Spatial patterning of Gonystylus brunnescens in eastern Borneo

Abstract

Determining the spatial patterning of tree species can provide inferences on underlying ecological processes. Gonystylus brunnescens is a South-east Asian subcanopy forest tree. To determine the spatial patterns of this species, we recorded the distribution of all individuals in a 0.4 ha sampling plot in eastern Borneo. We found that the pattern deviated from random and was well-described by the Matérn cluster model; clusters had a radius of approximately 4.2 m and contained an average of six seedlings each. This supports the hypothesis of animal-dispersed seeds and, due to a clear lack of association of juveniles with adults, may be due to scatter-hoarding of seeds by small mammal seed dispersers.

Diversity, Ecology and Conservation Status of Nepenthes in West Sumatra Province, Indonesia

“…These clumped distributions are in keeping with earlier studies (Adam 2002;Damit et al 2017), which is likely due to similar habitat requirements for light or sufficiently moist soil, for example. More advanced statistical techniques, such as those based on Ripley's K, are likely to be more informative regarding spatial patterns if sufficient individuals are measured (Brearley et al 2023). 3).…”