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GAP-DEPENDENT RECRUITMENT, REALIZED VITAL RATES, AND SIZE DISTRIBUTIONS OF TROPICAL TREES

GAP-DEPENDENT RECRUITMENT, REALIZED VITAL RATES, AND SIZE DISTRIBUTIONS OF TROPICAL TREES In closed-canopy forests, plant morphology and physiology determine shade tolerance and potential growth and mortality rates; potential vital rates and ongoing gap dependence determine realized vital rates; and realized vital rates determine individual size distributions. This hypothesis was evaluated for the 73 most abundant canopy tree species from Barro Colorado Island, Panama. The percentage of recruits located in tree-fall gaps ( P ), sapling growth ( G ), and mortality ( M ) rates, and the coefficient of skewness of size distributions ( g 1 ) were determined from censuses of all individuals >10 mm dbh in a 50-ha plot. Seven qualitative, bivariate predictions relating g 1 , G, M, P, and wood density ( W ) were evaluated. Six of the seven predictions were substantiated in pairwise analyses. A path analysis integrated all seven predictions and explained 51%% of the interspecific variation in g 1 . Size distributions with many large individuals and a long tail of relatively rare, small individuals ( g 1 < 0) characterized gap-dependent species with large fecundity, seed mortality, seedling mortality, G, M, and P . Size distributions with many small individuals and a long tail of relatively rare, large individuals ( g 1 > 0) characterized shade-tolerant species with the opposite traits. The percentage of tropical tree species that require tree-fall gaps to regenerate has been estimated to range from <20%% to >70%% for old-growth forests. Our analyses suggest that there are not large numbers of functionally equivalent species at either extreme of the regeneration continuum. Rather, there are very few extremely shade-tolerant and extremely light-demanding species. Most species have intermediate light requirements and lifestyles. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Ecology Ecological Society of America

GAP-DEPENDENT RECRUITMENT, REALIZED VITAL RATES, AND SIZE DISTRIBUTIONS OF TROPICAL TREES

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References (46)

Publisher
Ecological Society of America
Copyright
Copyright © 2003 by the Ecological Society of America
Subject
Regular Article
ISSN
0012-9658
DOI
10.1890/02-0038
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

In closed-canopy forests, plant morphology and physiology determine shade tolerance and potential growth and mortality rates; potential vital rates and ongoing gap dependence determine realized vital rates; and realized vital rates determine individual size distributions. This hypothesis was evaluated for the 73 most abundant canopy tree species from Barro Colorado Island, Panama. The percentage of recruits located in tree-fall gaps ( P ), sapling growth ( G ), and mortality ( M ) rates, and the coefficient of skewness of size distributions ( g 1 ) were determined from censuses of all individuals >10 mm dbh in a 50-ha plot. Seven qualitative, bivariate predictions relating g 1 , G, M, P, and wood density ( W ) were evaluated. Six of the seven predictions were substantiated in pairwise analyses. A path analysis integrated all seven predictions and explained 51%% of the interspecific variation in g 1 . Size distributions with many large individuals and a long tail of relatively rare, small individuals ( g 1 < 0) characterized gap-dependent species with large fecundity, seed mortality, seedling mortality, G, M, and P . Size distributions with many small individuals and a long tail of relatively rare, large individuals ( g 1 > 0) characterized shade-tolerant species with the opposite traits. The percentage of tropical tree species that require tree-fall gaps to regenerate has been estimated to range from <20%% to >70%% for old-growth forests. Our analyses suggest that there are not large numbers of functionally equivalent species at either extreme of the regeneration continuum. Rather, there are very few extremely shade-tolerant and extremely light-demanding species. Most species have intermediate light requirements and lifestyles.

Journal

EcologyEcological Society of America

Published: Dec 1, 2003

Keywords: Barro Colorado Island, Panama ; functional groups ; gap dependence ; guilds ; life history ; ontogenetic shifts ; Panama ; shade tolerance ; size distribution ; tree-fall gap ; tropical trees ; wood density

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