Role of climbers in diversity and stability of plant communities

• Grant number: 07/01649-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: July 01, 2007
• End date: December 31, 2010
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Ecology - Ecosystems Ecology
• Principal Investigator: Fernando Roberto Martini
• Grantee: Julia Caram Sfair
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biologia (IB). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

We aim to investigate the effects climbers could have on diversity and stability of plant communities. Although climbers have a role in keeping tree diversity in plant communities, their effect on tree species abundance is not presently understood. Based on literature it is possible to analyze the association of climber abundance with models of tree abundance. Climbers can also affect the way in which trees interact, an investigation that may accessed by analyzing the interaction network of trees and climbers. This interaction network, which would be constructed from metadata, will be studied within the context of complex networks, that is, points (trees and climbers) that establish connection (interaction). Once this network model is set, disturbances could be simulated by taking out individuals, especially climbers. Hence, it will possible to understand the effect of losing species or individuals on the community. It will also be possible to understand how climbers spread on the plant community by investigating epidemiologic models. The results could be very useful to subsidize management programs aimed to control climbers.

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

SFAIR, JULIA C.; WEISER, VERIDIANA DE L.; MARTINS, FERNANDO R.; VIDAL, MARIANA M.; GUIMARAES, JR., PAULO R.. Species traits and abundance influence the organization of liana-tree antagonistic interaction. AUSTRAL ECOLOGY, v. 43, n. 2, p. 236-241, APR 2018. (07/01649-0, 09/54422-8, 15/24802-4)

SFAIR, JULIA C.; ROCHELLE, ANDRE L. C.; REZENDE, ANDREIA A.; VAN MELIS, JULIANO; WEISER, VERIDIANA DE L.; MARTINS, FERNANDO R.. Weak phylogenetic signal for specialisation in antagonistic liana-tree networks. Plant Ecology & Diversity, v. 8, n. 3, p. 379-386, MAY 4 2015. (07/01649-0)