Advanced search
Start date
Betweenand
Related content
(Reference retrieved automatically from Web of Science through information on FAPESP grant and its corresponding number as mentioned in the publication by the authors.)

Species-specific associations between overstory and understory tree species in a semideciduous tropical forest

Full text
Author(s):
Souza, Flaviana Maluf [1] ; Gandolfi, Sergius [2] ; Rodrigues, Ricardo Ribeiro [2]
Total Authors: 3
Affiliation:
[1] Inst Forestry, Dept Forest Ecol, BR-02377000 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil
[2] ESALQ USP, Dept Biol Sci, BR-13418900 Piracicaba, SP - Brazil
Total Affiliations: 2
Document type: Journal article
Source: Acta Botanica Brasilica; v. 29, n. 1, p. 73-81, JAN-MAR 2015.
Web of Science Citations: 4
Abstract

We investigated the occurrence of associations between overstory and understory tree species in a semideciduous tropical forest. We identified and measured all trees of nine canopy species with diameter at breast height ≥4.8 cm in a 10.24 ha plot and recorded all individuals beneath their canopies ("understory individuals") within the same diameter class. The total density of understory individuals did not significantly differ under different overstory species. One overstory species (Ceiba speciosa) showed higher understory species richness compared with five other species. There was a strong positive association between three overstory species (Esenbeckia leiocarpa, Savia dictyocarpa, and C. speciosa) and the density of seven understory species (Balfourodendron riedelianum, Chrysophyllum gonocarpum, E. leiocarpa, Holocalyx balansae, Machaerium stipitatum, Rhaminidium elaeocarpum, and S. dictyocarpa). These results probably reflect the outcome of a complex set of interactions including facilitation and competition, and further studies are necessary to better understand the magnitude and type of the effects of individual overstory species on understory species. The occurrence of species-specific associations shown here reinforces the importance of non-random processes in structuring plant communities and suggest that the influence of overstory species on understory species in high-diversity forests may be more significant than previously thought. (AU)

FAPESP's process: 99/09635-0 - Diversity, dynamics and conservation in São Paulo State Forests: 40ha of permanent parcels
Grantee:Ricardo Ribeiro Rodrigues
Support Opportunities: BIOTA-FAPESP Program - Thematic Grants