A Pair-Approximation Model for Spatial Patterns in Tree Populations with Asymmetrical Resource Competition

Garcia-Domingo, Josep L.; Saldaña, Joan

doi:10.1080/08898480.2013.831698

Cited by 1 publication

(1 citation statement)

References 36 publications

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“…In another study, a sapling species richness of only 21 % was found in gaps smaller than 50 m 2 (Hubbell et al, 1999). In these studies, the main causes of species diversity in gap regeneration probably were: i) less adult tree species at the gap edge of small gaps, or/and, ii) an early high degree of speciesselective self-thinning, due to intra and interspecific competition-induced mortality in small gaps, during the course of population development in tree community (Lepš & Kindlmann, 1987;Getzin, Wiegand, Wiegand, & He, 2008;García-Domingo & Saldana, 2013;Wehenkel, Brazão-Protázio, Carillo-Parra, Martínez-Guerrero, & Crecente-Campo, 2015), because of different seed production rate, dispersal, and vigour and shade tolerance of seedlings and saplings of different tree species (Canham, 1989). In contrast, the competition-induced mortality in the larger gaps was probably lower due to lower over story competition on understory gap regeneration.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Gap edge attributes in Neotropical rainforest, Ecuador

Cañadas-López

Rade

Candell

et al. 2017

RBT

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Abstract:The application of gap dynamics theory appears to be a promising option for tropical forest management and conservation. In the present study of a tree species-rich and old-growth Ecuadorian Neotropical forest, we assessed the spatial distribution of gaps and gap size in relation to: i) tree number at the gap edge, ii) number of tree species at the gap edge, iii) number of tree species per stem at the gap edge, iv) species similarity, v) species evenness at the gap edge, vi) size differentiation at the gap edge, vii) gap isolation and viii) species mingling at the gap edge. Our results demonstrated that the spatial distribution of gaps was random. Various gap attributes were strongly associated with gap size. The number of tree species per stem at the gap edge was negatively correlated to the gap size. Gap sizes up to 50 m 2 were mostly sufficient to generate tree species-rich forest stands. Assuming that our results were representative for an old-growth neotropical rainforest in Ecuador, our study remarks the following management recommendations: 1) Rainforests have a very complex spatial and diversity structure and logging activities should preferably be omitted because of adverse effects. 2) If logging is inevitable, this should mimic a random choice of trees and tree species, to prevent special selection of tree dimension and species; and a random distribution of trees to be logged, to produce gaps smaller than 50 m 2 and never larger than 400 m 2 . Additionally, we suggest cutting not more than 5 % of the tree biomass per 10-20 years period, to preclude stronger alterations of ecosystem processes, and the reduction of existing dead wood from the ecosystem. Rev. Biol. Trop. 66(1): 149-163. Epub 2018 March 01.

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