Plant composition associated with environmental gradients in tropical montane forests (Cueva de Los Guacharos National Park, Huila, Colombia)

Biotropica ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 48 (5) ◽  
pp. 568-576 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cecilia M. Prada ◽  
Pablo R. Stevenson
Keyword(s):  
National Park ◽  
Environmental Gradients ◽  
Plant Composition ◽  
Montane Forests ◽  
Tropical Montane Forests

Natural disturbance, vegetation patterns and ecological dynamics in tropical montane forests

2016 ◽  
Vol 32 (5) ◽  
pp. 384-403 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shelley D. Crausbay ◽  
Patrick H. Martin
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Gradients ◽  
Natural Disturbance ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Vegetation Patterns ◽  
Environmental Complexity ◽  
Montane Forests ◽  
Central Process ◽  
Rich Mixture ◽  
Tropical Montane Forests

Abstract:Disturbance is a central process in forest dynamics, yet the role of natural disturbance in tropical montane forests (TMFs) has not been systematically addressed. We posit that disturbance in TMFs has a wider role than commonly acknowledged and its effects are distinctive because: (1) TMFs often have very low rates of productivity due to low resources, and so recovery from disturbance may be slow, (2) montane forests have marked environmental heterogeneity which interacts with disturbance, (3) a large percentage of TMFs are regularly exposed to high energy windstorms and landslides, and (4) TMFs contain a biogeographically rich mixture of tree species with divergent evolutionary histories that interact differently with different disturbance types. We reviewed the literature on natural disturbance in TMFs and found 119 peer-reviewed papers which met our search criteria. Our review shows that disturbance is widespread in TMFs with pronounced effects on structure, function, composition and dynamics. Disturbance is also evident in the ecology of TMF biota with clear examples of plant life-history traits adapted to disturbance, including disturbance-triggered germination, treefall gap strategies and resprouting ability. Important aspects of TMF disturbances are stochastic and site-specific, but there are broad patterns in disturbance type, frequency and severity along latitudinal, altitudinal and environmental gradients. Compared with the lowland tropics, TMF disturbances are more spatially structured, TMFs experience more disturbance types in a given area due to environmental complexity, and TMFs are much more prone to small-scale yet severe landslides as well the large and potentially catastrophic disturbances of cyclones, forest die-back and fire. On the whole, natural disturbance should assume a larger role in models of ecosystem processes and vegetation patterns in TMFs. An improved understanding of what creates variation in disturbance severity and post-disturbance recovery rates, how composition and diversity feedback on disturbance type and likelihood, and how global change will alter these dynamics are important priorities in future TMF ecology research.

scholarly journals Height-diameter allometry and above ground biomass in tropical montane forests: Insights from the Albertine Rift in Africa

PLoS ONE ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. e0179653 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gérard Imani ◽  
Faustin Boyemba ◽  
Simon Lewis ◽  
Nsharwasi Léon Nabahungu ◽  
Kim Calders ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Above Ground Biomass ◽  
Montane Forests ◽  
Albertine Rift ◽  
Ground Biomass ◽  
Tropical Montane Forests

scholarly journals Variant responses of tree seedling to seasonal drought stress along an elevational transect in tropical montane forests

2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaoyang Song ◽  
Jieqiong Li ◽  
Wenfu Zhang ◽  
Yong Tang ◽  
Zhenhua Sun ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drought Stress ◽  
Tree Seedling ◽  
Montane Forests ◽  
Seasonal Drought ◽  
Tropical Montane Forests ◽  
Elevational Transect

Use of airborne lidar for estimating canopy gap fraction and leaf area index of tropical montane forests

2015 ◽  
Vol 36 (10) ◽  
pp. 2569-2583 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janne Heiskanen ◽  
Lauri Korhonen ◽  
Jesse Hietanen ◽  
Petri K.E. Pellikka
Keyword(s):  
Leaf Area Index ◽  
Leaf Area ◽  
Canopy Gap ◽  
Airborne Lidar ◽  
Montane Forests ◽  
Area Index ◽  
Tropical Montane Forests ◽  
Gap Fraction

Life strategy traits of the liana Sericostachys scandens spreading in the montane forests in the Kahuzi-Biega national park (DR Congo)

2012 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 665-675 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masumbuko Ndabaga Céphas ◽  
Herpigny Basile ◽  
Barbier Nicolas ◽  
Habiyaremye Muhashy François ◽  
Lejoly Jean ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
National Park ◽  
Life Strategy ◽  
Dr Congo ◽  
Montane Forests

scholarly journals Linking Patterns and Processes of Tree Community Assembly Across Spatial Scales in Tropical Montane Forests

2020 ◽  
Vol 101 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Guillermo Bañares‐de‐Dios ◽  
Manuel J. Macía ◽  
Íñigo Granzow‐de la Cerda ◽  
Itziar Arnelas ◽  
Gabriel Martins Carvalho ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Community Assembly ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Montane Forests ◽  
Tropical Montane Forests ◽  
Tree Community ◽  
Patterns And Processes
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