scholarly journals Density estimates of birds inhabiting fragments of cloud forest in southern Ecuador

1999 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 73-79 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark D. Jacobs ◽  
Jon S. Walker
Keyword(s):  
Cloud Forest ◽  
Forest Birds ◽  
Species Assemblages ◽  
Population Densities ◽  
Cloud Forests ◽  
Density Estimates ◽  
Montane Cloud Forest ◽  
Southern Ecuador

SummaryBetween June and September 1995 estimates were made of the population densities of birds inhabiting fragments of unprotected montane cloud forests in southern Ecuador. The study focused on 10 species: Bearded Guan Penelope barbata, Golden-plumed Parakeet Leptosittaca branickii, Red-faced Parrot Hapalopsittaca pyrrhops, White-capped Parrot Pionus seniloides, Grey-breasted Mountain-Toucan Andigena hypoglauca, Barred Fruiteater Pipreola arcuata, Turquoise Jay Cyanolyca turcosa, Great Thrush Turdus fuscater, Hooded Mountain-tanager Buthraupis montana, and Mountain Cacique Cacicus leucoramphus. Species assemblages and population densities varied greatly between sites, despite the presence of similar habitats and altitudinal ranges. Substantial populations of the threatened Bearded Guan, Grey-breasted Mountain-Toucan and Golden-plumed Parakeet were found in areas previously unstudied, as well as in areas previously known to be important. Currently unprotected areas are important for the conservation of montane cloud forest birds.

Effect of heat shock on germination of 23 plant species in pine - oak and montane cloud forests in western Mexico

2010 ◽  
Vol 19 (6) ◽  
pp. 759 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susana Zuloaga-Aguilar ◽  
Oscar Briones ◽  
Alma Orozco-Segovia
Keyword(s):  
Heat Shock ◽  
Cloud Forest ◽  
Logistic Models ◽  
Forest Species ◽  
Cloud Forests ◽  
Prescribed Burns ◽  
Western Mexico ◽  
Moist Sand ◽  
Montane Cloud Forest ◽  
In Fire

We determined the effect of heat shock on seed germination of 23 species growing in fire-prone areas covered by pine–oak and montane cloud forests. Seeds of each species were exposed to 60, 80, 100 or 120°C for 5 or 60 min in dry and moist sand. Seeds of nine species were incubated for 15 h in moist sand and exposed to the temperature that best promoted germination. Eighteen species required heat shock for germination, and five tolerated it. Dry heat shock for 5 min promoted germination of these species; heat shock in moist sand at 100°C induced germination of 10 species. Exposure for 60 min to heat shock in dry and moist sand improved germination of 14 and 5 species respectively. Logistic models indicate that germination probabilities of most species are increased by temperatures of 70–120°C. Depending on substrate and seed hydration, heat shock increased or left unchanged the germination of most pine–oak and montane cloud forest species. Thus, montane cloud forest seeds can survive low-intensity surface fires. Most species with seeds hydrated before heat shock showed little or no germination. Prescribed burns at the end of the rainy season may therefore be harmful to pine–oak and montane cloud forest species.

scholarly journals Mountain cloud forest and grown-shade coffee plantations: A comparison of tree biodiversity in central Veracruz, Mexico

2016 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 055 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alfredo González-Zamora ◽  
Manuel Esperón-Rodríguez ◽  
Víctor L. Barradas
Keyword(s):  
Tree Species ◽  
Potential Role ◽  
Cloud Forest ◽  
Tree Diversity ◽  
Coffee Plantation ◽  
Cloud Forests ◽  
Floristic Similarity ◽  
Shade Coffee ◽  
Coffee Plantations ◽  
Montane Cloud Forest

Aim of the study: The objective of this work is to compare tree diversity and richness among one grown-shade coffee plantation (CAE) and two sites of montane cloud forests, one preserved (MCF1) and other perturbed (MCF2). We also develop an analysis of the importance of coffee plantations as a refuge of tree species, holding a potential role for conservation.Area of study: Our study area is the coffee region of Coatepec-Xico, in the state of Veracruz, Mexico.Material and methods: We compiled a list of all tree species in each site to determine tree diversity and floristic similarity (dissimilarity). We used different similarity indices and a cluster analysis to show relations among sites.Main results: 2721 individuals from 154 species were registered in the montane cloud forests as a whole. In the grown-shade coffee plantation we registered 2947 individuals from 64 species. The most similar sites were the perturbed montane cloud forest and the grown-shade coffee plantation and the least similar were the preserved montane cloud forest and the grown-shade coffee plantation. The high biodiversity found in all sites and the differences in tree composition between the two montane cloud forests supports evidence of the ecosystems richness in the region.Research highlight: Diversity differences among sites determine that the grown-shade coffee plantation is not substitute for montane cloud forest. CAE’s are developed under similar environmental conditions than the MCF; therefore, coexistence and recombination (replacement) of species make them particularly complementary. CAE’s in Veracruz have a potential role as refuge for biodiversity.

New records of Ascomycetes from the Tropical Montane Cloud Forests of eastern Mexico

Phytotaxa ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 454 (3) ◽  
pp. 161-185
Author(s):  
TANIA RAYMUNDO ◽  
RICARDO VALENZUELA ◽  
JULIO CESAR RAMÍREZ-MARTÍNEZ ◽  
MICHELLE MARTÍNEZ-PINEDA ◽  
AURORA COBOS VILLAGRÁN ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New Records ◽  
Vegetation Type ◽  
Cloud Forest ◽  
Tropical Montane Cloud Forest ◽  
Ecological Studies ◽  
Cloud Forests ◽  
Montane Cloud Forest ◽  
Tropical Montane Cloud Forests

The tropical montane cloud forest is an important reservoir of the diversity of Mexican ascomycetes. We cite and describe 17 species that had not been recorded in this vegetation type. Fifteen of them are new records for Mexico. Some of these species are associated with angiosperms and some with other fungi. Ongoing efforts are required to carry out floristic, taxonomic, phylogenetic and ecological studies of this group of fungi in such a diverse ecosystem that is cataloged as threatened.

scholarly journals Small-scale variation in a pristine montane cloud forest: evidence on high soil fungal diversity and biogeochemical heterogeneity

PeerJ ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. e11956
Author(s):  
Patricia Velez ◽  
Yunuen Tapia-Torres ◽  
Felipe García-Oliva ◽  
Jaime Gasca-Pineda
Keyword(s):  
Fungal Diversity ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Cloud Forest ◽  
Environmental Filtering ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Cloud Forests ◽  
Montane Cloud Forest ◽  
Ecological Patterns ◽  
Soil Fungal Diversity

Montane cloud forests are fragile biodiversity hotspots. To attain their conservation, disentangling diversity patterns at all levels of ecosystem organization is mandatory. Biotic communities are regularly structured by environmental factors even at small spatial scales. However, studies at this scale have received less attention with respect to larger macroscale explorations, hampering the robust view of ecosystem functioning. In this sense, fungal small-scale processes remain poorly understood in montane cloud forests, despite their relevance. Herein, we analyzed soil fungal diversity and ecological patterns at the small-scale (within a 10 m triangular transect) in a pristine montane cloud forest of Mexico, using ITS rRNA gene amplicon Illumina sequencing and biogeochemical profiling. We detected a taxonomically and functionally diverse fungal community, dominated by few taxa and a large majority of rare species (81%). Undefined saprotrophs represented the most abundant trophic guild. Moreover, soil biogeochemical data showed an environmentally heterogeneous setting with patchy clustering, where enzymatic activities suggest distinctive small-scale soil patterns. Our results revealed that in this system, deterministic processes largely drive the assemblage of fungal communities at the small-scale, through multifactorial environmental filtering.

Ascomycetes from the relic forest of Oreomunnea mexicana, Oaxaca, Mexico

Phytotaxa ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 528 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-44
Author(s):  
RICARDO VALENZUELA ◽  
TANIA RAYMUNDO ◽  
PAMELA REYES ◽  
JORGE GUZMÁN-GUILLERMO ◽  
SALVADOR ACOSTA ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New Records ◽  
Growth Habit ◽  
Cloud Forest ◽  
Taxonomic Diversity ◽  
Abundant Species ◽  
Tropical Montane Cloud Forest ◽  
Cloud Forests ◽  
Montane Cloud Forest ◽  
Tropical Montane Cloud Forests ◽  
Main Growth

La Esperanza is an Oaxacan relic area of the Tertiary, dominated by the big tree Oreomunnea mexicana (Juglandaceae). The forest is part of the priority region for the conservation of La Chinantla and constitutes one of the most conserved Mexican tropical montane cloud forests. We studied the Ascomycetes fungi and found 63 species, of which 32 are new records for Oaxaca. Ascocoryne inflata, Calyculosphaeria macrospora, Cercophora costaricensis, Chaetosphaeria ellisii, Coccomyces limitatus, Lasiosphaeria ovina, Leptogidium dendriscum, Marthamyces quadrifidus, Stereocaulon didymicum and Thelonectria lucida are new records for Mexico. Xylaria was the most diverse genus with 12 species. The most abundant species were Xylaria arbuscula and Lachnum apalum. The main growth habit was lignicolous. The tropical montane cloud forest of La Esperanza has unique characteristics allowing great taxonomic diversity of Ascomycetes.

scholarly journals Clusia nubium (Clusiaceae): a new species from cloud-forests of southwestern Ecuador

Phytotaxa ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 253 (3) ◽  
pp. 219 ◽  
Author(s):  
MATS H.G. GUSTAFSSON ◽  
FINN BORCHSENIUS
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Cloud Forest ◽  
Cloud Forests ◽  
Montane Cloud Forest ◽  
Andean Group ◽  
Male Flowers ◽  
A New Species

Clusia nubium from southwestern Ecuador is described as a species new to science. It grows as a hemiepiphyte in lower montane cloud forest. The species belongs to Clusia sect. Retinostemon, a largely Andean group characterized by male flowers with a resin-secreting synandrium of completely fused stamens and sometimes also anthers and staminodes. It differs from all other species in that section by the combination of creamy-white petals; male flowers with a dome-shaped synandrium with numerous fused stamens surrounding a group of resin secreting staminodia; and large fruits with 9–15 peltate stigmata forming a ring.

scholarly journals Biogeography of Tropical Montane Cloud Forests. Part II: Mapping of Orographic Cloud Immersion

2008 ◽  
Vol 47 (8) ◽  
pp. 2183-2197 ◽  
Author(s):  
Udaysankar S. Nair ◽  
Salvi Asefi ◽  
Ronald M. Welch ◽  
D. K. Ray ◽  
Robert O. Lawton ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Costa Rica ◽  
Cloud Forest ◽  
United Nations Environment Programme ◽  
Cloud Base ◽  
Trade Wind ◽  
Cloud Forests ◽  
Study Region ◽  
Modis Data ◽  
Monitoring Centre ◽  
Tropical Montane Cloud Forests

Abstract This study details two unique methods to quantify cloud-immersion statistics for tropical montane cloud forests (TMCFs). The first technique uses a new algorithm for determining cloud-base height using Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) cloud products, and the second method uses numerical atmospheric simulation along with geostationary satellite data. Cloud-immersion statistics are determined using MODIS data for March 2003 over the study region consisting of Costa Rica, southern Nicaragua, and northern Panama. Comparison with known locations of cloud forests in northern Costa Rica shows that the MODIS-derived cloud-immersion maps successfully identify known cloud-forest locations in the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) World Conservation Monitoring Centre (WCMC) database. Large connected regions of cloud immersion are observed in regions in which the trade wind flow is directly impinging upon the mountain slopes; in areas in which the flow is parallel to the slopes, a fractured spatial distribution of TMCFs is observed. Comparisons of the MODIS-derived cloud-immersion map with the model output show that the MODIS product successfully captures the important cloud-immersion patterns in the Monteverde region of Costa Rica. The areal extent of cloud immersion is at a maximum during morning hours and at a minimum during the afternoon, before increasing again in the evening. Cloud-immersion frequencies generally increase with increasing elevation and tend to be higher on the Caribbean Sea side of the mountains. This study shows that the MODIS data may be used successfully to map the biogeography of cloud forests and to quantify cloud immersion over cloud-forest locations.

The impact of light quality and leaf wetness on photosynthesis in north-west Andean tropical montane cloud forest

2005 ◽  
Vol 21 (5) ◽  
pp. 549-557 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew Guy Letts ◽  
Mark Mulligan
Keyword(s):  
Cloud Forest ◽  
Net Photosynthesis ◽  
Leaf Wetness ◽  
Total Solar Radiation ◽  
Wet Season ◽  
Lowland Rain Forest ◽  
North West ◽  
Montane Cloud Forest ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Trees And Shrubs

Photosynthesis was limited by low-intensity photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) and leaf wetness in a lower montane cloud forest (LMCF) of Cauca, Colombia. Mean PAR intensity remained below the saturation level for leaf-scale net photosynthesis (Pn) throughout the solar day during the wet season and for most of the solar day during the dry season. PAR represented a smaller fraction of total solar radiation (K↓) in LMCF than in lowland rain forest (LRF). In LMCF trees and shrubs, mean PAR-saturated Pn ranged from 4.3–10.6 μmol C m−2 s−1 at 1450 m, and from 3.5–10.2 μmol C m−2 s−1 at 2150 m. Pn was reduced by abaxial wetness in leaves of some trees and shrubs, and eliminated in others. This study indicates that persistent cloudiness and interception of cloud water by leaves limit LMCF productivity.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document