Characteristics of Old-Growth and Secondary Forests in Relation to Age and Typhoon Disturbance

Abstract:Plant survival and growth in tropical rain forest are affected by different biotic and abiotic forces. As time elapses and plants grow the relative importance of such forces as regeneration inhibitors and/or facilitators may change according to habitat and species. To detect within- and among-species divergences in performance over time in different habitats we followed, for nearly a decade, the survival, growth and herbivory of seedlings of the native tree species: Chrysophyllum pomiferum, Micropholis venulosa and Pouteria caimito. In Central Amazonia, young seedlings were planted into old-growth and secondary forests dominated by Vismia spp. One year after planting, C. pomiferum ranked first (i.e. fast growth, fewer dead and less herbivory) for both habitats, followed by M. venulosa and P. caimito. Initial trends changed over time. In the long term, M. venulosa ranked first for both habitats, followed by C. pomiferum and P. caimito ranked consistently lowest. Within-species divergences in growth and herbivory were greater in secondary forest. Initial seedling responses cannot always be used to predict species persistence in the long term. Contrary to previous estimations, old-growth-forest species can persist under Vismia spp. stands, at least when planted.

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Regional and temporal patterns of litterfall in tropical South America

Biogeosciences Discussions ◽

10.5194/bgd-6-7565-2009 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 6 (4) ◽

pp. 7565-7597 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

J. Chave ◽

D. Navarrete ◽

S. Almeida ◽

E. Álvarez ◽

L. E. O. C. Aragão ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Tropical Forests ◽

Soil Type ◽

Net Primary Production ◽

N:P Ratio ◽

Reproductive Organs ◽

Annual Rainfall ◽

Secondary Forests ◽

Tropical Rain Forests ◽

Old Growth ◽

Leaf Litterfall

Abstract. The production of aboveground soft tissue represents an important share of total net primary production in tropical rain forests. Here we draw from a large number of published and unpublished datasets (n=81 sites) to assess the determinants of litterfall variation across South American tropical forests. We show that across old-growth tropical rainforests, litterfall averages 8.61±1.91Mg/ha/yr. Secondary forests have a lower annual litterfall than old-growth tropical forests with a mean of 8.01±3.41 Mg/ha/yr. Annual litterfall shows no significant variation with total annual rainfall, either globally or within forest types. It does not vary consistently with soil type, except in the poorest soils (white sand soils), where litterfall is significantly lower than in other soil types (5.42±1.91Mg/ha/yr). Litterfall declines significantly with increasing N:P. We also study the determinants of litterfall seasonality, and find that it does not depend on annual rainfall or on soil type. However, litterfall seasonality is significantly positively correlated with rainfall seasonality. Finally, we assess how much carbon is stored in reproductive organs relative to photosynthetic organs. Mean leaf fall is 5.74±1.83 Mg/ha/yr (71% of total litterfall). Mean allocation into reproductive organs is 0.69±0.40Mg/ha/yr (9% of total litterfall). The investment into reproductive organs divided by leaf litterfall is negatively related to the N:P ratio, suggesting that on poor soils, the allocation to photosynthetic organs is prioritized over that to reproduction. Finally, we discuss the ecological and biogeochemical implications of these results.

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Recovery of Functional Diversity Following Shifting Cultivation in Tropical Monsoon Forests

Forests ◽

10.3390/f9090506 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 9 (9) ◽

pp. 506 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Fuying Deng ◽

Yunling He ◽

Runguo Zang

Keyword(s):

Functional Diversity ◽

Functional Traits ◽

Shifting Cultivation ◽

Forest Ecosystems ◽

Recovery Process ◽

Secondary Forests ◽

Old Growth ◽

Old Growth Forests ◽

Tropical Monsoon ◽

Monsoon Forests

The relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning is an important issue in ecology. Plant functional traits and their diversity are key determinants of ecosystem function in changing environments. Understanding the successional dynamics of functional features in forest ecosystems is a first step to their sustainable management. In this study, we tested the changes in functional community composition with succession in tropical monsoon forests in Xishuangbanna, China. We sampled 33 plots at three successional stages—~40-year-old secondary forests, ~60-year-old secondary forests, and old growth forests—following the abandonment of the shifting cultivation land. Community-level functional traits were calculated based on measurements of nine functional traits for 135 woody plant species. The results show that the community structures and species composition of the old-growth forests were significantly different to those of the secondary stands. The species diversity, including species richness (S), the Shannon–Weaver index (H), and Pielou’s evenness (J), significantly increased during the recovery process after shifting cultivation. The seven studied leaf functional traits (deciduousness, specific leaf area, leaf dry matter content, leaf nitrogen content, leaf phosphorus content, leaf potassium content and leaf carbon content) changed from conservative to acquisitive syndromes during the recovery process, whereas wood density showed the opposite pattern, and seed mass showed no significant change, suggesting that leaf traits are more sensitive to environmental changes than wood or seed traits. The functional richness increased during the recovery process, whereas the functional evenness and divergence had the highest values in the 60-year-old secondary communities. Soil nutrients significantly influenced functional traits, but their effects on functional diversity were less obvious during the secondary succession after shifting cultivation. Our study indicates that the recovery of tropical monsoon forests is rather slow; secondary stands recover far less than the old growth stands in terms of community structure and species and functional diversity, even after about half a century of recovery, highlighting the importance of the conservation of old growth tropical monsoon forest ecosystems.

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Biodiversity recovery of Neotropical secondary forests

Science Advances ◽

10.1126/sciadv.aau3114 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 5 (3) ◽

pp. eaau3114 ◽

Cited By ~ 69

Author(s):

Danaë M. A. Rozendaal ◽

Frans Bongers ◽

T. Mitchell Aide ◽

Esteban Alvarez-Dávila ◽

Nataly Ascarrunz ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Species Composition ◽

Tree Species ◽

Anthropogenic Disturbance ◽

Secondary Forests ◽

Old Growth ◽

Rarefaction Analysis ◽

Old Growth Forest ◽

Dual Strategy ◽

Tropical Landscapes

Old-growth tropical forests harbor an immense diversity of tree species but are rapidly being cleared, while secondary forests that regrow on abandoned agricultural lands increase in extent. We assess how tree species richness and composition recover during secondary succession across gradients in environmental conditions and anthropogenic disturbance in an unprecedented multisite analysis for the Neotropics. Secondary forests recover remarkably fast in species richness but slowly in species composition. Secondary forests take a median time of five decades to recover the species richness of old-growth forest (80% recovery after 20 years) based on rarefaction analysis. Full recovery of species composition takes centuries (only 34% recovery after 20 years). A dual strategy that maintains both old-growth forests and species-rich secondary forests is therefore crucial for biodiversity conservation in human-modified tropical landscapes.

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On the Management of Large-Diameter Trees in China’s Forests

Forests ◽

10.3390/f11010111 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

pp. 111 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Chuping Wu ◽

Bo Jiang ◽

Weigao Yuan ◽

Aihua Shen ◽

Shuzhen Yang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Biodiversity Conservation ◽

Forest Cover ◽

Large Diameter ◽

Management Strategies ◽

Ecosystem Functions ◽

Secondary Forests ◽

Critical Question ◽

Old Growth ◽

Plantation Forests ◽

Old Growth Forests

Large-diameter trees have mainly been used for timber production in forestry practices. Recently, their critical roles played in biodiversity conservation and maintenance of ecosystem functions have been recognized. However, current forestry policy on the management of large-diameter trees is weak. As China is the biggest consumer of large-diameter timbers, how to maintain sustainable large-diameter timber resources as well as maximize ecological functions of the forests is a critical question to address. Here we summarize historical uses, distribution patterns, and management strategies of large-diameter trees in China. We found that large-diameter trees are mainly distributed in old-growth forests. Although China’s forest cover has increased rapidly in the past decades, large-diameter trees are rarely found in plantation forests and secondary forests. We suggest that knowledge of large-diameter trees should be widely disseminated in local forestry departments, especially their irreplaceable value in terms of biodiversity conservation and ecosystem functions. Protection of large-diameter trees, especially those in old-growth forests, is critical for sustainable forestry. To meet the increasing demand of large-diameter timbers, plantation forests and secondary forests should apply forest density management with thinning to cultivate more large-diameter trees.

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Why are leaf-cutting ants more common in early secondary forests than in old-growth tropical forests? An evaluation of the palatable forage hypothesis

Oikos ◽

10.1034/j.1600-0706.2001.920120.x ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 92 (1) ◽

pp. 169-177 ◽

Cited By ~ 78

Author(s):

Alejandro G. Farji-Brener

Keyword(s):

Tropical Forests ◽

Secondary Forests ◽

Old Growth ◽

Leaf Cutting

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Decoupled responses of native and exotic tree diversities to distance from old‐growth forest and soil phosphorus in novel secondary forests

Applied Vegetation Science ◽

10.1111/avsc.12548 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Hao Ran Lai ◽

Germaine Su Yin Tan ◽

Louise Neo ◽

Carmen Yingxin Kee ◽

Alex Thiam Koon Yee ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Soil Phosphorus ◽

Secondary Forests ◽

Old Growth ◽

Old Growth Forest ◽

Exotic Tree

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Second-growth and small forest clearings have little effect on the temporal activity patterns of Amazonian phyllostomid bats

Current Zoology ◽

10.1093/cz/zoz042 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 66 (2) ◽

pp. 145-153 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Ricardo Rocha ◽

Adrià López-Baucells ◽

Fábio Z Farneda ◽

Diogo F Ferreira ◽

Inês Silva ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Activity Patterns ◽

Behavioral Responses ◽

Species Level ◽

Secondary Forests ◽

Old Growth ◽

Old Growth Forest ◽

Second Growth ◽

Tropical Landscapes ◽

Small Forest ◽

Temporal Overlap

Abstract Secondary forests and human-made forest gaps are conspicuous features of tropical landscapes. Yet, behavioral responses to these aspects of anthropogenically modified forests remain poorly investigated. Here, we analyze the effects of small human-made clearings and secondary forests on tropical bats by examining the guild- and species-level activity patterns of phyllostomids sampled in the Central Amazon, Brazil. Specifically, we contrast the temporal activity patterns and degree of temporal overlap of 6 frugivorous and 4 gleaning animalivorous species in old-growth forest and second-growth forest and of 4 frugivores in old-growth forest and forest clearings. The activity patterns of frugivores and gleaning animalivores did not change between old-growth forest and second-growth, nor did the activity patterns of frugivores between old-growth forest and clearings. However, at the species level, we detected significant differences for Artibeus obscurus (old-growth forest vs. second-growth) and A. concolor (old-growth forest vs. clearings). The degree of temporal overlap was greater than random in all sampled habitats. However, for frugivorous species, the degree of temporal overlap was similar between old-growth forest and second-growth; whereas for gleaning animalivores, it was lower in second-growth than in old-growth forest. On the contrary, forest clearings were characterized by increased temporal overlap between frugivores. Changes in activity patterns and temporal overlap may result from differential foraging opportunities and dissimilar predation risks. Yet, our analyses suggest that activity patterns of bats in second-growth and small forest clearings, 2 of the most prominent habitats in humanized tropical landscapes, varies little from the activity patterns in old-growth forest.

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Evidence for arrested succession within a tropical forest fragment in Singapore

Journal of Tropical Ecology ◽

10.1017/s0266467411000010 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 27 (03) ◽

pp. 323-326 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Gregory R. Goldsmith ◽

Liza S. Comita ◽

Siew Chin Chua

Keyword(s):

Ecosystem Services ◽

Tropical Forest ◽

Tropical Forests ◽

Secondary Forests ◽

Forest Fragment ◽

Landscape Mosaic ◽

Old Growth ◽

Arrested Succession ◽

Old Growth Forests ◽

Tropical Landscape

Secondary forests occupy a growing portion of the tropical landscape mosaic due to regeneration on abandoned pastures and other disturbed sites (Asneret al. 2009). Tropical secondary forests and degraded old-growth forests now account for more than half of the world's tropical forests (Chazdon 2003), and provide critical ecosystem services (Brown & Lugo 1990, Guariguata & Ostertag 2001).

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