The estimation of temporal processes in tropical rain forest: a study of primary mixed dipterocarp forest in Indonesia

Abstract

In the absence of growth rings it is difficult to give a precise time scale for processes associated with the re-establishment of tropical rain forest. This paper explores other methods by which a time scale may be constructed. The proportions of primary and secondary species, an index of similarity, biomass measurements, girth dimensions and gap size are all considered from sites in East Kalimantan, Indonesia. Data from primary, secondary and experimentally cleared forest sites are compared to estimate the minimum time required for various phases involved in the re-establishment of tropical rain forest after disturbance. A simple model is proposed to accommodate the data and other estimates in the literature. The model predicts a minimum period for the stablization of secondary species numbers as 60–70 years and the replacement of primary species as 150 years at which point gap formation is initiated. After approximately 220–250 years biomass stabilizes while individual trees exist for over 500 years.

Regeneration and growth of pioneer and shade‐tolerant rain forest trees in Tonga

“…According to Swaine & Whitmore (1988), it can be assumed that pioneer trees (e.g., Group D) that attain large maximum size are longer-lived than those that never get big. However, while it is known that some pioneers are short lived (30-70 yr; e.g., Macaranga (Riswan et al 1985)), and it is often assumed that pioneers have high growth rates, it is not actually known if the large pioneers in this study (Rhus, Alphitonia) are shorter-lived than the large non-pioneers. Lieberman et al (1985) estimated longevity based on measured growth rates and maximum dbh and did conclude that comparably sized pioneer trees were shorter lived (80-150 yr) than non-pioneers (130-440 yr).…”

Changes in diversity along a successional gradient in a Costa Rican upper montane Quercus forest

“…In order to follow this recovery process in a more detailed manner we propose to monitor the secondary forest plots sampled in the present study. In studies of biomass recovery after clearing Riswan et al (1985) and Saldarriaga (1985;Saldarriaga et af., 1988) estimate that periods of 100 to 200 years are needed as the minimum time required for tropical lowland forest to recover. In this study only data on floristic composition were used in order to estimate the minimum time of recovery.…”

Structure and floristics of an old secondary rain forest in Central Kalimantan, Indonesia, and a comparison with adjacent primary forest

“…As succession proceeds, it would be expected that secondary forests will continue to increase in their similarity to primary forests until, after a certain amount of time, they are indistinguishable. The time taken for succession from forest clearance to forest resembling primary rain forest has been variously estimated at 50 years (Kochummen, 1966), 50-80 years (Brown and Lugo, 1990), 73 years (Hughes et al, 1999), 150-200 years (Richards, 1952;Knight, 1975), 150-500 years (Riswan et al, 1985), 250-500 years (Kartawinata, 1994) and 'centuries' (Whitmore, 1991). The main problem with most of these estimates is that they are based on extrapolations of data for biomass increase and species accretion up to around 50 years of age.…”