincense-producing trees. 2. We studied 12 populations of Boswellia papyrifera in northern Ethiopia, varying in altitude and productivity. Six of these populations had been tapped before and were tapped during the study. Survival, growth and fecundity were determined for 4370 trees and 2228 seedlings, in 22.8 ha over a 2-year period. We also studied a remote population where no grazing and tapping took place. Matrix models were used to project population growth and frankincense production under four restoration scenarios. 3. Population structures of both tapped and untapped populations showed clear gaps. Small seedlings were abundant in all populations, but none developed into persistent saplings. Such saplings were only present in the remote population. Fire and grazing are the likely causes of this regeneration bottleneck. 4. Adult mortality was high (6–7% per year) in both tapped and untapped populations, probably caused by beetle attacks and fire. Unexpectedly, tapped populations presented higher diameter growth rates and fecundity compared to untapped populations. These differences are probably caused by non-random selection of exploited populations by tappers. 5. Under the ‘business as usual’ scenario, population models projected a 90% decline in the size of tapped and untapped populations within 50 years and a 50% decline in frankincense yield within 15 years. Model simulations for restoration scenarios revealed that populations and frankincense production could only be sustained with intensive management leading to full sapling recruitment and a 50–75% reduction in adult mortality. 6.Synthesis and applications. Regeneration bottlenecks and high adult mortality are causing rapid decline in frankincense-producing tree populations in Ethiopia. This decline is unlikely to be a consequence of harvesting and is probably driven by fire, grazing and beetle attacks. Fire prevention and the establishment of non-grazing areas are needed. Our results show that other factors than exploitation may seriously threaten populations yielding NTFP.
