Changes in tree and liana communities along a successional gradient in a tropical dry forest in south-eastern Brazil

Abstract

We investigated changes in species composition and structure of tree and liana communities along a successional gradient in a seasonally dry tropical forest. There was a progressive increase in tree richness and all tree structural traits from early to late stages, as well as marked changes in tree species composition and dominance. This pattern is probably related to pasture management practices such as ploughing, which remove tree roots and preclude regeneration by resprouting. On the other hand, liana density decreased from intermediate to late stages, showing a negative correlation with tree density. The higher liana abundance in intermediate stage is probably due to a balanced availability of support and light availability, since these variables may show opposite trends during forest growth. Predicted succession models may represent extremes in a continuum of possible successional pathways strongly influenced by land use history, climate, soil type, and by the outcomes of tree-liana interactions.

Climate and soil drive forest structure in Bolivian lowland forests

“…Liana density was indeed higher at low rainfall and on coarse soils with a low water-holding capacity. Although we did not measure liana abundance directly, our results are in line with those studies that show that lianas are more abundant in drier than in moister forests (DeWalt et al 2010, Madeira et al 2009, Parthasarathy et al 2004, Putz 1984, Schnitzer 2005, Swaine & Grace 2007. These results support the hypothesis that lianas have a growth advantage over trees in areas with a long dry season because of their deep and efficient root for taking water from deep soil layers and vascular systems (Schnitzer 2005).…”

A importância da luz na ocupação de árvores por lianas

“…Dessa maneira, sua abundância está intimamente relacionada ao regime de luz e à dinâmica de clareiras. Madeira et al (2009) relataram que a abundância de lianas é maior em estádios intermediários de sucessão ecológica, uma vez que nessa etapa há tanto a luz quanto a disponibilidade de suporte.…”

Riqueza e estrutura do componente arbóreo e características edáficas de um gradiente de floresta ciliar em Minas Gerais, Brasil

“…O PEMS possui uma área de 10.281,44 ha. A vegetação predominante é a Floresta Estacional Decidual, alterada em diferentes estágios sucessionais e pastagens (MADEIRA et al, 2009). As florestas ciliares variam de perenifólias a semideciduais, em que alguns elementos florísticos decíduos são abundantes (IEF, 2000).…”

“…Segundo a classificação de Köppen (1948), o clima predominante na região é o Aw, caracterizado pela existência das estações seca e chuvosa bem definidas. A temperatura média anual é de 24 °C e altitude de 400-500 m, sendo a precipitação média anual de 818 mm/ano (MADEIRA et al, 2009). Os solos predominantes nessa região são os Latossolos Vermelho-Amarelos, Neossolos Flúvicos e Cambissolos háplicos (MELLO et al, 2008;MADEIRA et al, 2009).…”