Community and phylogenetic structure of reproductive traits of woody species in wet tropical forests

Robin L Chazdon; S Careaga; C Webb; O Vargas

doi:10.1890/02-4037

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Community and phylogenetic structure of reproductive traits of woody species in wet tropical forests

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Community and phylogenetic structure of reproductive traits of woody species in wet tropical forests

Robin L Chazdon, S Careaga, C Webb and O Vargas

Ecological Monographs, Vol.73(3), pp.331-348

2003

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1890/02-4037

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Abstract

Costa Rica

forest regeneration

logged forest

old-growth forest

phylogenetic conservatism

pollination

reproductive traits

second-growth forest

seed dispersal

sexual systems

wet tropical forest

We compare the distribution of reproductive traits in woody vegetation of 10 wet tropical forests in northeastern Costa Rica. Based on quantitative sampling of seedlings, saplings, and trees, we assess whether particular sexual systems, pollination syndromes, or seed-dispersal modes are associated with successional stage, prior selective logging, woody growth forms, or patterns of abundance or rarity. We further examine the phylogenetic structure of these traits in the regional woody flora, testing explicit hypotheses regarding phylogenetic clustering of reproductive traits and habitat distributions. Animal dispersal and insect pollination predominate across all forest types and size classes. In second-growth trees, relative abundance of species with explosive dispersal, hermaphroditic flowers, and insect pollination is higher, and relative abundance of species with animal dispersal and mammal pollination is lower, compared to old-growth and logged forests. Overall, dioecy and wind dispersal are more frequent than expected in canopy trees, and hermaphroditic flowers are more frequent than expected in shrubs. Reproductive traits, growth-form traits, and relative abundance patterns show significant clustering within the supertree phylogeny. Patterns of trait distribution across forest types are closely linked with patterns of floristic composition at the genus and family level. Species-level associations among reproductive traits and woody growth form can be explained by phylogenetic correlations. Wind dispersal and hummingbird pollination are significantly concentrated in clades with hermaphroditic flowers, whereas wind pollination is concentrated in clades with unisexual flowers. Legacies of both phylogenetic history and forest disturbance structure the distribution of reproductive traits within and among tropical wet forest communities.

Details

Title: Community and phylogenetic structure of reproductive traits of woody species in wet tropical forests
Authors: Robin L Chazdon (Author) - University of Connecticut, United States
S Careaga (Author) - Comisio´n Nacional para el Conocimiento y Uso de la Biodiversidad (CONABIO), Mexico
C Webb (Author) - Yale University, United States
O Vargas (Author) - Reserva Ecologica Bijagual de Sarapiqui, Costa Rica
Publication details: Ecological Monographs, Vol.73(3), pp.331-348
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons Inc.
Date published: 2003
DOI: 10.1890/02-4037
ISSN: 0012-9615
Organisation Unit: Tropical Forests and People Research Centre; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; Forest Research Institute
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99450341502621
Output Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration; International collaboration
Web Of Science research areas: Ecology

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