Species Turnover across Different Life Stages from Seedlings to Canopy Trees in Swamp Forests of Central Brazil

Processes driving the assembly of swamp forest communities have been poorly explored. We analyzed natural regeneration and adult tree communities data of a swamp gallery forest in Central Brazil to discuss the role of ecological filters in shaping plant species turnover in a successional gradient. Species data of 120 plots were used to assess species turnover between natural regeneration and adult tree communities. Our analyses were based on 4995 individuals belonging to 72 species. Community patterns were discerned using ordination analyses. A clear floristic turnover among plant life stages was distinguished. Regeneration community of swamp forests was richer in species composition than the adult community. Tree species commonly found in nonflooded gallery forests were present in the regeneration plots but not in the adult community. Differences in the floristic composition of these two strata suggest that not all species in the seedling stage can stand permanent flooding conditions and only a few tolerant species survive to become adult trees. We propose that natural disturbances play an important role by altering limiting resources, allowing seeds of nonflooded forest species to germinate. This paper elucidates the turnover between plant life stages in swamp forests and suggests mechanisms that may shape these communities.

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Effect of Adult Tree Density and Nearness to the Natural Forest on the Restoration of Degraded Deciduous Forests of Attappady, Western Ghats, Kerala

Indian Journal of Forestry ◽

10.54207/bsmps1000-2016-362f4c ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 39 (4) ◽

pp. 309-315

Author(s):

Ajithakumari Anusree ◽

Puthiya Karunakaran ◽

Narayanaswamy Parthasarathy

Keyword(s):

Western Ghats ◽

Native Species ◽

Species Turnover ◽

Tree Density ◽

Natural Forest ◽

Deciduous Forests ◽

Tropical Deciduous Forest ◽

Restoration Success ◽

Adult Trees ◽

Adult Tree

Studied on the effect of adult tree density and the proximity to the natural forest on restoration success in one of the most exploited tropical deciduous forests, Attappady, Western Ghats. Random quadrats were laid and surveyed for trees and saplings in remnant tropical deciduous forest patches (hereafter called as fragmented forest and the sites being restored here after called as restoration patches) to determine floristic composition, species turnover among sites and the influence of adult tree density on sapling density. Forests composed of deciduous and evergreen trees with an average species richness of 28 and alpha diversity of 2.671 in a 0.2 ha plot. Similarity of restoration patches with natural forest increased as distance between them decreased and regeneration of native species were more efficient in sites with more number of adult trees. Local (adult tree density) and landscape level (isolation of patches) factors are both important in determining the restoration success of deciduous forests of Attappady.

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VERTICAL STRUCTURE OF THE ARBOREAL COMPONENT UNDER REGENERATION PHASE OF A DECIDUOUS FOREST FRAGMENT, SANTA CATARINA STATE, BRAZIL

Revista Árvore ◽

10.1590/0100-67622016000500002 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 40 (5) ◽

pp. 781-791

Author(s):

Welington Kiffer de Freitas ◽

Luis Mauro Sampaio Magalhães

Keyword(s):

Natural Regeneration ◽

Deciduous Forest ◽

Floristic Composition ◽

Total Density ◽

Forest Fragment ◽

Invasive Potential ◽

Management Measures ◽

Tree Communities ◽

Regeneration Phase ◽

Hovenia Dulcis

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to evaluate the structure (horizontal and vertical) of a Deciduous Forest, located between the municipalities of Piratuba and Ipira (SC). 14.000 m2 of tree communities were analyzed, sub- divided into 14 plots of 10 x 100 m, where all individuals with DBH equal to or greater than 4.0 cm were sampled and identified. For natural regeneration were sampled 560 m2, divided into 14 plots of 10 x 4 m. In the tree strata were sampled 2.125 individuals belonging to 34 families, 80 genera and 113 species with a total density of 1.517 ind.ha-1. Natural regeneration were sampled 196 individuals belonging to 24 families and 49 species with a total density of 3.500 ind. ha-1. Luehea divaricata Mart., Actinostemon concolor (Spreng) Müll. Arg. and Parapiptadenia rigida (Benth.) Brenan had of value of increased importance (7,1%, 7,0 % and 5,3%, respectively). Actinostemon concolor got high value Relative Natural Regeneration (18,1%). The low percentage of natural regeneration of species as Luehea divaricata and Parapiptadenia rigida, respectively 3,7% and 1,5%, typical of EDF , may represent a maintenance commitment in the community. The study revealed the presence of exotic species with invasive potential, as Hovenia dulcis Thumb. These facts point to the importance of the adoption of management measures, since the forest fragment studied is advancing successional terms, however, anthropogenic interference with signals in the floristic composition. These facts point to the importance of the adoption of management measures, since the forest fragment studied is suffering anthropogenic impact, influencing the ecological succession mechanisms.

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Habitat filtering across tree life stages in tropical forest communities

Proceedings of The Royal Society B Biological Sciences ◽

10.1098/rspb.2013.0548 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 280 (1766) ◽

pp. 20130548 ◽

Cited By ~ 61

Author(s):

C. A. Baldeck ◽

K. E. Harms ◽

J. B. Yavitt ◽

R. John ◽

B. L. Turner ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Community Structure ◽

Tropical Forest ◽

Sample Size ◽

Habitat Heterogeneity ◽

Habitat Associations ◽

Tropical Tree ◽

Life Stages ◽

Habitat Filtering ◽

Adult Trees ◽

Tree Communities

Tropical tree communities are shaped by local-scale habitat heterogeneity in the form of topographic and edaphic variation, but the life-history stage at which habitat associations develop remains poorly understood. This is due, in part, to the fact that previous studies have not accounted for the widely disparate sample sizes (number of stems) that result when trees are divided into size classes. We demonstrate that the observed habitat structuring of a community is directly related to the number of individuals in the community. We then compare the relative importance of habitat heterogeneity to tree community structure for saplings, juveniles and adult trees within seven large (24–50 ha) tropical forest dynamics plots while controlling for sample size. Changes in habitat structuring through tree life stages were small and inconsistent among life stages and study sites. Where found, these differences were an order of magnitude smaller than the findings of previous studies that did not control for sample size. Moreover, community structure and composition were very similar among tree sub-communities of different life stages. We conclude that the structure of these tropical tree communities is established by the time trees are large enough to be included in the census (1 cm diameter at breast height), which indicates that habitat filtering occurs during earlier life stages.

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Diversity metrics, species turnovers and nestedness of bird assemblages in a deep karst sinkhole

Israel Journal of Ecology and Evolution ◽

10.1163/22244662-06301009 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 63 (2) ◽

pp. 8-16 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Corrado Battisti ◽

Marco Giardini ◽

Francesca Marini ◽

Lorena Di Rocco ◽

Giuseppe Dodaro ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Random Distribution ◽

Diversity Index ◽

Species Turnover ◽

Floristic Composition ◽

Bird Assemblages ◽

Β Diversity ◽

Stick Model ◽

Karst Sinkhole

We reported a study on breeding birds occurring inside an 80 m-deep karst sinkhole, with the characterization of the assemblages recorded along its semi-vertical slopes from the upper edge until the bottom. The internal sides of the sinkhole have been vertically subdivided in four belts about 20 m high. The highest belt (at the upper edge of the cenote) showed the highest values in mean number of bird detections, mean and normalized species richness, and Shannon diversity index. The averaged values of number of detections and species richness significantly differ among belts. Species turnover (Cody’s β-diversity) was maximum between the highest belts. Whittaker plots showed a marked difference among assemblages shaping from broken-stick model to geometric series, and explicited a spatial progressive stress with a disruption in evenness towards the deepest belts. Bird assemblages evidenced a nested subset structure with deeper belts containing successive subsets of the species occurring in the upper belts. We hypothesize that, at least during the daytime in breeding season, the observed non-random distribution of species along the vertical stratification is likely due to (i) the progressive simplification both of the floristic composition and vegetation structure, and (ii) the paucity of sunlight as resources from the upper edge to the inner side of the cenote.

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Characteristics and factors influencing the natural regeneration of Larix principis-rupprechtii seedlings in northern China

PeerJ ◽

10.7717/peerj.12327 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 ◽

pp. e12327

Author(s):

Weiwen Zhao ◽

Wenjun Liang ◽

Youzhi Han ◽

Xi Wei

Keyword(s):

Spatial Distribution ◽

Natural Regeneration ◽

Pair Correlation ◽

Principal Component ◽

Northern China ◽

Point Pattern Analysis ◽

Point Pattern ◽

Adult Trees ◽

Herb Diversity ◽

Univariate Distribution

Larix principis-rupprechtii is an important and widely distributed species in the mountains of northern China. However, it has inefficient natural regeneration in many stands and difficulty recruiting seedlings and saplings. In this study, we selected six plots with improved naturally-regenerated L. principis-rupprechtii seedlings. A point pattern analysis (pair-correlation function) was applied to identify the spatial distribution pattern and correlation between adult trees and regenerated seedlings mapped through X/Y coordinates. Several possible influencing factors of L. principis-rupprechtii seedlings’ natural regeneration were also investigated. The results showed that the spatial distribution patterns of Larix principis-rupprechtii seedlings were concentrated 0–5 m around adult trees when considering the main univariate distribution type of regeneration. There was a positive correlation at a scale of 1.5–4 m between seedlings and adult trees according to bivariate analyses. When the scale was increased, these relationships were no longer significant. Generally, adult trees raised regenerated L. principis-rupprechtii seedlings at a scale of 1.5–4 m. Principal component analysis showed that the understory herb diversity and litter layer had a negative correlation with the number of regenerated seedlings. There was also a weak relationship between regenerated numbers and canopy density. This study demonstrated that the main factors promoting natural regeneration were litter thickness, herb diversity, and the distance between adult trees and regenerated seedlings. Additionally, these findings will provide a basis for the late-stage and practical management of natural regeneration in northern China’s mountain ranges.

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Diferentes distúrbios antrópicos na paisagem podem influenciar padrões florísticos e estruturais da Mata Atlântica?

Revista Brasileira de Geografia Física ◽

10.26848/rbgf.v14.4.p2265-2285 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (4) ◽

Author(s):

Elisa Morais Paschoal ◽

Arthur Duarte Vieira ◽

Thiago José Ornelas Otoni ◽

Aglaia Maciel Gripp ◽

Jessica Pereira Freire ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Structural Component ◽

Basal Area ◽

Floristic Composition ◽

Semideciduous Forest ◽

Floristic Similarity ◽

Alpha And Beta Diversity ◽

Intermediate Disturbance ◽

Tree Communities ◽

Environmental Variations ◽

Tree Component

This study aimed to describe and compare the floristic and structural component of the tree component, as well as the alpha and beta diversity, as well as the floristic similarity of a remnant of Semideciduous Forest. The tree vegetation was sampled at two edges in contact with pasture (BP) and coffee growing (BC), and inside the fragment (INT). 2.840 individuals were sampled, identified in 56 families, 144 genera and 271 species (94 BC, 128 BP and 178 INT). The border stretches were characterized by higher density and smaller basal area than the interior, indicating the occurrence of disturbances. The variations in the structural floristic composition of the tree communities wereinfluenced by regional and local environmental variations, as well as the historical use of the area, according to Niche and Intermediate Disturbance Theories.

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A handbook for the standardised sampling of plant functional traits in disturbance-prone ecosystems, with a focus on open ecosystems

Australian Journal of Botany ◽

10.1071/bt20048 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 68 (8) ◽

pp. 473

Author(s):

B. J. Wigley ◽

T. Charles-Dominique ◽

G. P. Hempson ◽

N. Stevens ◽

M. TeBeest ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Functional Traits ◽

Woody Plants ◽

Plant Functional Traits ◽

Life Stages ◽

Environmental Filters ◽

Ecological Processes ◽

Additional Information ◽

Selective Pressures ◽

Plant Life ◽

Species Performance

Plant functional traits provide a valuable tool to improve our understanding of ecological processes at a range of scales. Previous handbooks on plant functional traits have highlighted the importance of standardising measurements of traits to improve our understanding of ecological and evolutionary processes. In open ecosystems (i.e. grasslands, savannas, open woodlands and shrublands), traits related to disturbance (e.g. herbivory, drought, and fire) play a central role in explaining species performance and distributions and are the focus of this handbook. We provide brief descriptions of 34 traits and list important environmental filters and their relevance, provide detailed sampling methodologies and outline potential pitfalls for each trait. We have grouped traits according to plant functional type (grasses, forbs and woody plants) and, because demographic stages may experience different selective pressures, we have separated traits according to the different plant life stages (seedlings saplings and adults). We have attempted to not include traits that have been covered in previous handbooks except for where updates or additional information was considered beneficial.

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Remarks on the botany of the southern cold temperate zone

Proceedings of the Royal Society of London Series B Biological Sciences ◽

10.1098/rspb.1960.0057 ◽

1960 ◽

Vol 152 (949) ◽

pp. 500-507 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Keyword(s):

Floristic Composition ◽

Temperate Zone ◽

South American ◽

Boreal Zone ◽

American Continent ◽

The South ◽

Plant Life ◽

South American Continent

The plant life of the southern cold temperate zone differs widely from that of the northern cold temperate zone not only in its floristic composition but also in its physiognomic types of vegetation. The latter difference is partly due to the fact that the austral zone concerned is cold temperate in a sense rather different from the corresponding boreal zone. Contrary to the great continents dominating the boreal cold temperate zone, the austral cold temperate zone consists mostly of a great ocean containing only a narrow extension of the South American continent and various islands. Owing to this difference the climates of the austral cold temperate zone are generally much more oceanic than those of the boreal cold temperate zone. Nowhere in the boreal zone do we find a climate with such small

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Effects of environmental conditions and space on species turnover for three plant functional groups in Brazilian savannas

Journal of Plant Ecology ◽

10.1093/jpe/rty054 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 12 (6) ◽

pp. 1047-1058 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Hélio Menegat ◽

Divino Vicente Silvério ◽

Henrique A Mews ◽

Guarino R Colli ◽

Ana Clara Abadia ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Functional Groups ◽

Environmental Conditions ◽

Environmental Gradients ◽

Species Turnover ◽

Geographic Distance ◽

Floristic Composition ◽

Environmental Variation ◽

Variance Partitioning ◽

Plant Functional Groups ◽

Palm Species

Abstract Aims Different plant functional groups display diverging responses to the same environmental gradients. Here, we assess the effects of environmental and spatial predictors on species turnover of three functional groups of Brazilian savannas (Cerrado) plants—trees, palms and lianas—across the transition zone between the Cerrado and Amazon biomes in central Brazil. Methods We used edaphic, climatic and plant composition data from nine one-hectare plots to assess the effects of the environment and space on species turnover using a Redundancy Analysis and Generalized Dissimilarity Modeling (GDM), associated with variance partitioning. Important Findings We recorded 167 tree species, 5 palms and 4 liana species. Environmental variation was most important in explaining species turnover, relative to geographic distance, but the best predictors differed between functional groups: geographic distance and silt for lianas; silt for palms; geographic distance, temperature and elevation for trees. Geographic distances alone exerted little influence over species turnover for the three functional groups. The pure environmental variation explained most of the liana and palm turnover, while tree turnover was largely explained by the shared spatial and environmental contribution. The effects of geographic distance upon species turnover leveled off at about 300 km for trees, and 200 km for lianas, whereas they were unimportant for palm species turnover. Our results indicate that environmental factors that determine floristic composition and species turnover differ substantially between plant functional groups in savannas. Therefore, we recommend that studies that aim to investigate the role of environmental conditions in determining plant species turnover should examine plant functional groups separately.

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COMPARAÇÃO DA EFICÁCIA DE TÉCNICAS DE NUCLEAÇÃO PARA RESTAURAÇÃO DE ÁREA DEGRADADA NO SUL DO BRASIL

FLORESTA ◽

10.5380/rf.v43i1.28680 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 43 (1) ◽

pp. 39 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Suzane Bevilacqua Marcuzzo ◽

Gislene Ganade ◽

Maristela Machado Araújo ◽

Marlove Fátima Brião Muniz

Keyword(s):

Efficient Method ◽

Natural Regeneration ◽

Abiotic Factors ◽

Floristic Composition ◽

Southern Brazil ◽

Porto Alegre ◽

Urban Centers ◽

Degraded Area ◽

Exotic Vegetation ◽

Remnant Forest

O desenvolvimento de grandes centros urbanos em áreas naturais resultou na supressão e degradação de florestas. A fim de obter ferramentas para implantação de programas de restauração nessas áreas, este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a eficiência de diferentes técnicas nucleadoras sobre os fatores bióticos e abióticos que limitam a regeneração natural, em uma área degradada em remanescente de floresta, no perímetro rural-urbano de Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil. O experimento foi conduzido em blocos inteiramente casualizados, em esquema fatorial, composto pelos seguintes tratamentos: Controle (C), Transposição de Solo (TS), Resíduos da Arborização Urbana Triturados (RT), Transposição de Solo misturado aos Resíduos da Arborização Urbana Triturado (TS+RT) e Poleiros Artificiais. Durante 12 meses, foi avaliada a abundância e riqueza de plântulas estabelecidas, e por sete meses, a chuva de sementes em coletores. Os resultados indicam que a transposição de solo foi o método mais eficiente para restauração da área degradada em estudo. Adicionalmente, a utilização de poleiros artificiais se mostrou eficiente, indicando tendência de aumento da riqueza florística e de sementes dispersas. No entanto, a vegetação exótica da área urbana apresentou forte influência na composição florística, cuja sucessão terá trajetória diferente da vegetação original.Palavras-chave: Nucleação; poleiros artificiais; arborização urbana; transposição de solo.AbstractComparison of nucleation techniques effectiveness for degraded area restoring in Southern Brazil. The development of large urban centers in natural areas resulted in abolition and degradation of forests. In order to obtain tools for restoring programs development in such areas, this study aimed to evaluate efficiency of different nucleus techniques in relation to biotic and abiotic factors which limit natural regeneration in a depressed area of remnant forest in rural-urban perimeter of Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. The experiment was conducted in randomized blocks, in factorial disposition, composed of the following treatments: Control (C), Transposition of Soil (TS), crushed waste of urban afforestation (RT), Transposition of soil mixed to crushed waste of urban afforestation (TS+RT), and artificial perches. During 12 months, abundance and richness of seedlings laid down were evaluated and for seven months the seed rain in sinks. Results point that the soil transposition was the most efficient method for restoration of the degraded area. Additionally, artificial perches using proved to be efficient, pointing to wealth increase trend and floristic wealth of dispersed seeds. However, the exotic vegetation of the urban area has strong influences on floristic composition, whose succession will have different trajectory of original vegetation.Keywords: Artificial perches; nucleation; urban afforestation; soil transposition.

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