Liana regeneration in secondary and primary forests of central Amazonia

Abstract

Background:Lianas are considered to be particularly abundant in tropical forests after disturbance; however, information on their regeneration by seedlings, saplings, and sprouts is scarce. Aim: We assessed how primary and secondary forest types with different land use history are related to the density and diversity of liana regeneration. Methods: Liana regeneration (≤ 1.7 m in length) was identified and counted in primary and secondary forest plots in Amazonia, near Manaus, Brazil. The primary forest was non-inundated evergreen tropical lowland forest. Secondary forest types were Vismia (on land formerly clear felled, used for pasture and intensively burned) and Cecropia (on land formerly clear felled, no pasture usage nor intensive fires), with distances between 0.03 and 1.2 km to the primary forest edge. Results: The density of woody regeneration (trees, lianas, palms and shrubs) was 50% lower in the secondary forests than in the primary forest. The share of lianas of woody regeneration (10-13%) hardly differed among forest types. Liana species richness per plot was highest in the primary forest and lowest in the Vismia forest. Accumulated species richness in the Cecropia forest was similar to that in the primary forest. With increasing distance from the primary forest, species richness and the proportion of lianas of woody regeneration decreased. Conclusion: Our results indicate that secondary forest type/land use history influenced liana regeneration diversity but not density. Distance to primary forest influenced both.

Modeling the impact of liana infestation on the demography and carbon cycle of tropical forests

“…When looking at the simulated single patch dynamics (Figure a,d), the disappearance of lianas is likely too rapid. In fact, experimental evidence suggests that lianas persist in mature forests (Roeder, Hölscher, & Ferraz, ; Schnitzer et al, ) and that their contribution to the total basal area remains constant even as the liana stem density declines (Dewalt, Schnitzer, & Denslow, ). These model predictions are likely driven by a high liana mortality parameter as well as the inability for lianas to change hosts during the course of their life in silico.…”

Microhabitat associations of terrestrial insectivorous birds in Amazonian rainforest and second-growth forests

“…At the continuous forest site, canopy height varied, but is typically between 30 and 37 m (Gascon and Bierregaard 2001). Lianas and vines are common (Roeder et al 2010) and the understory is dominated by palms such as Astrocaryum spp. and Bactris spp.…”

Traits and growth of liana regeneration in primary and secondary forests of Central Amazonia

“…Stand structural characteristics and soil properties of each forest type are provided in Table 1. Methods of soil analysis are described elsewhere (Roeder et al 2010). A detrended correspondence analysis (DCA) of log‐transformed tree family data from stems ≥5 cm DBH confirmed the separation of the secondary forests into two groups (details in Roeder et al 2010).…”

“…Methods of soil analysis are described elsewhere (Roeder et al 2010). A detrended correspondence analysis (DCA) of log‐transformed tree family data from stems ≥5 cm DBH confirmed the separation of the secondary forests into two groups (details in Roeder et al 2010). Vismia forest had less canopy cover (0.74) than Cecropia or primary forest (both 0.87) (Table 1).…”

“…During the survey of liana regeneration in 27 plots, 2319 plants comprising more than 160 species or morphospecies, including many single-and doubletons, were found (Roeder et al 2010). Species richness as well as regeneration density per plot was highest in primary forest (Table 1).…”