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Spatio-temporal patterns of tree community dynamics in a tropical forest fragment in South-east Brazil

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Abstract

The tree community (dbh > 5 cm) of a fragment of tropical montane semi-deciduous forest in South-east Brazil was repeatedly surveyed over a 19-year period in order to assess spatial and temporal patterns of dynamics. The surveys took place in 1987, 1992, 1996, 2001, and 2006 in a grid of 126 20 × 20 m permanent plots covering almost the entire fragment (5.8 ha). Overall patterns indicated that a self-thinning process has taken place in the fragment since 1992. Community dynamics varied in space and time, with most dynamics highly spatially clustered. With exception of mortality rates, there were no changes in the spatial patterns of community dynamics through time. No relation between edges and dynamics variables was found. Most species with increasing density and basal area were shade-bearers, while most decreasing species were canopy light demanders and pioneers.

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Acknowledgment

This research was supported by CAPES (Coordenadoria de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Ensino Superior) doctorate scholarship to the first author. We thank two anonymous reviewers who provided useful comments.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Forestry Department, Santa Catarina State University, Lages, SC, Brazil

    Pedro Higuchi & Ana Carolina Silva

  2. Departamento de Engenharia Florestal, UDESC/LAGES, Av. Luiz de Camões, 2090 Bairro Conta Dinheiro, Lages, SC, CEP: 88520-000, Brazil

    Pedro Higuchi

  3. Forestry Department, Federal University of Lavras, 37200-000, Lavras, MG, Brazil

    Ary T. Oliveira-Filho & Evandro L. M. Machado

  4. Plant Science Department, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK

    Daniel P. Bebber & Nick D. Brown

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  1. Pedro Higuchi
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  2. Ary T. Oliveira-Filho
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  5. Ana Carolina Silva
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  6. Evandro L. M. Machado
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Correspondence to Pedro Higuchi.

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Higuchi, P., Oliveira-Filho, A.T., Bebber, D.P. et al. Spatio-temporal patterns of tree community dynamics in a tropical forest fragment in South-east Brazil. Plant Ecol 199, 125–135 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11258-008-9418-x

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