The effects of a hurricane on seedling dynamics and abiotic interactions in a tropical lower montane wet forest

Luke, Denneko; McLaren, Kurt; Wilson, Byron S.

doi:10.1017/s0266467413000734

Cited by 8 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…hurricane ), in subtropical forest and seasonal rain forest in China (Chen et al 2010, Lin et al 2012, and rain forest of Ecuador (Metz et al 2010). In addition, the patterns of survivorship for tree seedlings in forests of Dominica generally corresponded to those found in other Caribbean wet forests in the absence of a recent hurricane , Luke et al 2014) and other tropical rain forests in general (Webb & Peart 1999, Queenborough et al 2007, Comita & Hubbell 2009, Metz et al 2010. Our results therefore substantiate the now-widespread finding that tree seedling communities display negative density dependence when considering conspecific adult abundance and suggest that NDD is as prevalent in lowerdiversity island forests as it is in higher-diversity mainland forests.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 83%

“…The positive relationship between seedling density and seedling survivorship for midstory and canopy trees in Dominica supports the previous findings of weak competition among tropical tree seedlings and suggests that there is positive density dependence (PDD) among heterospecific tree seedlings (Paine et al 2008, Svenning et al 2008. Positive effects of seedling density and specifically of heterospecific, distantly related or functionally distinct seedlings in the seedling neighborhood are generally found on seedling survival , Paine et al 2012, Luke et al 2014. PDD could arise because of facilitation or because favorable microsites increase seedling density and survivorship concomitantly.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 81%

“…, Luke et al . ). PDD could arise because of facilitation or because favorable microsites increase seedling density and survivorship concomitantly.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

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Density‐dependent Survival in Seedlings Differs among Woody Life‐forms in Tropical Wet Forests of a Caribbean Island

2015

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Negative density dependence contributes to seedling dynamics in forested ecosystems, but the relative importance of this factor for different woody plant life‐forms is not well‐understood. We used 1 yr of seedling survivorship data for woody seedlings in 17 different plots of lower to mid‐montane rain forests on the island of Dominica to examine how seedling height, abiotic factors, and biotic factors such as negative density dependence are related to seedling survival of five different life‐forms (canopy, midstory, and understory trees; shrubs; and lianas). Across 64 species, taller seedlings in seedling plots with higher canopy openness, greater seedling density, lower relative abundance of conspecific seedlings, and lower relative abundance of conspecific adults generally had a greater probability of surviving. Height was the strongest predictor of seedling survival for all life‐forms except lianas. Greater seedling density was positively related to survival for canopy and midstory trees but negatively related to survival for the other life‐forms. For trees, the relative abundance of conspecific seedling and adult neighbors had weak and strong negative effects on survival respectively. Neither shrub nor liana seedling survival was affected by the relative abundance of conspecific neighbors. Thus, negative density dependence is confirmed as an important structuring mechanism for tree seedling communities but does not seem to be important for lianas and shrubs in Dominican rain forests. These results represent the first direct assessment of controls on seedling survival of all woody life‐forms – an important step in understanding the dynamics and structure of the entire woody plant community.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 83%

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 81%

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Density‐dependent Survival in Seedlings Differs among Woody Life‐forms in Tropical Wet Forests of a Caribbean Island

2015

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“…There was low (0–25%) to moderate (25–50%) crown damage within forested areas (PIOJ ); this resulted in both canopy defoliation and treefall in some plots (Luke et al . ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 97%

Short‐term Dynamics and the Effects of Biotic and Abiotic Factors on Plant Physiognomic Groups in a Hurricane‐impacted Lower Montane Tropical Forest

2016

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We assessed the short‐term effects of biotic (density, plant size) and abiotic factors (light), on the dynamics of physiognomically different plant groups (palms, tree ferns, lianas, and trees) in a hurricane‐impacted tropical wet montane forest, John Crow Mountains, Jamaica. All plants ≥2 cm (dbh) found within 45, 25 × 25 m permanent sample plots (2.8125 ha), established according to a randomized block design along an elevation gradient, were tagged and measured (dbh) in 2006 and re‐assessed in 2012 after Hurricane Dean (2007). Hemispheric light was measured in 2007 and 2008. Tree and liana size class distributions changed due to high mortality in the smallest size classes and their densities declined; however, palm and tree fern density remained unchanged. The dynamics of trees were only related to tree fern and liana dynamics (e.g., tree mortality was negatively related to liana recruitment etc.). Although pre‐ and posthurricane light was related to palm density and the density of the other plant groups, respectively, there were no significant changes in light. Tree survivorship increased with increasing dbh while posthurricane light and overall density influenced the growth and survivorship of tree species. Species importance value did not change, suggesting that direct regeneration may be the model of forest recovery following this small‐scale disturbance. Over the short term, tree species showed life history trade‐offs that aid species coexistence after this moderate/low disturbance event. Our study highlights that hurricanes with low impacts can have differential short‐ and possibly long‐term effects on different plant groups.

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“…Shifts in community composition can potentially impact the overall health and function of ecosystems (Fischer et al 2013;Luke et al 2014) I investigated individual plant responses, community composition, and structural shifts associated with the 1992 landfall of Hurricane Andrew, a category 5 hurricane, in four Everglades non-tidal forest community types (pinelands, hardwood hammock, tree islands, and cypress domes) that differ greatly in terms of canopy species diversity, susceptibility to wind damage, and recovery patterns. I explored changes in community composition and the response of communities dominated by single species compared to that of more diverse communities.…”

Section: Iii3: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Responses of Four Non-tidal Forest Communities of the Florida Everglades to Hurricane Impact over 21 Years

May¹

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The regular occurrence of hurricane-associated winds has been an important factor in shaping the structure and composition of the forest ecosystems of the Florida Everglades. Forest communities in the Everglades are adapted to hurricane disturbances, but increased frequency and/or intensity of hurricanes may lead to decline or even collapse of these communities. The overall objective of this project is to understand the patterns, pace, and mechanisms of the recovery process to Hurricane Andrew damage in four Everglade forest communities: pinelands, hardwood hammocks, bayhead tree islands, and cypress domes. This study combines long-and short-term field measurements and experimental garden studies to determine how the four woody plant community types recover from hurricane impacts. Most of the community types were adversely affected by storm damage in the short-term (3 years post-hurricane) through altered growth rates and canopy defoliation, however these effects were relatively short vii lived and were not visible in shifts in species composition after the long-term (20 year) recovery period. Only in the most diverse communities over the long-term there was a delayed mortality in damaged individuals that drove a diversity loss. This loss was not present over the short-term recovery time period. Using individual damage extent and short-term recovery growth rates, I developed a simplified model that accurately predicted surviving individual stem size over long-term recovery periods of Taxodium distichum within cypress domes and select hardwood hammock species. The shadehouse experiments demonstrated the importance of nutrient availability to growth of seedlings of canopy dominants. Recruits of these species responded to changing environmental conditions associated with storm impact through a variety of strategies in accordance with their adaptive traits. Synergistically, the combined parts of this dissertation demonstrate directional community and species-specific shifts that vary over time scales.Storm impacts have the potential to alter community composition and diversity within impacted systems, and in particular the Everglades ecosystem.viii Taxodium distichum dominate cypress dome communities because they are able to establish in and tolerate long hydroperiods that exclude other woody species (Duever et al. 1986).Cypress dome communities are dominated by a single species (Taxodium distichum var. nutans) and are relatively resistant to the damaging effects of hurricanes, with mortality of damaged trees being relatively low , Noel et al. 1995.Non-canopy species such as epiphytes are shown to be highly damaged from hurricanes but their communities recover (Oberbauer et al. 1996). Large trees are more likely to be damaged as a result of storm impacts. (Whelan 1997). Toppling of tall trees in cypress domes can be beneficial to the community because it allows for regeneration of the canopy by new recruits (Duever et al. 1986).Pineland communities in the Everglades are dominated by a single species (Pinus elliott...

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The effects of a hurricane on seedling dynamics and abiotic interactions in a tropical lower montane wet forest

Cited by 8 publications

References 23 publications

Density‐dependent Survival in Seedlings Differs among Woody Life‐forms in Tropical Wet Forests of a Caribbean Island

Density‐dependent Survival in Seedlings Differs among Woody Life‐forms in Tropical Wet Forests of a Caribbean Island

Short‐term Dynamics and the Effects of Biotic and Abiotic Factors on Plant Physiognomic Groups in a Hurricane‐impacted Lower Montane Tropical Forest

Responses of Four Non-tidal Forest Communities of the Florida Everglades to Hurricane Impact over 21 Years

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