Spatial Distribution and Floristic Composition of Trees and Lianas in Different Forest Types of an Amazonian Rainforest

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Spatial Distribution and Floristic Composition of Trees and Lianas in Different Forest Types of an Amazonian Rainforest Plant Ecol (2011) 212:1159–1177 DOI 10.1007/s11258-011-9895-1 Spatial distribution and floristic composition of trees and lianas in different forest types of an Amazonian rainforest Manuel J. Macı´a Received: 11 March 2010 / Accepted: 12 January 2011 / Published online: 26 January 2011 Ó Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2011 Abstract A quantitative inventory of trees and Keywords Beta diversity Á Floodplain Á Floristic lianas was conducted (1) to compare floristic com- patterns Á Swamp Á Tierra firme position, diversity and stem density variation between three different forest types (tierra firme, floodplain and swamp), and (2) to analyse the relationships Introduction between floristic similarity and forest structure in two regions *60 km apart in Yasunı´ National Park, The flora of Ecuador is among the best-known in the Amazonian Ecuador. A total of 1,087 species with a Neotropics. However, in the Amazonian region there diameter at breast height C 2.5 cm were recorded in still remain important gaps of plant diversity knowl- 25 0.1-ha plots. Tierra firme was the habitat with the edge and comparisons of floristic diversity and highest number of species and stem density for trees species composition between habitats and regions and lianas, followed by floodplain and swamp in both (through quantitative inventories) are very scarce regions. Two hypotheses that have been indepen- (e.g. Balslev et al. 1987; Burnham 2004). In the dently proposed to describe plant distribution in lowlands of Amazonian Ecuador (0–500 m eleva- tropical rain forests, together explain species spatial tion), 3,996 plant species have been found (26.1% of distribution in this study. The fact that the 30 most all Ecuadorean vascular plants), of which 54.4% are important species per forest type (totalling 119 woody plants including trees, treelets, lianas and species) accounted for 48.2% of total individuals hemiepiphytes (Jørgensen and Leo´n-Ya´nez 1999). supports the oligarchy hypothesis. Likewise, 28 out Such a relatively well-known and diverse region of these 119 species are reported as restricted to a offers a good opportunity to understand spatial single forest type, which supports the environmental- distribution and similarity of species between differ- determinism hypothesis. In general, both canopy and ent habitats at regional scales. understorey trees and lianas showed rather similar This is the case of Yasunı´ National Park and the floristic patterns across different forest types and Huaorani Ethnic Reserve, referred to hereafter as regions. Yasunı´, which represent one of the best-known areas in plant diversity in northwestern Amazonia. Several quantitative floristic inventories of woody plants have M. J. Macı´a(&) been carried out in the last 23 years, indicating that ´ Departamento de Biologı´a, Area de Bota´nica, Universidad the alpha diversity of woody plants in Yasunı´ is Auto´noma de Madrid, Calle Darwin 2, 28049 Madrid, Spain among the highest in the tropics (Romoleroux et al. e-mail: [email protected] 1997; Pitman et al. 2002; Bass et al. 2010). For 123 1160 Plant Ecol (2011) 212:1159–1177 instance, there were 1,104 tree species and morpho- physiographic forest unit, mainly well-drained upland species in 152,353 individuals of free-standing tierra firme forests and to a lesser degree on well- woody stems with a diameter at breast height drained floodplain forests, but rarely on poorly (dbh) C 1 cm, in a tierra firme 25-ha permanent plot drained and permanently flooded forests or swamps. (Valencia et al. 2004). Another study of large Species counts of vascular plants exhibited lower trees C 10 cm dbh in 15 tierra firme 1-ha plots found alpha diversity and density in swamp forests than in a total of 1,017 species-level taxa in 9,809 individuals well-drained forests (Lieberman et al. 1985; Camp- (Pitman et al. 2001), while other papers also recorded bell et al. 1992). Tierra firme forests tend to be more high species counts for large trees in 1-ha plot species-rich and with higher stem density than inventories (Balslev et al. 1987;Cero´n 1997). For floodplain habitats (Campbell et al. 1986; Balslev lianas, there were 311 species among 4,348 climbing et al. 1987; Duivenvoorden 1994; Duque et al. 2002; stems C 1 cm dbh in 0.2-ha subsamples from 12 1-ha Burnham 2004), but the extent to which the species plots established in both tierra firme and floodplain composition varies with the geographic distance habitats (Burnham 2002, 2004). In another study, between different and similar habitats defined by there were 138 species and 606 individuals of inundation history is poorly known. lianas C 1 cm dbh in two 0.2-ha tierra firme forest This article includes a quantitative inventory of all plots (Nabe-Nielsen 2001). Finally, there have also woody plant habits (particularly trees and lianas) been quantitative inventories of particular families within the same plots. New analyses of Romero- such as Arecaceae (Svenning 1999; Vormisto et al. Saltos et al.’s (2001) data are performed to further 2004; Montu´far and Pintaud 2006), pteridophytes and explain the extent of diversity and density variation in Melastomataceae (Tuomisto et al. 2002, 2003a). two regions *60 km apart (Dicaro and Guiyero; Quantitative floristic inventories including all Fig. 1) and three different forest types (tierra firme, habits of woody plants are scarce in most tropical floodplain and swamp) in Yasunı´ by six life-form vegetation types, although patchily distributed in subdivisions. More specifically, I ask (i) whether tropical rain forests (e.g. Gentry and Dodson 1987; floristic similarity is higher between different forest Duivenvoorden 1994; Duque et al. 2002; Macı´a types of the same region than between similar forest 2008). Most of these studies have focused on a types of different regions, for different life-forms and Fig. 1 Location of the 76 W N study area and 25 0.1-ha Colombia Río Tiputini plots of tierra firme (cross), • Guiyero 04km floodplain (filled square) 0 and swamp (filled triangle) Amazonian Ecuador forest types inventoried Río Napo • 0 40' S around two indigenous Yasuní Research communities (Dicaro and Station Río Tiputini Yasuní Guiyero) in Yasunı´ Huaorani Reserve National National Park and the Park Tierra firme plot Huaorani Ethnic Reserve, Oil company road Floodplain plot Amazonian Ecuador. The Swamp plot climatic diagram shows temperature and Peru 0 50' S precipitation average Río Yasuní values ± standard deviation Climatic diagram 26 from the Yasunı´ Research 25 24 Ecuador Dicaro Station for the period 400 • 1995–2007 350 300 South America 250 (°C) Temperature 200 150 Río Dicaro 100 Precipitation (mm) 50 1 00' S Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec 76 20' W 76 10' W 123 Plant Ecol (2011) 212:1159–1177 1161 size classes, and (ii) if the species diversity, stem selection of sites was based on Landsat TM satellite density and forest structure, through the relative imagery and according to accessibility. Each plot was distribution in diameter classes of trees and lianas, placed in well-developed forest with no signs of shows significant differences between these two recent anthropogenic disturbance, excluding big can- regions. opy gaps and avoiding heterogeneity in forest phys- iognomy or soils, and therefore installed in a single broad forest type (tierra firme, floodplain or swamp). Methods Plots within the same region were at least 500 m apart. Study area Trees and lianas with stems rooted within a plot and with a dbh (diameter measured at 1.3 m above Fieldwork was carried out in Yasunı´, the largest ground) equal to or greater than 2.5 cm were protected area in Amazonian Ecuador with measured, inventoried and identified to species or to *1.6 million ha. Yasunı´ is located at the foot of a field-temporary name allocated to a morphological the Andean range on a landscape of rolling piedmont species concept (morphospecies). Hemiepiphytes hills, mostly covered by mature tropical rain forest rooted within a plot were also inventoried using this and lacking large deforested areas. Mature forests method, measuring the diameters of their descending were studied within the Huaorani indigenous territo- roots and analysed separately from lianas, as recom- ries around the Dicaro and Guiyero communities, mended by Gerwing et al. (2006). Multiple stems *60 km apart, at 250–300 m elevation (Fig. 1). were measured separately, but all stems rooting in the Three different broad habitats can be recognised: same place were counted as one individual. Speci- (i) well-drained upland tierra firme forests, never mens were collected to voucher each name and in flooded by rivers, (ii) well-drained floodplain forests, doubtful cases to identify a stem. All specimens were periodically flooded by rivers or streams, and (iii) first sorted to species or morphospecies level. Then, permanently inundated, poorly drained swamp for- the sterile vouchers were identified by matching them ests. Probably more than 90% of the Yasunı´ land- with vouchers identified by specialists or professional scape is covered by tierra firme forests, whereas most botanists which are deposited at AAU, MO, NY, floodplain and swamp habitats are confined to narrow QCA and QCNE herbaria (acronyms according to bands close to streams and rivers (Macı´a personal Holmgren et al. 1990). Classical taxonomy have been observations). According to climatic data obtained used to facilitate floristic comparisons with past from Yasunı´ Research Station for the period papers, although there are recent changes (e.g. 1995–2007, mean annual precipitation is Bombacaceae, Sterculiaceae and Tiliaceae rather *2800 mm with a peak of rainfall during the months than Malvaceae). of May and June, and mean annual temperature is Duplicates of the specimens were distributed to *25°C (see also Romero-Saltos et al.
Recommended publications
  • 12. Plantas Y Líquenes Del Parque Nacional Natural De La Serranía De
    PLANTAS Y LÍQUENES DEL PARQUE NACIONAL NATURAL SERRANÍA DE CHIRIBIQUETE, COLOMBIA Dairon Cárdenas1*1*,, MaríaMaría FernandaFernanda GonzálezGonzález12 ,, NóridaNórida MarínMarín11 y Sonia Sua11,, JulioJulio BetancurBetancur2 RESUMEN principales de formaciones vegetales registrados para la Guayana: bosques, matorrales, praderas o Se presenta el inventario de las plantas y los pastizales y la vegetación pionera sobre roca dura. líquenes del Parque Nacional Natural Serranía de En los afloramientos rocosos predominan especies Chiribiquete (PNNSCh), obtenido a través de como: Abolboda spp., Acanthella sprucei, Bonnetia información de herbarios y exploraciones de campo. sessilis, Calliandra vaupesiana, Clusia spp., Cyrilla Chiribiquete es el área protegida más grande de racemiflora, Decagonocarpus oppositifolius, Drosera Colombia, pertenece a la formación Guayana, esmeraldae, Euphronia hirtelloides, Gongylolepis tiene altitudes entre 200 y 800 metros y representa una gran meseta tectónica fraccionada por erosión martiana, Hevea nitida, Molongum lucidum, hídrica y disectada en numerosas mesas (tepuyes). Navia spp., Ochthocosmus berryi, Monotrema aemu- Se registraron 2,138 especies que corresponden lans, Pachira coriacea, Parahancornia surrogata, al 7.6 % de las encontradas en Colombia y al 66.5 Senefelderopsis chiribiquetensis, Steyerbromelia % de las de la región amazónica. Las familias con garcia-barrigae, Styrax rigidifolius, Tepuianthus más especies fueron: Fabaceae (184), Rubiaceae savannensis, Utricularia spp., Vellozia tubiflora (167)
    [Show full text]
  • Proyecto Mesozonificación Ecológica Y Económica Para
    Mesozonificación Ecológica y Económica para el Desarrollo Sostenible de la Provincia de Satipo Informe temático Vegetación Filomeno Encarnación Cajañaupa / Ricardo Zárate Gómez Mesozonificación Ecológica y Económica para el Desarrollo Sostenible de la provincia de Satipo Informe temático: VEGETACIÓN / Filomeno Encarnación Cajañaupa Ricardo Zárate Gómez © Instituto de Investigaciones de la Amazonía Peruana Programa de Investigación en Cambio Climático, Desarrollo Territorial y Ambiente Av. José Abelardo Quiñones km 2,5 Teléfonos: (+51) (65) 265515 / 265516 Fax: (+51) (65) 265527 www.iiap.org.pe / [email protected] Iquitos-Perú, 2011 El presente estudio fue financiado con fondos del Plan de Impacto Rápido de Lucha contra las Drogas – PIR, canalizados por DEVIDA Cita sugerida: Encarnación, F. y Zárate, R. 2011. Vegetación, informe temático. Proyecto Mesozonificación Ecológica y Económica para el Desarrollo Sostenible de la provincia de Satipo, convenio entre el IIAP, DEVIDA y la Municipalidad Provincial de Satipo. Iquitos – Perú. La información contenida en este informe puede ser reproducida total o parcialmente siempre y cuando se mencione la fuente de origen. [MESOZONIFICACIÓN ECOLÓGICA Y ECONÓMICA PARA EL DESARROLLO SOSTENIBLE DE LA PROVINCIA DE SATIPO] VEGETACIÓN Contenido PRESENTACIÓN ................................................................................................ 5 RESUMEN ........................................................................................................ 6 I. OBJETIVOS ...............................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Evolutionary Consequences of Dioecy in Angiosperms: the Effects of Breeding System on Speciation and Extinction Rates
    EVOLUTIONARY CONSEQUENCES OF DIOECY IN ANGIOSPERMS: THE EFFECTS OF BREEDING SYSTEM ON SPECIATION AND EXTINCTION RATES by JANA C. HEILBUTH B.Sc, Simon Fraser University, 1996 A THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY in THE FACULTY OF GRADUATE STUDIES (Department of Zoology) We accept this thesis as conforming to the required standard THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA July 2001 © Jana Heilbuth, 2001 Wednesday, April 25, 2001 UBC Special Collections - Thesis Authorisation Form Page: 1 In presenting this thesis in partial fulfilment of the requirements for an advanced degree at the University of British Columbia, I agree that the Library shall make it freely available for reference and study. I further agree that permission for extensive copying of this thesis for scholarly purposes may be granted by the head of my department or by his or her representatives. It is understood that copying or publication of this thesis for financial gain shall not be allowed without my written permission. The University of British Columbia Vancouver, Canada http://www.library.ubc.ca/spcoll/thesauth.html ABSTRACT Dioecy, the breeding system with male and female function on separate individuals, may affect the ability of a lineage to avoid extinction or speciate. Dioecy is a rare breeding system among the angiosperms (approximately 6% of all flowering plants) while hermaphroditism (having male and female function present within each flower) is predominant. Dioecious angiosperms may be rare because the transitions to dioecy have been recent or because dioecious angiosperms experience decreased diversification rates (speciation minus extinction) compared to plants with other breeding systems.
    [Show full text]
  • A Preliminary List of the Vascular Plants and Wildlife at the Village Of
    A Floristic Evaluation of the Natural Plant Communities and Grounds Occurring at The Key West Botanical Garden, Stock Island, Monroe County, Florida Steven W. Woodmansee [email protected] January 20, 2006 Submitted by The Institute for Regional Conservation 22601 S.W. 152 Avenue, Miami, Florida 33170 George D. Gann, Executive Director Submitted to CarolAnn Sharkey Key West Botanical Garden 5210 College Road Key West, Florida 33040 and Kate Marks Heritage Preservation 1012 14th Street, NW, Suite 1200 Washington DC 20005 Introduction The Key West Botanical Garden (KWBG) is located at 5210 College Road on Stock Island, Monroe County, Florida. It is a 7.5 acre conservation area, owned by the City of Key West. The KWBG requested that The Institute for Regional Conservation (IRC) conduct a floristic evaluation of its natural areas and grounds and to provide recommendations. Study Design On August 9-10, 2005 an inventory of all vascular plants was conducted at the KWBG. All areas of the KWBG were visited, including the newly acquired property to the south. Special attention was paid toward the remnant natural habitats. A preliminary plant list was established. Plant taxonomy generally follows Wunderlin (1998) and Bailey et al. (1976). Results Five distinct habitats were recorded for the KWBG. Two of which are human altered and are artificial being classified as developed upland and modified wetland. In addition, three natural habitats are found at the KWBG. They are coastal berm (here termed buttonwood hammock), rockland hammock, and tidal swamp habitats. Developed and Modified Habitats Garden and Developed Upland Areas The developed upland portions include the maintained garden areas as well as the cleared parking areas, building edges, and paths.
    [Show full text]
  • Downloaded from Brill.Com10/09/2021 12:24:23AM Via Free Access 2 IAWA Journal, Vol
    IAWA Journal, Vol. 26 (1), 2005: 1-68 WOOD ANATOMY OF THE SUBFAMILY EUPHORBIOIDEAE A comparison with subfamilies Crotonoideae and Acalyphoideae and the implications for the circumscription of the Euphorbiaceae Alberta M. W. Mennega Nationaal Herbarium Nederland, Utrecht University branch, Heidelberglaan 2, 3584 es Utrecht, The Netherlands SUMMARY The wood anatomy was studied of 82 species from 34 out of 54 genera in the subfamily Euphorbioideae, covering all five tribes recognized in this subfamily. In general the woods show a great deal of similarity. They are charac­ terized by a relative paucity of vessels, often arranged in short to long, dumbbell-shaped or twin, radial multiples, and by medium-sized to large intervessel pits; fibres often have gelatinous walls; parenchyma apotracheal in short, wavy, narrow bands and diffuse-in-aggregates; mostly uni- or only locally biseriate rays, strongly heterocellular (except Hippomane, Hura and Pachystroma). Cell contents, either silica or crystals, or both together, are nearly always present and often useful in distinguishing between genera. Radiallaticifers were noticed in most genera, though they are scarce and difficult to trace. The laticifers are generally not surrounded by special cells, except in some genera of the subtribe Euphorbiinae where radiallaticifers are comparatively frequent and conspicuous. Three ofthe five tribes show a great deal of conformity in their anatomy. Stomatocalyceae, however, stand apart from the rest by the combination of the scarcity of vessels, and mostly biseriate, vertically fused and very tall rays. Within Euphorbieae the subtribe Euphorbiinae shows a greater vari­ ation than average, notably in vessel pitting, the frequent presence of two­ celled parenchyma strands, and in size and frequency of the laticifers.
    [Show full text]
  • Article ISSN 1179-3163 (Online Edition)
    Phytotaxa 454 (4): 293–299 ISSN 1179-3155 (print edition) https://www.mapress.com/j/pt/ PHYTOTAXA Copyright © 2020 Magnolia Press Article ISSN 1179-3163 (online edition) https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.454.4.7 A new combination and lectotypification in the genus Desmodium (Papilionoideae: Desmodieae) of Mexico LETICIA TORRES-COLÍN1,2 & ALFONSO DELGADO-SALINAS1,3 1 Departamento de Botánica, Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Apartado postal 70–233, 04510, CDMX, México. 2 [email protected]; https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4663-2575 3 [email protected]; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9322-9968 Abstract During the review of the genus Desmodium for the different regional floras of Mexico, we have identified problems of nomenclature and typification such as the case of Meibomia karwinskii, wrongly cited in the list of Legumes of Oaxaca as Desmodium karwinskii and thus invalidly published. Also, in this list the attached illustration exhibits incorrect interpretations on its floral characters that does not agree with usage of this species. In this proposal, the nomenclature of the species name is discussed and justified here the designation of a lectotype and three isolectoypes. In addition, a more detailed description of the species is given based on recent field collections and illustrated with images of the habit and morphological characters. Keywords: Leguminosae, Meibomia, nomenclature, Oaxaca Introduction Traditionally the tribe Desmodieae (Hutch. 1964: 477–478 emend: Ohashi 1981: 292–300) has been divided into 3 groups, Lespedeza Michaux (1803: 39), Phyllodium Desvaux (1813: 123) and Desmodium Desvaux (1813: 122); however, in recent molecular studies polyphyly has been demonstrated within the Desmodium group (Jabbour et al.
    [Show full text]
  • Medicinal Plants As Potential Hemostatic Agents
    J Pharm Pharm Sci (www.cspsCanada.org) 23, 11 - 23, 2020 Medicinal Plants as Potential Hemostatic Agents Fatemeh Ebrahimia, Mohammadali Torbatib,a, Javad Mahmoudic, Hadi Valizadehd a School of Traditional Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran. b Department of Food Science and Technology, Faculty of Nutrition, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran. c Neurosciences Research Center (NSRC), Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran. d Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran. Received, October 31, 2019; Revised, November 15, 2019; Accepted, January 31, 2020; Published, February 2, 2020. ABSTRACT - Purpose: Medicinal plants with a variety of phytochemical ingredients remain a potential source for new drug discovery. The use of medicinal herbs in a wide range of diseases and symptoms, such as bleeding, is prevalent in traditional and ethno medicine worldwide. Thus, this work provides a comprehensive review of medicinal plants or their isolated compounds, with respect to their ethno-medicinal use, which have demonstrated the stimulating effect on the hemostasis process. Methods: The relevant studies were withdrawn from electronic databases including Pubmed, EMBASE and Web of Science with a structured search methodology. Results: The total of 17 medicinal plants with hemostatic activity were extracted. The most frequently studied plant families were Compositae, Lamiaceae, Fabaceae, and Asteraceae. Bioactive compounds exerting hemostatic activity included tannins, iridoid glycosides, glycoconjugate, lignan, saponins and phenolic compounds. The most attributed mechanisms include coagulation stimulation via increasing the factor XII activity and plasma fibrinogen levels, the fibrinolysis inhibition, vascular or smooth muscle constriction and platelet aggregation. The most important adverse effects of high dose extract or isolated compounds administration were hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity.
    [Show full text]
  • The Envira Amazonia Project a Tropical Forest Conservation Project in Acre, Brazil
    The Envira Amazonia Project A Tropical Forest Conservation Project in Acre, Brazil Prepared by Brian McFarland from: 853 Main Street East Aurora, New York - 14052 (240) 247-0630 With significant contributions from: James Eaton, TerraCarbon JR Agropecuária e Empreendimentos EIRELI Pedro Freitas, Carbon Securities Ayri Rando, Independent Community Specialist A Climate, Community and Biodiversity Standard Project Implementation Report TABLE OF CONTENTS COVER PAGE .................................................................................................................... Page 4 INTRODUCTION …………………………………………………………..……………. Page 5 GENERAL SECTION G1. Project Goals, Design and Long-Term Viability …………………………….………. Page 6 A. Project Overview 1. Project Proponents 2. Project’s Climate, Community and Biodiversity Objectives 3. Project Location and Parameters B. Project Design and Boundaries 4. Project Area and Project Zone 5. Stakeholder Identification and Analysis 6. Communities, Community Groups and Other Stakeholders 7. Map Identifying Locations of Communities and Project 8. Project Activities, Outputs, Outcomes and Impacts 9. Project Start Date, Lifetime and GHG Accounting Period C. Risk Management and Long-Term Viability 10. Natural and Human-Induced Risks 11. Enhance Benefits Beyond Project Lifetime 12. Financial Mechanisms Adopted G2. Without-Project Land Use Scenario and Additionality ………………..…………….. Page 52 1. Most Likely Land-Use Scenario 2. Additionality of Project Benefits G3. Stakeholder Engagement ……………………………………………………………. Page 57 A. Access to Information 1. Accessibility of Full Project Documentation 2. Information on Costs, Risks and Benefits 3. Community Explanation of Validation and Verification Process B. Consultation 4. Community Influence on Project Design 5. Consultations Directly with Communities C. Participation in Decision-Making and Implementation 6. Measures to Enable Effective Participation D. Anti-Discrimination 7. Measures to Ensure No Discrimination E. Feedback and Grievance Redress Procedure 8.
    [Show full text]
  • A Revised Infrageneric Classification and Molecular Phylogeny of New World Croton (Euphorbiaceae)
    TAXON 60 (3) • June 2011: 791–823 Van Ee & al. • Taxonomy and phylogeny of New World Croton A revised infrageneric classification and molecular phylogeny of New World Croton (Euphorbiaceae) Benjamin W. van Ee,1 Ricarda Riina2,3 & Paul E. Berry2 1 Black Hills State University Herbarium, 1200 University Street, Spearfish, South Dakota 57799, U.S.A. 2 University of Michigan Herbarium, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, 3600 Varsity Drive, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48108, U.S.A. 3 Real Jardín Botánico, CSIC, Plaza de Murillo 2, 28014 Madrid, Spain Author for correspondence: Benjamin van Ee, [email protected] Abstract Croton (Euphorbiaceae) is a large and diverse group of plants that is most species-rich in the tropics. We update the infrageneric classification of the New World species of Croton with new evidence from phylogenetic analyses of DNA sequence data from all three genomes. The relationships of species that were previously placed in conflicting positions by nuclear and chloroplast data, such as C. cupreatus, C. poecilanthus, and C. setiger, are further resolved by adding the nuclear EMB2765 and mitochondrial rps3 genes to the molecular sampling. Analyses of rps3 reveal an accelerated rate of evolution within Croton subg. Geiseleria, the only one of the four subgenera that contains numerous herbaceous, annual species. We provide morphological descriptions, species lists, and a key to the 31 sections and 10 subsections recognized in the New World. New taxa that we describe include C. sects. Alabamenses, Argyranthemi, Cordiifolii, Corinthii, Cupreati, Luetzelburgiorum, Nubigeni, Olivacei, Pachypodi, Prisci, and C. subsects. Cubenses, Jamaicenses, and Sellowiorum. Additional transfers are made to the ranks of subgenus, section, and subsection.
    [Show full text]
  • Recovery of a Tropical Rain Forest Over 30 Years Following Silvicultural Interventions
    Recovery of a tropical rain forest over 30 years following silvicultural interventions Thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements of the degree Doctor rer. nat. of the Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany by Angela Luciana de Avila Freiburg im Breisgau, September 2016 Dean: Prof. Dr. Tim Freytag First examiner: Prof. Dr. Jürgen Bauhus Second examiner: Prof. Dr. Jaboury Ghazoul Third examiner: Prof. Dr. Carsten Dormann Date of thesis defence: 23rd January 2017 Statement of originality I hereby declare that this thesis has never been submitted to another examination commission in Germany or in another country for a degree in the same or similar form. This thesis contains no material previously published or written by another person except where due acknowledgement is made in the proper manner. Angela Luciana de Avila Freiburg, 29th September 2016 Statement of contributions and manuscripts This doctoral research was carried out between April 2012 and September 2016. I conducted most of the work myself, from the development of the research concept, data preparation and analyses to the writing of manuscripts, introduction and final chapters of this thesis. Three manuscripts were elaborated to be published in peer-reviewed scientific journals, as follows: de Avila, A.L., A.R. Ruschel, J.O.P. de Carvalho, L. Mazzei, J.N.M. Silva, J.do.C. Lopes, M.M. Araujo, C.F. Dormann, and J. Bauhus. 2015. Medium-term dynamics of tree species composition in response to silvicultural intervention intensities in a tropical rain forest. Biological Conservation, 191:577–586. de Avila, A.L., M.
    [Show full text]
  • Incidence of Extra-Floral Nectaries and Their Effect on the Growth and Survival of Lowland Tropical Rain Forest Trees
    Incidence of Extra-Floral Nectaries and their Effect on the Growth and Survival of Lowland Tropical Rain Forest Trees Honors Research Thesis Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for graduation “with Honors Research Distinction in Evolution and Ecology” in the undergraduate colleges of The Ohio State University by Andrew Muehleisen The Ohio State University May 2013 Project Advisor: Dr. Simon Queenborough, Department of Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology Incidence of Extra-Floral Nectaries and their Effect on the Growth and Survival of Lowland Tropical Rain Forest Trees Andrew Muehleisen Evolution, Ecology & Organismal Biology, The Ohio State University, OH 43210, USA Summary Mutualistic relationships between organisms have long captivated biologists, and extra-floral nectaries (EFNs), or nectar-producing glands, found on many plants are a good example. The nectar produced from these glands serves as food for ants which attack intruders that may threaten their free meal, preventing herbivory. However, relatively little is known about their impact on the long-term growth and survival of plants. To better understand the ecological significance of EFNs, I examined their incidence on lowland tropical rain forest trees in Yasuni National Park in Amazonian Ecuador. Of those 896 species that were observed in the field, EFNs were found on 96 species (11.2%), widely distributed between different angiosperm families. This rate of incidence is high but consistent with other locations in tropical regions. Furthermore, this study adds 13 new genera and 2 new families (Urticaceae and Caricaceae) to the list of taxa exhibiting EFNs. Using demographic data from a long-term forest dynamics plot at the same site, I compared the growth and survival rates of species that have EFNs with those that do not.
    [Show full text]
  • Biogeography and Ecology in a Pantropical Family, the Meliaceae
    Gardens’ Bulletin Singapore 71(Suppl. 2):335-461. 2019 335 doi: 10.26492/gbs71(suppl. 2).2019-22 Biogeography and ecology in a pantropical family, the Meliaceae M. Heads Buffalo Museum of Science, 1020 Humboldt Parkway, Buffalo, NY 14211-1293, USA. [email protected] ABSTRACT. This paper reviews the biogeography and ecology of the family Meliaceae and maps many of the clades. Recently published molecular phylogenies are used as a framework to interpret distributional and ecological data. The sections on distribution concentrate on allopatry, on areas of overlap among clades, and on centres of diversity. The sections on ecology focus on populations of the family that are not in typical, dry-ground, lowland rain forest, for example, in and around mangrove forest, in peat swamp and other kinds of freshwater swamp forest, on limestone, and in open vegetation such as savanna woodland. Information on the altitudinal range of the genera is presented, and brief notes on architecture are also given. The paper considers the relationship between the distribution and ecology of the taxa, and the interpretation of the fossil record of the family, along with its significance for biogeographic studies. Finally, the paper discusses whether the evolution of Meliaceae can be attributed to ‘radiations’ from restricted centres of origin into new morphological, geographical and ecological space, or whether it is better explained by phases of vicariance in widespread ancestors, alternating with phases of range expansion. Keywords. Altitude, limestone, mangrove, rain forest, savanna, swamp forest, tropics, vicariance Introduction The family Meliaceae is well known for its high-quality timbers, especially mahogany (Swietenia Jacq.).
    [Show full text]