scholarly journals Integrating Density into Dispersal and Establishment Limitation Equations in Tropical Forests

Forests ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. 570 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marinés de la Peña-Domene ◽  
Cristina Martínez-Garza
Keyword(s):  
Tropical Forests ◽  
Seedling Establishment ◽  
Forest Restoration ◽  
Agricultural Landscape ◽  
Secondary Forest ◽  
Biosphere Reserve ◽  
Dispersal Limitation ◽  
Plant Recruitment ◽  
Old Growth Forest ◽  
High Dispersal

Plant recruitment in tropical forests reflects the chance that seeds arrive at a site resulting in seedling establishment. To inform tropical forest restoration, we ask how seed and seedling densities differentially affect dispersal and establishment limitation in successional habitats in a tropical agricultural landscape. Methods: In Los Tuxtlas Biosphere Reserve, we calculated indices of dispersal and establishment limitation using data on seed rain and seedling establishment in old-growth forest, secondary forest, and fenced pasture. We present an index that considers variations in dispersal- and establishment-limitation including density-weighted calculations. Results: There were greater dispersal and establishment limitations in pasture than in forests. Substantial differences in both dispersal and establishment limitation occurred among the 33 species for which seed and seedling data were available. Only 5% of all species had mid to low limitation in both dispersal and establishment. In contrast, 60% of all species showed high dispersal and establishment limitation. Plant recruitment in pastures is impeded by low seed arrival, given that 77% of the recorded species showed extremely high dispersal limitation (>90%). Conclusions: The low capacity of most species to arrive, seeds to germinate and seedlings to establish in pastures slow down succession back to forest.

Seed rain in a tropical agricultural landscape

2009 ◽  
Vol 25 (5) ◽  
pp. 541-550 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cristina Martínez-Garza ◽  
Alejandro Flores-Palacios ◽  
Marines De La Peña-Domene ◽  
Henry F. Howe
Keyword(s):  
Agricultural Landscape ◽  
Forest Type ◽  
Secondary Forest ◽  
Woody Species ◽  
Seed Rain ◽  
Secondary Forests ◽  
Old Growth Forest ◽  
Forest Remnants ◽  
Successional Species ◽  
Total Seed

Abstract:Seed dispersal into fragmented tropical landscapes limits the rate and character of ecological succession between forest remnants. In a novel experiment in recovery of dispersal between forest remnants, 120 1-m2 seed traps were placed in fenced plots in active pasture 90–250 m from forest, and in nearby primary and secondary forests. Total seed rain from December 2006 to January 2008 included 69 135 seeds of 57 woody species. High richness of seed rain of early-successional trees occurred in all habitats, but seed rain of late-successional woody plants was much lower into pastures and secondary forest than into old-growth forest. Non-metric ordination analysis further demonstrated high movement of late-successional species within and between forest and secondary forest, but little movement of species of either forest type to pastures. Most species were dispersed by animals, but most seeds were dispersed by wind. A pattern of seed rain biased strongly towards wind-dispersed species creates a template for regeneration quite unlike that in nearby forest.

scholarly journals Plant Attributes that Drive Dispersal and Establishment Limitation in Tropical Agricultural Landscapes

Forests ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 620 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marinés Peña-Domene ◽  
Cristina Martínez-Garza ◽  
Luz Ayestarán-Hernández ◽  
Henry Howe
Keyword(s):  
Secondary Forest ◽  
Dispersal Limitation ◽  
Agricultural Landscapes ◽  
Primary Forest ◽  
Sampling Station ◽  
Pioneer Species ◽  
High Dispersal ◽  
Seed Fall ◽  
Using Data ◽  
The Tropics

Factors that influence tropical-forest regeneration have been of interest across the tropics. We tested the degree of dispersal and establishment limitation of pioneer and non-pioneer tree species with different dispersal modes and seed sizes, using data on both seed fall and seedling establishment in primary forest, secondary forest, and pasture excluded from livestock. The study took place in a lowland tropical rain forest in southeastern Mexico. To calculate dispersal and establishment limitation, we used a density-weighted index that considers: (1) whether a seed or seedling of a given species has arrived in the sample area; and (2) the fraction of seeds or seedlings contributed by a given species relative to the total number of seeds or seedlings arriving at a sampling station. Dispersal limitation of non-pioneer species and animal-dispersed species decreased with succession. The secondary forest had less dispersal limitation for wind-dispersed pioneers than pasture, resulting in a dense aggregation of species with seeds dispersed by wind. Overall, establishment limitation differed between animal-dispersed and wind-dispersed species in the primary forest, and was negatively correlated with seed size. The low capacity of most species to arrive, germinate, and establish as seedlings in pastures slows succession back to forest. To overcome barriers to natural succession in pastures, transplanting seedlings of non-pioneer species is suggested because most of them show high dispersal and establishment limitation.

scholarly journals Responses of Bat Communities (Mammalia: Chiroptera) to Forest Loss and Habitat Conversion in Southern Cameroon

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
pp. 194008292110103
Author(s):  
Patrick Jules Atagana ◽  
Eric Moïse Bakwo Fils ◽  
Sevilor Kekeunou
Keyword(s):  
Secondary Forest ◽  
Biosphere Reserve ◽  
Abundant Species ◽  
Primary Forest ◽  
Habitat Types ◽  
Habitat Transformation ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Southern Cameroon ◽  
Habitat Conversion ◽  
Species Specific

We aimed to assess how bats are affected by habitat transformation by comparing bat assemblages in four habitat types: primary forest, secondary forest, cocoa plantations and human habitations in the Dja Biosphere Reserve of southern Cameroon. Bats were sampled in the four habitat types using mist nets. During 126 nights, a total of 413 bats were captured, belonging to four families, 16 genera and 24 species. Ninety three individuals (17 species) were captured in the primary forest, followed by plantations (105 individuals, 14 species), human habitations (159 individuals, 10 species), and secondary forest (55 individuals, eight species). Megaloglossus woermanni was recorded in all the four habitats, and was the most abundant species (105 individuals). The analysis of bat assemblage between habitat types showed a statistically significant difference in species composition. The distribution of the six most abundant species ( Epomops franqueti, Megaloglossus woermanni, Rousettus aegyptiacus, Dohyrina cyclops, Hipposideros cf. caffer and Hipposideros cf. ruber) was influenced by habitat types. Our results suggest that the decrease in species richness observed in disturbed habitats may be due to habitat perturbations of primary forest habitats. Therefore, it is important to examine the effects of habitat conversion at species level, as responses are often species-specific.

scholarly journals Effects of nitrogen and phosphorus additions on nitrous oxide emission in a nitrogen-rich and two nitrogen-limited tropical forests

2016 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 3503-3517 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mianhai Zheng ◽  
Tao Zhang ◽  
Lei Liu ◽  
Weixing Zhu ◽  
Wei Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nitrous Oxide ◽  
Tropical Forests ◽  
N2o Emission ◽  
N Deposition ◽  
Soil N ◽  
N Addition ◽  
Old Growth ◽  
Old Growth Forest ◽  
P Addition ◽  
Stimulation Of

Abstract. Nitrogen (N) deposition is generally considered to increase soil nitrous oxide (N2O) emission in N-rich forests. In many tropical forests, however, elevated N deposition has caused soil N enrichment and further phosphorus (P) deficiency, and the interaction of N and P to control soil N2O emission remains poorly understood, particularly in forests with different soil N status. In this study, we examined the effects of N and P additions on soil N2O emission in an N-rich old-growth forest and two N-limited younger forests (a mixed and a pine forest) in southern China to test the following hypotheses: (1) soil N2O emission is the highest in old-growth forest due to the N-rich soil; (2) N addition increases N2O emission more in the old-growth forest than in the two younger forests; (3) P addition decreases N2O emission more in the old-growth forest than in the two younger forests; and (4) P addition alleviates the stimulation of N2O emission by N addition. The following four treatments were established in each forest: Control, N addition (150 kg N ha−1 yr−1), P addition (150 kg P ha−1 yr−1), and NP addition (150 kg N ha−1 yr−1 plus 150 kg P ha−1 yr−1). From February 2007 to October 2009, monthly quantification of soil N2O emission was performed using static chamber and gas chromatography techniques. Mean N2O emission was shown to be significantly higher in the old-growth forest (13.9 ± 0.7 µg N2O-N m−2 h−1) than in the mixed (9.9 ± 0.4 µg N2O-N m−2 h−1) or pine (10.8 ± 0.5 µg N2O-N m−2 h−1) forests, with no significant difference between the latter two. N addition significantly increased N2O emission in the old-growth forest but not in the two younger forests. However, both P and NP addition had no significant effect on N2O emission in all three forests, suggesting that P addition alleviated the stimulation of N2O emission by N addition in the old-growth forest. Although P fertilization may alleviate the stimulated effects of atmospheric N deposition on N2O emission in N-rich forests, this effect may only occur under high N deposition and/or long-term P addition, and we suggest future investigations to definitively assess this management strategy and the importance of P in regulating N cycles from regional to global scales.

scholarly journals Nitrogen input <sup>15</sup>N-signatures are reflected in plant <sup>15</sup>N natural abundances of sub-tropical forests in China

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Geshere Abdisa Gurmesa ◽  
Xiankai Lu ◽  
Per Gundersen ◽  
Yunting Fang ◽  
Qinggong Mao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tropical Forests ◽  
Southern China ◽  
Nitrogen Addition ◽  
N Deposition ◽  
Pine Forest ◽  
N Cycling ◽  
N Addition ◽  
Higher Plant ◽  
Old Growth ◽  
Old Growth Forest

Abstract. Natural abundance of 15N (δ15N) in plants and soils can provide integrated information on ecosystem nitrogen (N) cycling, but it has not been well tested in warm and humid sub-tropical forests. In this study, we examined the measurement of δ15N for its ability to assess changes in N cycling due to increased N deposition in an old-growth broadleaved forest and a secondary pine forest in a high N deposition area in southern China. We measured δ15N of inorganic N in input and output fluxes under ambient N deposition, and N concentration (N %) and δ15N of major ecosystem compartments under ambient and after decadal N addition at 50 kg N ha−1 yr−1. Our results showed that the N deposition was δ15N-depleted (−12 ‰) mainly due to high input of depleted NH4&amp;plus;-N. Plant leafs in both forest were also δ15N-depleted (−4 to −6 ‰). The old-growth forest had higher plant and soil N %, and was more 15N-enriched in most ecosystem compartments relative to the pine forest. Nitrogen addition did not significantly affect N % in both forests, indicating that the ecosystem pools are already N-rich. Soil δ15N was not changed significantly by the N addition in both forests. However, the N addition significantly increased the δ15N of plants toward the 15N signature of the added N (~ 0 ‰), indicating incorporation of added N into plants. Thus, plant δ15N was sensitive to ecosystem N input manipulation although N % was unchanged in these N-rich sub-tropical forests. We interpret the depleted δ15N values of plants as an imprint from the high and δ15N-depleted N deposition. The signal from the input (deposition or N addition) may override the enrichment effects of fractionation during the steps of N cycling that are observed in most warm and humid forests. Thus, interpretation of ecosystem δ15N values from high N deposition regions need to include data on the deposition δ15N signal.

scholarly journals Natural Regeneration After Gold Mining in the Peruvian Amazon: Implications for Restoration of Tropical Forests

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roger Chambi-Legoas ◽  
Daigard Ricardo Ortega Rodriguez ◽  
Francisco de Marques de Figueiredo ◽  
Joel Peña Valdeiglesias ◽  
Percy Amílcar Zevallos Pollito ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tropical Forests ◽  
Natural Regeneration ◽  
Forest Restoration ◽  
Gold Mining ◽  
Forest Recovery ◽  
Regeneration Process ◽  
Peruvian Amazon ◽  
Secondary Species ◽  
Number Of Species ◽  
Madre De Dios

Context: Gold mining is the most destructive activity in the natural forests of the Madre de Dios region in the southeastern Peruvian Amazon. Understanding the natural regeneration process of these degraded areas is necessary to develop forest restoration projects in such conditions.Aims: We aimed to evaluate forest recovery and identify the successional and structure patterns of vegetation governing natural regeneration over time.Methods: Structure, composition, richness, diversity, and successional status were evaluated in abandoned artisanal gold mine areas in Madre de Dios, southeastern Peru. Vegetation data were recorded in 61 plots of 250 m2 established in five sites varying from 1 to 19 years of abandonment. Vegetation in abandoned areas was compared with six undisturbed forests evaluated in previous inventories.Results: In the mining lands, tree density and basal area recovered quickly, while species richness and composition were slow. Forest recovery is an initial stage of transition from pioneer to early secondary species until at least 19 years after abandonment. The most abundant and frequent species were the fast-growing species Ochroma pyramidale and Cecropia engleriana. These species could be considered potential candidates to promote restoration plans. Pioneer species represented 63% of the number of species in plots of 1–4 years, 57% in plots of 5–7 years, and 50% in plots of 8–19 years. Early and late secondary species represented 34 and 16%, respectively, of the number of species in plots of 8–19 years. Abandoned mining and reference plots present less than 5% of species in common.Conclusion: Our results highlight a slow natural regeneration process in areas for up to 19 years after gold mining. Species from different successional statuses were identified as potential candidates for recovering vegetation in such areas. Our findings may have important implications for further research focusing on the ecological restoration in tropical forests severely degraded by gold mining.

The impact of secondary forest restoration on multiple ecosystem services and their trade-offs

2019 ◽  
Vol 104 ◽  
pp. 248-258 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yelin Zeng ◽  
Mengmeng Gou ◽  
Shuai Ouyang ◽  
Liang Chen ◽  
Xi Fang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Forest Restoration ◽  
Secondary Forest ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
The Impact

Responses of seedling transplants to environmental variations in contrasting habitats of Central Amazonia

2005 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 397-406 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julieta Benítez-Malvido ◽  
Miguel Martínez-Ramos ◽  
José Luis C. Camargo ◽  
Isolde D. K. Ferraz
Keyword(s):  
Secondary Forest ◽  
Insect Herbivory ◽  
Forest Fragment ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Old Growth ◽  
Seedling Performance ◽  
Relative Growth Rates ◽  
Seedling Size ◽  
Old Growth Forest ◽  
Contrasting Habitats

In the Central Amazon we investigated whether seedling performance (survival, and relative growth rates in height and leaf numbers) was affected by initial seedling size (height and leaf numbers) in habitats that varied in their degree of human disturbance: cattle pasture, young secondary forest, 1-ha forest fragment and old-growth forest. Additionally, effects of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), litter standing crop (LSC) and insect herbivory were evaluated 12 mo after transplantation in seedlings from the native canopy trees Chrysophyllum pomiferum, Micropholis venulosa and Pouteria caimito. Seedling performance changed rank across the understorey environment depending on species. Seedlings of Chrysophyllum thrived in all conditions but under high PAR, Micropholis thrived only in intermediate light conditions, whereas Pouteria thrived under high PAR. Effects of initial seedling size, PAR and herbivory after 1 y were specific to species, whereas LSC had no effect on performance. Initially larger seedlings resulted in lower survival for Chrysophyllum and Pouteria. Herbivory affected seedling performance in all species. Negative effects of herbivory were intensified under low PAR. Overall, our results showed that, as seedlings, species of the same family and characteristic of old-growth forests respond differently to the environmental constraints present in contrasting human-disturbed conditions. Larger seedlings may not always present greater tolerance to physical and biotic mortality risks.

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