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The diversity and distribution of monodominant tree species in tropical ecosystems, a comparison of savanna and forest. Shaoyi Zhang MSc dissertation Abstract: the monodominance is a geographically extensive ecological phenomenon in tropics. Most of the studies focus on the mechanisms that form monodominance, while it is also important to understand the diversity and distribution of monodominant species. This project reviews the documented monodominant based on published papers and books, a detailed list and a distribution map are produced for mnodominant forest and savanna species. This project also qualifies the bioclimatic factors in the modomininant species area, and pointed out that savanna dominant species have slightly more stringent requirements for precipitation than forests dominant species, savannas dominant species have harsher requirements for temperature, and forest species’ requirements for temperature are polarized between loose and harsh. Key words: tropics, monodominant, forest, savanna, distribution, diversity Continent Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................5 Mechanisms of monodominance in savannas ........................................................................... 8 Monodominance relies on multiple mechanisms ...................................................................... 9 Distribution of monodominant species ................................................................................... 10 Methods............................................................................................................................................................... 11 Information and data collection .............................................................................................. 11 Monodominant species information collection ......................................................................... 11 Monodominant species morphological information collection............................................. 11 Monodominant species distribution data collection ................................................................ 12 Distribution habitat information collection ............................................................................... 12 Data analysis ........................................................................................................................... 13 Distribution data analysis ............................................................................................................... 13 Habitat data analysis ....................................................................................................................... 13 Result .................................................................................................................................................................... 13 List of documented monodominant species ............................................................................ 13 Morphological information of monodominant species ........................................................... 19 Distribution information of monodominant species ................................................................ 19 Habitat information of monodominant species ....................................................................... 22 Precipitation analysis result ........................................................................................................... 22 .............................................................................................................................................................. 26 Temperature analysis result ........................................................................................................... 27 Discussion ........................................................................................................................................................... 32 Distribution and diversity of monodominant species .............................................................. 32 Monodominant species and habitat information ..................................................................... 33 Shortcomings of this project ................................................................................................... 34 Acknowledgements ........................................................................................................................................... 35 Reference ............................................................................................................................................................. 36 Appendix .............................................................................................................................................................. 42 Table 1 The terms used in searching literature and book ........................................................ 42 Table 2 the websites used in searching species morphological information ........................... 43 Table 5 A part of the morphological information of monodominant forest species ............... 44 Table 6 Another part of the morphological information of monodominant forest species ..... 47 Table 7 A part of the morphological information of monodominant forest species ............... 50 Table 8 Another part of the morphological information of monodominant forest species ..... 51 Table 9 The specific information of annual precipitation (mm) in the areas where monodominant forest species grow ......................................................................................... 52 Table 10 The specific information of annual precipitation (mm) in the areas where monodominant savanna species grow ..................................................................................... 55 Table 11 The specific information of annual temperature(°C) in the areas where monodominant forest species grow ......................................................................................... 56 Table 12 The specific information of annual temperature(°C) in the areas where monodominant savanna species grow ..................................................................................... 59 Table 13 The specific information of precipitation seasonality in the areas where monodominant forest species grow ......................................................................................... 60 Table 14 The specific information of precipitation seasonality in the areas where monodominant savanna species grow ..................................................................................... 63 Table 15 The specific information of temperature seasonality in the areas where monodominant forest species grow ......................................................................................... 64 Table 16 The specific information of temperature seasonality in the areas where monodominant savanna species grow ..................................................................................... 67 Introduction Monodominance, originally named single-dominance, is an ecological condition across different regions in which more than 60% tree canopy occupied by a single species tree (Connell, J. H. & Lowman, 1989). The earliest research on monodominant species may be traced back to temperate coniferous forest. However,across the tropics are a diversity of ecosystems where just a single species dominates. Early records of monodominant species in the tropics are traced back to the discovery of forests dominated by two Fabaceae species, Eperua purpurea and Eperua leucantha, in Upper Rio Negro Basin in Guyana (Wallace,1853; Spruce,1854). Since the 1800’s numerous monodominant species have been recorded, but questions remain as to how in tropical regions known for their biodiversity numerous ecosystems can be dominated by single species. The tropics are the areas around the equator with delimited in latitude between 23°26′11.8″ N and 23°26′11.8″S that constitute about 40% of the Earth’s surface. Due to receiving more direct sunlight than other regions of the Earth, the tropics are usually hot and humid (Lockwood, J.G., 1978). There is an estimated minimum of least 7,700 species of plants and 4,400 species of animals living in the tropics (Brown, J.H., 2014) as such the tropics are considered areas rich in biodiversity (Anon, 2008). There are various biomes in tropics, including desert, forest, wetland, grassland, etc, however, monodominance can be found in most of these biomes. For example, Rutherford(1982) mentioned two monodominant species(Combretum apiculatum and Combretum zeyheri, both Combretaceae) in Namibian savannas, he also pointed out a monodominant species (Burkea Africana, Fabaceae) in Botswana savannas. Moreover, Gris (2019) found a monodominant pantano formed by Erythrina fusca (Fabaceae) in Brazil. Even in rainforests, monodominance does not appear to be a rarity, and Richard, writing in the The Tropical Rainforest (Richard, 1952) listed at least eight monodominant rainforests distributed across the Neotropics, Australasia, Malesia and Africa. Understanding the extent of monodominant ecosystems remains unclear, and that is the aim of my research project to give insight into the commonality of the mechanisms enabling monodominance. Mechanisms of monodominance in forests In forests, monodominance, is defined as where more than 60% of the tree canopy is comprised of a single species tree (Hart,