The Tropical Rain Forest Canopy: A Method Providing Total Access

Biotropica ◽  
1981 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 283 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donald R. Perry ◽  
John Williams
Keyword(s):  
Rain Forest ◽  
Tropical Rain Forest ◽  
Forest Canopy

Butterfly behavioural responses to natural Bornean tropical rain-forest canopy gaps

2011 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-54 ◽  
Author(s):  
James S. Pryke ◽  
Sven M. Vrdoljak ◽  
Paul B. C. Grant ◽  
Michael J. Samways
Keyword(s):  
Rain Forest ◽  
Tropical Rain Forest ◽  
Forest Canopy ◽  
Canopy Gaps ◽  
Tree Canopy ◽  
Canopy Openness ◽  
Butterfly Species ◽  
Behavioural Responses ◽  
Light Heterogeneity ◽  
Closed Canopy

Abstract:Natural tree canopy gaps allow sunlight to penetrate to the forest floor, a major environmental component and resource for many tropical rain-forest species. We compare here how butterflies use sunny areas created by the natural gaps in canopies in comparison with adjacent closed-canopy areas. We chose butterflies as our focal organisms as they are taxonomically tractable and mobile, yet habitat sensitive. Previous studies have shown that butterfly diversity in tropical forests responds to varying degrees of canopy openness. Here we assess butterfly behavioural responses to gaps and equivalent sized closed-canopy patches. Butterfly occupancy time and behaviour were simultaneously observed 61 times in gaps and 61 times in equivalent sized closed-canopy patches across four sites in a tropical rain forest in northern Borneo. Out of the 20 most frequently recorded species, 12 were more frequently recorded or spent more time in gaps, four occurred more frequently in closed-canopy areas, and four showed no significant differences. Overall agonistic, basking, patrolling and resting were more common in gaps compared with the closed canopy. Many butterfly species have complex behavioural requirements for both gaps and closed canopies, with some species using these different areas for different behaviours. Each butterfly species had particular habitat requirements, and needed both canopy gaps and closed canopy areas for ecological and behavioural reasons, emphasizing the need for natural light heterogeneity within these systems.

scholarly journals LONG-TERM SURVIVORSHIP AND CROWN AREA DYNAMICS OF TROPICAL RAIN FOREST CANOPY TREES

Ecology ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 81 (2) ◽  
pp. 585-597 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stanley R. Herwitz ◽  
Robert E. Slye ◽  
Stephen M. Turton
Keyword(s):  
Rain Forest ◽  
Tropical Rain Forest ◽  
Forest Canopy ◽  
Crown Area ◽  
Canopy Trees

scholarly journals Regeneración natural y diversidad de especies arbóreas en selvas húmedas

2017 ◽  
pp. 179 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miguel Martínez-Ramos
Keyword(s):  
Species Diversity ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Rain Forest ◽  
Tropical Rain Forest ◽  
Forest Canopy ◽  
Tree Species Diversity ◽  
Tropical Rain Forests ◽  
Advanced Regeneration ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Tree Falls

One of the major biological mysteries still to be explained is the maintenance of the enormous local tree species diversity in tropical rain forests .This review explores the relationship between the dynamics of natural regeneration and the evolutionary and ecological processes and mechanisms involved in the origin and maintenance of such extraordinary diversity. First, 1 review ideas on the origin of tree species diversity in the tropics. This review suggests that: i) historical, evolutionary and biogeographical phenomena have a paramount influence on local species richness, and ii) tropical rain forest tree communities are species unsaturated, suggesting that newly originated species may freely migrate across a regional landscape. Second, I describe the forest regeneration process. Gap dynamics, promoted by branch and tree falls, is a fundamental component of the forest canopy renewal. Small gaps (caused by branch falls) facilitate the establishment and survival of seedlings and saplings in the shaded understory (advanced regeneration), whereas large gaps (caused by tree falls) enable trees to reach mature sizes. Gap creation and tree maturation are the extremes of a process of tree and species replacement in the forest canopy. Third, I explore relationships between the tree replacement process and the population and community mechanisms that facilitate maintenance of species diversity at a local scale of a few hectares. I argue and document that factors that promote high species diversity in the advanced regeneration favor high probabilities of heterospecific replacements among canopy trees. Hence, these factors facilitate the maintenance of species diversity in the forest canopy. Frugivores, by promoting diversity in the seed rain community, and biotic agents of seed, seedling and sapling mortality by operating mainly on abundant species, are key factors in facilitating diversity. Furthermore, the existence of trade offs in tree life history attributes (such as seed dispersal capacity, survivorship in the shade and growth under gap conditions) contributes to diversity maintenance by promoting heterospecific replacements. This review does not support ú1e idea that maintenance of tree species diversity in tropical rain forest depends on random processes, as some authors have claimed. instead, I conclude that ecological phenomena have a paran1ounl role on the possibility that a species gains a membresy in such highly diverse forests.

Development of an airship for tropical rain forest canopy exploration

2005 ◽  
Vol 109 (1098) ◽  
pp. 361-372 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. E. Dorrington
Keyword(s):  
Dynamic Simulation ◽  
Rain Forest ◽  
Tropical Rain Forest ◽  
Forest Canopy ◽  
Flight Test ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Propulsion Systems ◽  
Biological Studies ◽  
Final Design ◽  
Future Work

Abstract The design, manufacture and testing of a 480 cubic metre helium-filled airship, or dirigible balloon, intended for flight above tropical rain forest canopy is outlined. The requirements for the airship and the preliminary sizing method are set-out. Details of the final design and flight test results are included, as well as suggestions concerning future work. Particular attention is paid to the issue of accurate station-keeping and operation close to the canopy with winds present. It is concluded that the development of a truly useful aerial platform for canopy biological studies requires further research in aerodynamics, dynamic simulation and ultra-quiet propulsion systems.

scholarly journals Oxidant and particle photochemical processes above a south-east Asian tropical rain forest (the OP3 project): introduction, rationale, location characteristics and tools

2009 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 18899-18963 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. N. Hewitt ◽  
J. Lee ◽  
M. P. Barkley ◽  
N. Carslaw ◽  
N. A. Chappell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Atmospheric Chemistry ◽  
Rain Forest ◽  
Tropical Rain Forest ◽  
Forest Canopy ◽  
East Asian ◽  
Anthropogenic Pollution ◽  
Atmospheric Composition ◽  
Forest Site ◽  
Airborne Measurements ◽  
Photochemical Processes

Abstract. In April–July 2008, intensive measurements were made of atmospheric composition and chemistry in Sabah, Malaysia, as part of the "Oxidant and particle photochemical processes above a South-East Asian tropical rain forest" (OP3) project. Fluxes and concentrations of trace gases and particles were made from and above the rain forest canopy at the Bukit Atur Global Atmosphere Watch station and at the nearby Sabahmas oil palm plantation, using both ground-based and airborne measurements. Here, the measurement and modelling strategies used, the characteristics of the sites and an overview of data obtained are described. Composition measurements show that the rainforest site was not impacted by significant sources of anthropogenic pollution, and this is confirmed by satellite retrievals of NO2 and HCHO. The dominant modulators of atmospheric chemistry at the rain forest site were therefore emissions of BVOCs and soil emissions of reactive nitrogen oxides. At the observed BVOC:NOx volume mixing ratio (~104 pptv/pptv), current chemical models suggest that daytime maximum OH concentrations should be ca. 105 radicals cm−3, but observed OH concentrations were an order of magnitude greater than this. We confirm, therefore, previous measurements which suggest that an unexplained source of OH must exist above tropical forests and continue to interrogate the data to find explanations for this.

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