Advanced canopy regeneration: an unrecognized mechanism of forest dynamics

Díaz, Ignacio Sánchez; Godoy‐Güinao, Javier; Mellado‐Mansilla, Daniela; Moreno‐González, Ricardo; Cuq, Emilio; Ortega‐Solís, Gabriel; Armestó, Juan J.

doi:10.1002/ecy.3222

Cited by 3 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…Most studies in the Neotropics have been conducted placing camera traps below 1 m of height above the ground (Mere Roncal et al 2019, Ramirez-Mejia et al 2020) but expanding camera trap monitoring throughout the vertical profile (e.g., placing cameras between 1.5 and 2.5 m) may allow detecting other species that are commonly captured by mist nets. In general, ecological studies in the canopy are scarce due to methodological constraints, and consequently, we may be overlooking important processes (Tejo and Fontúrbel 2019, Diaz et al 2021).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing bird diversity in Neotropical rainforests: A comparative study of camera traps and mist nets reveals complementary sampling approaches

Vargas-Daza,

Betancurt-Grisales,

Cardona-Salazar

et al. 2023

Ornithological Applications

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Different sampling methods are used to study bird diversity in the tropics, mist nets being one of the most common approaches. However, camera traps have been used for this purpose in the last 20 years. We compared the performance of mist nets and camera traps in sampling the diversity of understory and sub-canopy birds in a Neotropical rainforest. Given its high biodiversity, obtaining accurate bird diversity estimates in these forests is a challenging task. We sampled secondary forest patches in the Colombian central Andes between 2019 and 2021. We compared the effectiveness of both methods based on six comparison criteria (body size, foraging stratum, detection difficulty, habitat specialization, population trend, and migratory status). We recorded a total of 99 bird species: 92 species were captured using mist nets and 37 species using camera traps; 30 species were detected using both methods (mainly generalist and abundant birds). Mist net’s effectiveness was 83%, while camera trap effectiveness was 68%. Differences in sampling effectiveness were mainly determined by body size, as small birds were captured using mist nets, while camera traps often recorded large birds. However, detection difficulty and habitat specialization were also relevant. Camera traps effectively recorded ground-dwelling species that were not captured in mist nets. In contrast, those birds that forage in the sub-canopy stratum were mainly captured in the mist nets but not detected in camera traps. Although both methods detected different species, we found similar patterns regarding estimated species richness among different categories of body size, detection difficulty, population trend, and behavior, but not for habitat specialization. As both methods have advantages and limitations, using mist nets and camera traps together would improve bird diversity estimations. We urge investigators to explore canopy ecology with camera traps, as they provide long-term information that cannot be obtained with other methods.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing bird diversity in Neotropical rainforests: A comparative study of camera traps and mist nets reveals complementary sampling approaches

Vargas-Daza,

Betancurt-Grisales,

Cardona-Salazar

et al. 2023

Ornithological Applications

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“…Naturally, this risk is higher for epiphytic individuals of perennial species with a long juvenile stage than for those of short‐lived and fast reproducing species. Nevertheless, accidental epiphytic trees are sometimes found to reach astonishingly old age, as, for example, Díaz et al (2021) observed a 114‐year‐old epiphytic Nothofagus nervosa in southern Chile. Moreover, the longevity of the host plant is a decisive factor for structurally dependent plants that could limit their ability to reach maturity.…”

Section: Ecology Of Accidental Epiphytismmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Observations from temperate rain forests in New Zealand confirm that accidental epiphytism of tree seedlings might be a successful regeneration strategy for terrestrial tree species owing to lower competition, lower herbivory, and higher light levels at epiphytic sites (cf. Díaz et al, 2021;Newton & Healey, 1989;Putz, 2000). For instance, Bellingham and Richardson (2006) found that growth rates, foliar N concentrations, and seedling densities of two angiosperm tree species were higher for epiphytic plants on tree ferns than for conspecifics on the ground.…”

Section: Global Occurrences Of Accidental Epiphytesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Accidental epiphytes: Ecological insights and evolutionary implications

Hoeber

Zotz

2022

Ecological Monographs

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Vascular epiphytes are an important component of many ecosystems and constitute a substantial part of global plant diversity. In this context, accidental epiphytism, that is, the opportunistic epiphytic growth of typically terrestrial species, deserves special attention because it provides crucial insights into the global distribution of vascular epiphytes and the initial evolution of epiphytic lineages. Even though accidental epiphytes have been mentioned in the literature for more than a century, they have been neglected in most epiphyte studies. Only recently has accidental epiphytism been investigated more thoroughly. Therefore, the aim of this article is to provide a comprehensive review of the ecological basis and evolutionary relevance of this common but largely neglected phenomenon and to highlight open questions and promising research directions. Our central statement—that any species has the potential to grow epiphytically given the availability of suitable microhabitats and successful dispersal—is backed up by a compilation of observations of accidental epiphytes from numerous ecosystems with diverse climates, even including semiarid Mediterranean ones. A variety of arboreal microhabitats and environmental conditions conform to the ecological niche of typical terrestrial species, with the availability of such microhabitats depending on the interaction of local climate conditions, host tree age, and host species identity. Whenever suitable microhabitats are available in tree crowns, accidental epiphytism is limited primarily by dispersal. In an evolutionary context, the conquest of forest canopy represents an ecological opportunity where accidental epiphytes act as links between terrestrial and epiphytic life forms. We discuss two fundamental scenarios with sympatric speciation, selective pressure, autopolyploidy, and allopatric speciation as underlying mechanisms in the transition from terrestrial to epiphytic growth. In conclusion, we argue that accidental epiphytism is a substrate and dispersal‐dependent phenomenon and that, both from an individual perspective and an evolutionary perspective, epiphytism reflects the occupation of suitable but previously unexploited arboreal microhabitats. Acknowledging the fundamental principles that plant growth is opportunistic and that dispersal is a stochastic process can decisively improve our understanding of species distributions and other ecological patterns, as in the case of accidental epiphytism.

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“…There are larger hosts and larger guests but for this combination to be the result of ‘Mother Nature’ seems unlikely. What are known in the literature as ‘accidental epiphytes’ have never been considered to be deliberate despite a 114-year-old Nothofagus nervosa growing on the canopy of a Chilean rainforest 8 . An Australian study in 2020 9 looked at accidental epiphytes in a Tasmanian rainforest to assess the effects of moisture availability and host size but not possible anthropological origins.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Trees in trees a report from remote Australia

Pye

2023

Plant Signaling & Behavior

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Anemochory or Ornithochory does not adequately explain the amount, size or distribution of woody epiphytes here in outback NSW Australia. In a semi-arid ecosystem, epiphytes should be short-lived and randomly dispersed not clustered around old Aboriginal campsites or along their ancient paths aka songlines. These enduring trees in trees we call TinTs, have been here much longer than European Australians. We are hoping to attract archaeobotanical or ethnobotanical research to help us recover the knowledge of the ancestors or at least assist us in protecting these arboreal oddities from future resource extraction activities.

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Advanced canopy regeneration: an unrecognized mechanism of forest dynamics

Cited by 3 publications

References 14 publications

Assessing bird diversity in Neotropical rainforests: A comparative study of camera traps and mist nets reveals complementary sampling approaches

Assessing bird diversity in Neotropical rainforests: A comparative study of camera traps and mist nets reveals complementary sampling approaches

Accidental epiphytes: Ecological insights and evolutionary implications

Trees in trees a report from remote Australia

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