Phillips, O. L.;Hall, P.;Gentry, A. H.;Sawyer, S. A.;Vasquez, R.
Dynamics and species richness of tropical rain-forests
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
1994
Journal Article
91
7
2805-2809
Parque Nacional del Manu diversity turnover disturbance productivity mortality patterns gaps recruitment energy growth large spatial scales long-term monitoring plants trees inventories Reserva Nacional Tambopata climate seasonality aboveground biomass Madre de Dios Bibliography
We present a worldwide analysis of humid tropical forest dynamics and tree species richness. New tree mortality, recruitment, and species richness data include the most dynamic and diverse mature tropical forests known. Twenty-five sites show a strong tendency for the most species-rich forests to be dynamic and aseasonal. Mean annual tree mortality and recruitment-turnover-is the most predictive factor of species richness, implying that small-scale disturbance helps regulate tropical forest diversity. Turnover rates are also closely related to the amount of basal area turnover in mature tropical forests. Therefore the contribution of small-scale disturbance to maintaining tropical forest diversity may ultimately be driven by ecosystem productivity.