scholarly journals Compositional variation in understorey fern and palm communities along a soil fertility and rainfall gradient in a lower montane tropical forest

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jéssica Lira Viana ◽  
Benjamin Luke Turner ◽  
James William Dalling
Keyword(s):  
Soil Fertility ◽  
Tropical Forest ◽  
Compositional Variation ◽  
Rainfall Gradient ◽  
Montane Tropical Forest

A New Species of Gracixalus (Anura: Rhacophoridae) from Northern Vietnam

2021 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 111-122
Author(s):  
Dzung Trung Le ◽  
Yen Thi Do ◽  
Tung Thanh Tran ◽  
Truong Quang Nguyen ◽  
Nikolai L. Orlov ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Tropical Forest ◽  
Central Region ◽  
Lateral Surface ◽  
Dorsal Surface ◽  
Upper Eyelid ◽  
Morphological Differences ◽  
Montane Tropical Forest ◽  
Ventral Skin ◽  
A New Species

A new species of Gracixalus is described from northwestern Vietnam based on morphological differences and molecular divergence. Morphologically, the new species, Gracixalus ziegleri sp. nov., is distinguishable from its congeners on the basis of a combination of the following diagnostic characters: (1) size small (SVL 28.1 – 30.5 mm); (2) head slightly wider than long; (3) vomerine teeth absent; (4) upper eyelid and dorsum without spine; (5) supratympanic fold distinct; (6) skin of dorsal and lateral surface of head, body and limbs rough, sparsely scattered with tubercles; (7) ventral skin granular; (8) tibiotarsal projection absent; (9) toes with moderately developed webbing, formula I1 – 11/2 II1 – 2III1 – 2IV2 – 1V; (10) dorsal surface of head and body brown to beige above, with an inverse Y-shaped dark brown marking, extending from interorbital region to central region of dorsum; (11) external vocal sac absent in males; (12) males with a nuptial pad on finger I. Phylogeneticially, the new species is a sister taxon of Gracixalus sapaensis and G. tianlinensis with well-supported values. Currently, the new species is known only from the evergreen montane tropical forest of Yen Bai Province at an elevation of ca. 2200 m a.s.l.

Effect of forest succession and microenvironmental variables on the abundance of two wandering spider species (Araneae: Ctenidae) in a montane tropical forest

2020 ◽  
Vol 48 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicolas A. Hazzi ◽  
Anna Petrosky ◽  
Harshad Karandikar ◽  
David Henderson ◽  
Natalia Jiménez-Conejo
Keyword(s):  
Tropical Forest ◽  
Forest Succession ◽  
Spider Species ◽  
Montane Tropical Forest

scholarly journals Past human disturbances and soil fertility both influence the distribution of light‐demanding tree species in a Central African tropical forest

2020 ◽  
Vol 31 (3) ◽  
pp. 440-453
Author(s):  
Jason Vleminckx ◽  
David Bauman ◽  
Marine Demanet ◽  
Olivier J. Hardy ◽  
Jean‐Louis Doucet ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Fertility ◽  
Tropical Forest ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Human Disturbances

scholarly journals Relationships between Plant Biodiversity and Soil Fertility in a Mature Tropical Forest, Costa Rica

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin B. Nadeau ◽  
Thomas P. Sullivan
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Costa Rica ◽  
Soil Fertility ◽  
Tropical Forest ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Plant Biodiversity ◽  
Total N ◽  
Fertility Index ◽  
Tree Species Richness ◽  
Soil Fertility Index

We aimed to study relationships between plant biodiversity and soil chemical fertility in a mature tropical forest of Costa Rica. Soil samples were collected in nine sampling plots (5 m by 25 m) in order to identify P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Zn, Mn, Cu, and Al and total N contents, soil fertility index, CEC, pH, and C/N ratio. Furthermore, species richness, Shannon-Wiener and Simpson’s species diversities, structural richness, and structural diversity were calculated for each plot. Simple linear regression analyses were conducted. Tree species richness was inversely related to concentration levels of K, Ca, and P, CEC, and soil fertility index. Therefore, higher tree species richness tended to be found on sites with lower soil fertility, which is the complete opposite of temperate forests. As a result, tropical and temperate forest ecology should be considered separately. Shannon-Wiener tree species diversity was positively correlated to C/N ratio. Herb structural richness was positively correlated with soil fertility index and P concentration. Therefore, herb structural richness may be a good indicator of soil fertility. This study gives important insights on ecological relationships between plant biodiversity and soil chemical fertility in a primary tropical forest.

scholarly journals Effects of the Trophobiont HerbivoreCalloconophora pugionata(Hemiptera) on Ant Fauna Associated withMyrcia obovata(Myrtaceae) in a Montane Tropical Forest

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roberth Fagundes ◽  
Kleber Del-Claro ◽  
Sérvio Pontes Ribeiro
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Species Diversity ◽  
Tropical Forest ◽  
Host Plant ◽  
Atlantic Forest ◽  
Main Hypothesis ◽  
Ant Assemblages ◽  
Montane Tropical Forest ◽  
Positive Effect ◽  
Dominant Ant

Many studies have investigated the mechanisms behind the structure of arboreal ant assemblages. In this study, the objective was to evaluate the effect of availability of honeydew-producing colonies ofCalloconophora pugionata(Membracidae) on the structure of ant assemblages associated with the host plantMyrcia obovata(Myrtaceae) in an Atlantic forest of Minas Gerais (Brazil). Our experiment consisted in a gradual exclusion of hemipteran colonies out of the host plant crown and further record of the ant assemblage response (species richness, composition, and occurrence) to the presence and density of treehopper colonies. The hypothesis was that an increase in the number of trophobiont herbivores results in an increase in tending ant occurrence but a reduction in ant species diversity. Results corroborated our main hypothesis: membracids had a positive effect on the occurrence of ants but negative on species richness. Overall insect occurrence was also reduced with increasing inC. pugionatacolonies, probably due to strengthening dominant ant species territory sizes and intensification of patrolling.

Early responses of elevated nutrient input on above-ground net primary production of a lower-montane tropical forest in Uganda

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raphael Manu ◽  
Marife D. Corre ◽  
Edzo Veldkamp ◽  
Oliver van Straaten
Keyword(s):  
Primary Production ◽  
Tropical Forest ◽  
Tropical Forests ◽  
Net Primary Production ◽  
Forest Growth ◽  
Nutrient Addition ◽  
Litter Production ◽  
N Addition ◽  
Litter Fall ◽  
Montane Tropical Forest

<p>Nutrient availability in tropical forest ecosystems plays a critical role in sustaining forest growth and productivity. Observational evidence for nutrient limitations on net primary productivity (NPP) in the tropics is rare yet crucial for predicting the impacts of human-induced changes on tropical forests, particularly for underrepresented tropical regions in Africa. In an ecosystem-scale nutrient manipulation experiment, we assessed the response of different components of above-ground net primary production (ANPP) to nutrient addition of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K) and all possible combinations (NP, NK, PK, and NPK) at rates of 125 kg N ha<sup>-1</sup>yr<sup>-1</sup>, 50 kg P ha<sup>-1</sup> yr<sup>-1</sup> and 50 kg K ha<sup>-1</sup>yr<sup>-1</sup>.</p><p>We established 32 (8 treatments × 4 replicates) experimental plots of 40 × 40 m<sup>2</sup> each and measured stem growth of over 15,000 trees with diameter at breast height (dbh) ≥ 1 cm as well as litter production and above-ground woody biomass production (AWBP), of a lower-montane tropical forest (1100 m a.s.l.) in northwestern Uganda.</p><p>After 18 months of nutrient addition, we found that different aspects of ANPP, including litter production and AWBP are controlled by multiple soil nutrients. Specifically, we measured higher total fine-litter production in the N (13.6 ± 1.4 Mg ha<sup>-1 </sup>yr<sup>-1</sup>) and K (13.3 ± 1.8 Mg ha<sup>-1 </sup>yr<sup>-1</sup>) addition plots than the control (11.1 ± 0.6 Mg ha<sup>-1 </sup>yr<sup>-1</sup>) plots. Both reproductive litter (flowers and fruits; 10% of total fine-litter fall) and leaf litter (62% of total fine-litter fall) significantly increased with K addition. In general, fine-litter production in our plots is higher than what has been reported so far for lower-montane tropical forests. Increased AWBP is associated with N addition plots. The response of trees to nutrient addition however, varied with tree sizes. Trees with dbh between 10 – 30 cm increased significantly in AWBP under PK addition. There was no effect of nutrient addition associated with either smaller (1 – 10 cm dbh) or larger trees (dbh > 30 cm). The medium-sized trees which may have experienced resource competition but have now transitioned into the canopy layer (exposed to sunlight) are able to use additional nutrient for active growth. In contrast, bigger trees may allocate extra nutrient for reproduction and leaf-vitality, while smaller trees remain shaded, co-limited by sunlight and therefore unable to utilize increased available nutrients for stem diameter growth. ANPP increased by 39% with N addition and marginally by 23% with K additions relative to the control. In conclusion, our experiment provides evidence of N and potentially K limitation of ANPP in this lower-montane tropical forest, and highlights that, in a highly diverse ecosystem different components of ANPP may be regulated by multiple nutrients. </p>

Tropical forest dynamics across a rainfall gradient and the impact of an El Niño dry season

2004 ◽  
Vol 20 (01) ◽  
pp. 51-72 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Condit ◽  
Salomon Aguilar ◽  
Andres Hernandez ◽  
Rolando Perez ◽  
Suzanne Lao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tropical Forest ◽  
El Niño ◽  
Forest Dynamics ◽  
El Nino ◽  
Dry Season ◽  
Rainfall Gradient ◽  
Tropical Forest Dynamics ◽  
The Impact

scholarly journals Feeding habitat of the understory arboreal snail Tikoconus costarricanus (Stylommatophora: Euconulidae) in a tropical montane wet forest, Costa Rica

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 12
Author(s):  
Zaidett Barrientos
Keyword(s):  
Costa Rica ◽  
Tropical Forest ◽  
Feeding Behavior ◽  
Rainy Season ◽  
Food Source ◽  
Feeding Activity ◽  
Land Snails ◽  
Individual Leaf ◽  
Feeding Habitat ◽  
Montane Tropical Forest

Introduction: The feeding habitats of land snails are essential for their survival. Some are little known, for example the upper surface of leaves, habitat of tropical arboreal and shrub snails. Objective: To analyze the feeding behavior and preferences in the feeding habitat of the tropical snail Tikoconus costarricanus. Methods: In a humid montane tropical forest in Cartago, Costa Rica, I recorded every 3 to 4 hours the feeding activity and general behavior of individually marked snails on a 2km trail (seven 24-hour visits in May 2010-March 2011). Results: I observed a total of 167 individual specimens and made 781 observations about their behavior and the leaves on which they were found. These snails preferred monocotyledonous leaves with many epiphylls, despite the fact that those leaves were not common in this forest. They avoided ferns, and during the less rainy season, they preferred leaves with many trichomes, although there were few such leaves. On average, they spent 11 hours on each individual leaf and visited two leaves per day. The few snails seen on stems were almost always moving, as opposed to those on the leaf underside. On average they moved a net 65 cm each day. Feeding concentrated around 9:00 am and defecation around 4:20 am. Conclusions: These snails prefer leaves with many epiphylls, where they find good camouflage, moisture and food. The preference for trichomes could be due to mechanical reasons. The lack of seasonality in their behavior may reflect their stable food source in a forest that remains humid year round. 

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