Gap edge attributes in Neotropical rainforest, Ecuador
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| Format: | Artículo científico |
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Universidad de Costa Rica
2018
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| _version_ | 1876477155414638592 |
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| author | Álvaro Cañadas López |
| author_facet | Álvaro Cañadas López |
| contents | Gap edge attributes in Neotropical rainforest, Ecuador Álvaro Cañadas López Diana Rade Loor Joffre Andrade Candell José Ciro Hernández-Díaz Carlos Molina Hidrovo Marcos Zambrano Zambrano Christian Wehenkel Biología gap size species mingling Gini evenness index size differentiation Agglomerative approach The application of gap dynamics theory appears to be a promising option for tropical forest management and conservation. In the present study of a tree species-rich and old-growth Ecuadorian Neotropical forest, we assessed the spatial distribution of gaps and gap size in relation to: i) tree number at the gap edge, ii) number of tree species at the gap edge, iii) number of tree species per stem at the gap edge, iv) species similarity, v) species evenness at the gap edge, vi) size differentiation at the gap edge, vii) gap isolation and viii) species mingling at the gap edge. Our results demonstrated that the spatial distribution of gaps was random. Various gap attributes were strongly associated with gap size. The number of tree species per stem at the gap edge was negatively correlated to the gap size. Gap sizes up to 50 m2were mostly sufficient to generate tree species-rich forest stands. Assuming that our results were representative for an old-growth neotropical rainforest in Ecuador, our study remarks the following management recommendations: 1) Rainforests have a very complex spatial and diversity structure and logging activities should preferably be omitted because of adverse effects. 2) If logging is inevitable, this should mimic a random choice of trees and tree species, to prevent special selection of tree dimension and species; and a random distribution of trees to be logged, to produce gaps smaller than 50 m2and never larger than 400 m2. Additionally, we suggest cutting not more than 5 % of the tree biomass per 10-20 years period, to preclude stronger alterations of ecosystem processes, and the reduction of existing dead wood from the ecosystem. Rev. Biol. Trop. 66(1): 149-163. Epub 2018 March 01. 2018 artículo científico 0034-7744 https://www.redalyc.org/articulo.oa?id=44955366012 https://www.redalyc.org/journal/449/44955366012/ https://www.redalyc.org/journal/449/44955366012/html/ https://www.redalyc.org/journal/449/44955366012/44955366012.epub https://www.redalyc.org/journal/449/44955366012/movil 10.15517/rbt.v66i1.27612 en http://www.redalyc.org/revista.oa?id=449 Revista de Biología Tropical application/pdf Universidad de Costa Rica Revista de Biología Tropical (Costa Rica) Num.1 Vol.66 |
| format | Artículo científico |
| id | redalyc_44955366012 |
| institution | Redalyc |
| language | en |
| publishDate | 2018 |
| publisher | Universidad de Costa Rica |
| spellingShingle | Gap edge attributes in Neotropical rainforest, Ecuador Álvaro Cañadas López Biología gap size species mingling Gini evenness index size differentiation Agglomerative approach Gap edge attributes in Neotropical rainforest, Ecuador Álvaro Cañadas López Diana Rade Loor Joffre Andrade Candell José Ciro Hernández-Díaz Carlos Molina Hidrovo Marcos Zambrano Zambrano Christian Wehenkel Biología gap size species mingling Gini evenness index size differentiation Agglomerative approach The application of gap dynamics theory appears to be a promising option for tropical forest management and conservation. In the present study of a tree species-rich and old-growth Ecuadorian Neotropical forest, we assessed the spatial distribution of gaps and gap size in relation to: i) tree number at the gap edge, ii) number of tree species at the gap edge, iii) number of tree species per stem at the gap edge, iv) species similarity, v) species evenness at the gap edge, vi) size differentiation at the gap edge, vii) gap isolation and viii) species mingling at the gap edge. Our results demonstrated that the spatial distribution of gaps was random. Various gap attributes were strongly associated with gap size. The number of tree species per stem at the gap edge was negatively correlated to the gap size. Gap sizes up to 50 m2were mostly sufficient to generate tree species-rich forest stands. Assuming that our results were representative for an old-growth neotropical rainforest in Ecuador, our study remarks the following management recommendations: 1) Rainforests have a very complex spatial and diversity structure and logging activities should preferably be omitted because of adverse effects. 2) If logging is inevitable, this should mimic a random choice of trees and tree species, to prevent special selection of tree dimension and species; and a random distribution of trees to be logged, to produce gaps smaller than 50 m2and never larger than 400 m2. Additionally, we suggest cutting not more than 5 % of the tree biomass per 10-20 years period, to preclude stronger alterations of ecosystem processes, and the reduction of existing dead wood from the ecosystem. Rev. Biol. Trop. 66(1): 149-163. Epub 2018 March 01. 2018 artículo científico 0034-7744 https://www.redalyc.org/articulo.oa?id=44955366012 https://www.redalyc.org/journal/449/44955366012/ https://www.redalyc.org/journal/449/44955366012/html/ https://www.redalyc.org/journal/449/44955366012/44955366012.epub https://www.redalyc.org/journal/449/44955366012/movil 10.15517/rbt.v66i1.27612 en http://www.redalyc.org/revista.oa?id=449 Revista de Biología Tropical application/pdf Universidad de Costa Rica Revista de Biología Tropical (Costa Rica) Num.1 Vol.66 |
| title | Gap edge attributes in Neotropical rainforest, Ecuador |
| topic | Biología gap size species mingling Gini evenness index size differentiation Agglomerative approach |
| url | https://www.redalyc.org/articulo.oa?id=44955366012 https://www.redalyc.org/journal/449/44955366012/ https://www.redalyc.org/journal/449/44955366012/html/ https://www.redalyc.org/journal/449/44955366012/44955366012.epub https://www.redalyc.org/journal/449/44955366012/movil |