Journal article
Composition and dynamics of functional groups of trees during tropical forest succession in northeastern Costa Rica
Biotropica, Vol.42(1), pp.31-40
2010
Abstract
We compared the functional type composition of trees ≥10 cm dbh in eight secondary forest monitoring plots with logged and unlogged mature forest plots in lowland wet forests of Northeastern Costa Rica. Five plant functional types were delimited based on diameter growth rates and canopy height of 293 tree species. Mature forests had significantly higher relative abundance of understory trees and slow-growing canopy/emergent trees, but lower relative abundance of fast-growing canopy/emergent trees than secondary forests. Fast-growing subcanopy and canopy trees reached peak densities early in succession. Density of fast-growing canopy/emergent trees increased during the first 20 yr of succession, whereas basal area continued to increase beyond 40 yr. We also assigned canopy tree species to one of three colonization groups, based on the presence of seedlings, saplings, and trees in four secondary forest plots. Among 93 species evaluated, 68 percent were classified as regenerating pioneers (both trees and regeneration present), whereas only 6 percent were classified as nonregenerating pioneers (trees only) and 26 percent as forest colonizers (regeneration only). Slow-growing trees composed 72 percent of the seedling and sapling regeneration for forest colonizers, whereas fast-growing trees composed 63 percent of the seedlings and saplings of regenerating pioneers. Tree stature and growth rates capture much of the functional variation that appears to drive successional dynamics. Results further suggest strong linkages between functional types defined based on adult height and growth rates of large trees and abundance of seedling and sapling regeneration during secondary succession. © 2009 by The Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation.
Details
- Title
- Composition and dynamics of functional groups of trees during tropical forest succession in northeastern Costa Rica
- Authors
- Robin L Chazdon (Author) - University of Connecticut, United StatesB Finegan (Author) - Tropical Agricultural Centre for Research and Higher Education, Costa RicaR S Capers (Author) - University of Connecticut, United StatesB Salgado-Negret (Author) - Tropical Agricultural Centre for Research and Higher Education, Costa RicaF Casanoves (Author) - Tropical Agricultural Centre for Research and Higher Education, Costa RicaV Boukili (Author) - University of Connecticut, United StatesN Norden (Author) - University of Connecticut, United States
- Publication details
- Biotropica, Vol.42(1), pp.31-40
- Publisher
- Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Inc.
- Date published
- 2010
- DOI
- 10.1111/j.1744-7429.2009.00566.x
- ISSN
- 0006-3606
- Organisation Unit
- Tropical Forests and People Research Centre; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; Forest Research Institute
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99450564902621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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