Canopy openness and soil conditions explain community structure and diversity in a tropical seasonal forest in south-eastern Brazil

Author(s)

Tiago Egydio Barreto ^[1] ; Natália Macedo Ivanauskas ^[2] ; Renato Augusto Ferreira de Lima ^[3] ; Maria Teresa Zugliani Toniato ^[4] ; Flaviana Maluf Souza ^[5] ; Ricardo Ribeiro Rodrigues ^[6]

Affiliation

^[1] Instituto de Biologia Universidade Estadual de Campinas. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Vegetal - Brasil

^[2] Instituto de Pesquisas Ambientais - Brasil

^[3] Universidade de São Paulo. Instituto de Biociências. Departamento de Ecologia - Brasil

^[4] Instituto de Pesquisas Ambientais - Brasil

^[5] Instituto de Pesquisas Ambientais - Brasil

^[6] Universidade de São Paulo. Escola Superior de Agricultura “Luiz de Queiroz”. Departamento de Ciências Biológicas - Brasil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Acta Botanica Brasilica; v. 35, n. 4, p. 638-652, 2022-02-04.

Abstract

ABSTRACT In tropical semi-deciduous forests, where 20-50 % of canopy trees shed their leaves in the dry season, species with varying degrees of leaf deciduousness share the same space and resources. Here, we describe the tree community in a 10.24-ha plot to assess whether small-scale variation in canopy structure and soil conditions are associated with changes in tree community structure, diversity, and composition. We sampled 11,585 individuals with diameter at breast height ≥ 4.8 cm belonging to 146 species. Plot density (1,129 trees ha-1) and basal area (24.81 m2 ha-1) were smaller than other similar forests, which may be due to an old wind disturbance. For 8.96 ha, we evaluated the relationship between abiotic factors and community descriptors using regression models. Results varied within size classes, but canopy openness was associated with changes in the community structure and diversity, and soil fertility did not affect species diversity. Tree density, basal area, and diversity were smaller in areas with more canopy gaps. Tree density and basal area increase with phosphorus availability, while the density of deciduous trees increased with canopy openness and base saturation. Thus, we found evidence that canopy openness and soil can explain small-scale variations of forest structure and diversity. (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
• FAPESP's process: 13/50718-5 - Ecological restoration of riparian forests, native forest of economic production and of degraded forest fragments (in APP and RL) based on restoration ecology of reference ecosystems in order to scientifically test the precepts of the New Brazilian Forest Code
• Grantee: Ricardo Ribeiro Rodrigues
• Support Opportunities: BIOTA-FAPESP Program - Thematic Grants