Canopy gap colonization in the Atlantic Montane Rain Forest

In the Atlantic Montane Rain Forest of South-eastern Brazil, a study was carried out to describe and evaluate canopy gap colonization. Gap composition by herb species was assessed through their soil coverage and woody species by measuring and identifying all individuals taller than one meter. Gap structure (gap size, number and diameter of treefalls), topographic position and surrounding vegetation were also measured. Two genera of Marantaceae were markedly frequent and abundant inside gaps. The more abundant and frequent woody species were shade tolerant. Species-rich families found inside gaps did not differ from the forest as a whole. Results revealed that direct and indirect influences of topography were important to determine gap composition of woody species. Evidently gap colonization had a considerable influence of topography and pre-established individuals besides variables of gap structure.

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Successional and mature stands in an upper Andean rain forest transect of Venezuela: do leaf characteristics of woody species differ?

Journal of Tropical Ecology ◽

10.1017/s0266467403003286 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 19 (3) ◽

pp. 251-259 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Julio V. Schneider ◽

Daniela Zipp ◽

Juan Gaviria ◽

Georg Zizka

Keyword(s):

Rain Forest ◽

Stomatal Density ◽

Leaf Shape ◽

Woody Species ◽

Leaf Size ◽

Montane Rain Forest ◽

Leaf Characteristics ◽

Mature Stands ◽

Vegetation Patches ◽

Forest Transect

Changes in morphological and anatomical leaf characteristics of woody plant species along an altitudinal gradient as well as between a late-successional and mature upper montane rain forest were examined. For leaf size, the Raunkiaer-Webb classification system was applied. The mature-forest transect comprised eight plots of 0.1 ha between 2300 and 3300 m asl, the successional-forest transect, four plots between 2400 and 2750 m asl. The latter comprised structurally heterogeneous vegetation patches. For each plot the proportions of leaf size classes and of the different categories of leaf shape, margin, and apex were calculated. Leaf size and the proportion of drip-tips decreased with increasing elevation. Serrate leaf margins were more prominent at higher elevations. Stomatal density, leaf thickness and related anatomical characteristics did not show significant trends. Differences between the mature and successional forest plots were generally slight. The advanced age of the successional forest probably led to a convergent development of leaf characteristics.

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Melastomataceae in a continental Atlantic Forest island from southeastern Brazil

Phytotaxa ◽

10.11646/phytotaxa.183.2.1 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 183 (2) ◽

pp. 61 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Kelly Cristina Silva-Gonçalves ◽

José Fernando Andrade Baumgratz ◽

André Felippe Nunes-Freitas

Keyword(s):

Coastal Plain ◽

Rain Forest ◽

New Records ◽

Southeastern Brazil ◽

Montane Rain Forest ◽

Phenological Data ◽

Forest Plant Species ◽

Ombrophilous Forest ◽

Forest Island ◽

Insular Region

The Marambaia is an important natural refuge for preserving the genetic heritage of several rain forest plant species. In this insular region, where the vegetation types are Lower Montane Rain Forest and restingas (sandy coastal plain habitat), the impressive diversity of Melastomataceae consists of seven genera and 25 species of which 13 represent new records for the area. Miconia is best represented with 10 species, followed by Tibouchina (6 spp.), Leandra (4 spp.), Clidemia (2 spp.) and Huberia, Marcetia and Ossaea (1 sp. each). Most of the species are shrubs or trees and occur in Dense Submontane Ombrophilous Forest. Huberia ovalifolia DC., Leandra acutiflora (Naudin) Cogn. and Leandra melastomoides Raddi are cited in the list of endangered species for the municipality of Rio de Janeiro. An identification key is provided as well as descriptions, illustrations, comments on morphological peculiarities of species, and geographical and phenological data.

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Seed mass and light requirements for regeneration in Southeast Asian rain forest

Canadian Journal of Botany ◽

10.1139/b95-090 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 73 (6) ◽

pp. 817-826 ◽

Cited By ~ 59

Author(s):

D. J. Metcalfe ◽

P. J. Grubb

Keyword(s):

Phylogenetic Analysis ◽

Rain Forest ◽

Secondary Forest ◽

Seed Mass ◽

Primary Forest ◽

Secondary Forests ◽

Light Requirement ◽

Lowland Rain Forest ◽

Light Requirements ◽

Shade Tolerant Species

Seed mass values are given for 140 species of primary lowland rain forest and associated secondary forests in Singapore. Among shade-tolerant species of primary forest there is a trend for a decrease in mean seed mass with tall trees > woody climbers > small trees > shrubs > herbs; the differences between tall trees and small trees or shrubs or herbs, and between herbs and small trees or woody climbers are significant. There are a few light-demanding herbs or shrubs in the primary forest; among small trees, light demanders have significantly lower seed mass values than shade tolerators. In 9 out of 13 comparisons within taxa including both shade tolerants and light demanders the former had appreciably larger seeds than the latter. Two out of 13 comparisons involved very small seeded shade tolerators, and one a notably large-seed light demander. Many shade-tolerant herbs, shrubs, and trees have seed mass values much smaller than those of trees of secondary forest conventionally regarded as small seeded, and exploit moist, litter-free sites, e.g., steep microslopes. The trees of secondary forests on degraded soils do not differ significantly in seed mass from those on nondegraded soils. Key words: seed mass, light requirement, regeneration, tropical rain forest, phylogenetic analysis.

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