Manilkara mayarensis
Encyclopedia
Manilkara mayarensis is a plant species in the family of Sapodilla
s, which grows wild only in Cuba's
Oriente Province. Here its members range in scale from shrub
s to small tree
s. Its usual haunts are along creeks, ravines and other naturally formed watercourse
s within its montane, serpentine
shrubwood habitat
.
s have often been favored over conservation
considerations, and the result has meant a kind of self-perpetuating cycle of diminishing returns for both. That is to say, permanent loss of habitat is related directly to the further scarcity
of the mineral resources in the mountains where M. mayerensis live, which is caused, yet also spurred on by, an ever greater drive to obtain said minerals.
Sapotaceae
Sapotaceae is a family of flowering plants, belonging to order Ericales. The family includes approximately 800 species of evergreen trees and shrubs in approximately 65 genera . Distribution is pantropical....
s, which grows wild only in Cuba's
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
Oriente Province. Here its members range in scale from shrub
Shrub
A shrub or bush is distinguished from a tree by its multiple stems and shorter height, usually under 5–6 m tall. A large number of plants may become either shrubs or trees, depending on the growing conditions they experience...
s to small tree
Tree
A tree is a perennial woody plant. It is most often defined as a woody plant that has many secondary branches supported clear of the ground on a single main stem or trunk with clear apical dominance. A minimum height specification at maturity is cited by some authors, varying from 3 m to...
s. Its usual haunts are along creeks, ravines and other naturally formed watercourse
Watercourse
A watercourse is any flowing body of water. These include rivers, streams, anabranches, and so forth.-See also:* physical geography* Environmental flow* Waterway* Hydrology* Wadi-External links:...
s within its montane, serpentine
Serpentine soil
A serpentine soil is derived from ultramafic rocks, in particular serpentinite, a rock formed by the hydration and metamorphic transformation of ultramafic rock from the Earth's mantle....
shrubwood habitat
Habitat
* Habitat , a place where a species lives and grows*Human habitat, a place where humans live, work or play** Space habitat, a space station intended as a permanent settlement...
.
Threats
Historically, and on up to the present day, mineral interestMining
Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the earth, from an ore body, vein or seam. The term also includes the removal of soil. Materials recovered by mining include base metals, precious metals, iron, uranium, coal, diamonds, limestone, oil shale, rock...
s have often been favored over conservation
Habitat conservation
Habitat conservation is a land management practice that seeks to conserve, protect and restore, habitat areas for wild plants and animals, especially conservation reliant species, and prevent their extinction, fragmentation or reduction in range...
considerations, and the result has meant a kind of self-perpetuating cycle of diminishing returns for both. That is to say, permanent loss of habitat is related directly to the further scarcity
Scarcity
Scarcity is the fundamental economic problem of having humans who have unlimited wants and needs in a world of limited resources. It states that society has insufficient productive resources to fulfill all human wants and needs. Alternatively, scarcity implies that not all of society's goals can be...
of the mineral resources in the mountains where M. mayerensis live, which is caused, yet also spurred on by, an ever greater drive to obtain said minerals.