Strong floristic distinctiveness across Neotropical successional forests

Catarina C Jakovac; Jorge A Meave; Frans Bongers; Susan G Letcher; Juan Manuel Dupuy; Daniel Piotto; Danaë M A Rozendaal; Marielos Peña-Claros; Dylan Craven; Braulio A Santos; See article full text for complete list of authors; Robin Chazdon

doi:10.1126/sciadv.abn1767

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Strong floristic distinctiveness across Neotropical successional forests

Journal article

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Strong floristic distinctiveness across Neotropical successional forests

Catarina C Jakovac, Jorge A Meave, Frans Bongers, Susan G Letcher, Juan Manuel Dupuy, Daniel Piotto, Danaë M A Rozendaal, Marielos Peña-Claros, Dylan Craven, Braulio A Santos, …

Science Advances, Vol.8(26), pp.1-13

2022

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.abn1767

PMCID: PMC10883372

PMID: 35776785

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Abstract

Forests that regrow naturally on abandoned fields are important for restoring biodiversity and ecosystem services, but can they also preserve the distinct regional tree floras? Using the floristic composition of 1215 early successional forests (≤20 years) in 75 human-modified landscapes across the Neotropic realm, we identified 14 distinct floristic groups, with a between-group dissimilarity of 0.97. Floristic groups were associated with location, bioregions, soil pH, temperature seasonality, and water availability. Hence, there is large continental-scale variation in the species composition of early successional forests, which is mainly associated with biogeographic and environmental factors but not with human disturbance indicators. This floristic distinctiveness is partially driven by regionally restricted species belonging to widespread genera. Early secondary forests contribute therefore to restoring and conserving the distinctiveness of bioregions across the Neotropical realm, and forest restoration initiatives should use local species to assure that these distinct floras are maintained.

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Title: Strong floristic distinctiveness across Neotropical successional forests
Authors: Catarina C Jakovac (Author) - Wageningen University & Research
Jorge A Meave (Author) - Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
Frans Bongers (Author) - Wageningen University & Research
Susan G Letcher (Author) - College of the Atlantic
Juan Manuel Dupuy (Author) - Centro de Investigación Científica de Yucatán A.C.
Daniel Piotto (Author) - Universidade Federal do Sul da Bahia
Danaë M A Rozendaal (Author) - Wageningen University & Research
Marielos Peña-Claros (Author)
Dylan Craven (Author) - Universidad Mayor
Braulio A Santos (Author) - Universidade Federal da Paraíba
See article full text for complete list of authors (Author)
Robin Chazdon (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Tropical Forests and People Research Centre
Publication details: Science Advances, Vol.8(26), pp.1-13
Publisher: American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
Date published: 2022
DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abn1767
ISSN: 2375-2548
PMID: 35776785; PMC10883372
Copyright note: © 2022 The Authors, some rights reserved; exclusive licensee American Association for the Advancement of Science. No claim to original U.S.Government Works. Distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial License 4.0 (CC BY-NC).
Organisation Unit: Tropical Forests and People Research Centre; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; Forest Research Institute
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99653198402621
Output Type: Journal article

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