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Relationships between soil hydrology and forest structure and composition in the southern Brazilian Amazon.
- Source :
-
Journal of Vegetation Science . Apr2007, Vol. 18 Issue 2, p183-194. 12p. 1 Color Photograph, 6 Charts, 3 Graphs, 1 Map. - Publication Year :
- 2007
-
Abstract
- Question: Is soil hydrology an important niche-based driver of biodiversity in tropical forests? More specifically, we asked whether seasonal dynamics in soil water regime contributed to vegetation partitioning into distinct forest types. Location: Tropical rain forest in northwestern Mato Grosso, Brazil. Methods: We investigated the distribution of trees and lianas ≥ 1 cm DBH in ten transects that crossed distinct hydrological transitions. Soil water content and depth to water table were measured regularly over a 13-month period. Results: A detrended correspondence analysis (DCA) of 20 dominant species and structural attributes in 10 × 10 m subplots segregated three major forest types: (1) high-statured upland forest with intermediate stem density, (2) medium-statured forest dominated by palms, and (3) low-statured campinarana forest with high stem density. During the rainy season and transition into the dry season, distinct characteristics of the soil water regime (i.e. hydro-indicators) were closely associated with each vegetation community. Stand structural attributes and hydro-indicators were statistically different among forest types. Conclusions: Some upland species appeared intolerant of anaerobic conditions as they were not present in palm and campinarana sites, which experienced prolonged periods of sturation at the soil surface. A shallow impermeable layer restricted rooting depth in the campinarana community, which could heighten drought stress during the dry season. The only vegetation able to persist in campinarana sites were short-statured trees that appear to be well-adapted to the dual extremes of inundation and drought. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 11009233
- Volume :
- 18
- Issue :
- 2
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Journal of Vegetation Science
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 24828516
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1654-1103.2007.tb02529.x