Journal article
Annual rainfall and seasonality predict pan-tropical patterns of liana density and basal area
Biotropica, Vol.42(3), pp.309-317
2010
Metrics
39 Record Views
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
This output has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:
Source: InCites
Abstract
<p>We test the hypotheses proposed by Gentry and Schnitzer that liana density and basal area in tropical forests vary negatively with mean annual precipitation (MAP) and positively with seasonality. Previous studies correlating liana abundance with these climatic variables have produced conflicting results, warranting a new analysis of drivers of liana abundance based on a different dataset. We compiled a pan-tropical dataset containing 28,953 lianas (≥2.5 cm diam.) from studies conducted at 13 Neotropical and 11 Paleotropical dry to wet lowland tropical forests. The ranges in MAP and dry season length (DSL) (number of months with mean rainfall <100 mm) represented by these datasets were 860–7250 mm/yr and 0–7 mo, respectively. Pan-tropically, liana density and basal area decreased significantly with increasing annual rainfall and increased with increasing DSL, supporting the hypotheses of Gentry and Schnitzer. Our results suggest that much of the variation in liana density and basal area in the tropics can be accounted for by the relatively simple metrics of MAP and DSL.</p>
Details
- Title
- Annual rainfall and seasonality predict pan-tropical patterns of liana density and basal area
- Creators
- Saara J DeWalt - Clemson UniversityStefan A Schnitzer - University of Wisconsin–MilwaukeeJérôme Chave - CNRS and Université Paul SabatierFrans Bongers - Wageningen UniversityRobyn J Burnham - University of MichiganZhiquan Cai - Chinese Academy of SciencesGeorges Chuyong - University of BueaDavid B Clark - University of MissouriCorneille EN Ewango - Wageningen UniversityJeffrey J Gerwing - Portland State UniversityEsteban Gortaire - Pontificia Universidad Católica del EcuadorTerese Hart - Wildlife Conservation Society, CongoGuillermo Ibarra-Manríquez - Universidad Nacional Autónoma de MéxicoKalan Ickes - Clemson UniversityDavid Kenfack - University of Michigan - Ann ArborManuel J Macia - Universidad Autónoma de MadridJean-Remy Makana - Wildlife Conservation Society, CongoMiguel Martinez- - Universidad Nacional Autónoma de MéxicoJoseph Mascaro - University of Wisconsin - MilwaukeeSainge Moses - Korup Forest Dynamics Plot ProgrammeHelene C Muller-Landau - Smithsonian Tropical Research InstituteMarc PE Parren - Wageningen UniversityNarayanaswamy Parthasarathy - Pondicherry UniversityDiego R Pérez-Salicrup - Universidad Nacional Autónoma de MéxicoFrancis E Putz - University of FloridaHugo Romero-Saltos - Pontificia Universidad Católica del EcuadorDuncan Thomas - Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute
- Publication Details
- Biotropica, Vol.42(3), pp.309-317
- Identifiers
- 3245; 991012820975802368
- Academic Unit
- School of Environment, Science and Engineering; Faculty of Science and Engineering
- Resource Type
- Journal article