Dallmeier, F.;Kabel, M.;Foster, R. B.;Wilson, D. E.;Sandoval, A.
Floristic composition, diversity, mortality and recruitment on different substrates: Lowland tropical forest, Pakitza, Rio Manu, Peru
Manu: The biodiversity of southeastern Peru
1997
Book Section
61-88
Smithsonian Institution and Editorial Horizonte
Lima
Parque Nacional del Manu Pakitza plants trees inventories floristic composition small spatial scales diversity mortality recruitment long-term monitoring ecology habitat heterogeneity Madre de Dios Bibliography
Monitoring biological composition is a basic step in determining the forces that shape and change ecosystem equilibrium. At its research sites in Latin America and the southeastern United States, the Smithsonian Institution/Man and the Biosphere Biological Diversity Program (SI/MAB) is engaged in long-term monitoring of many aspects of tropical and temperate forest ecosystems. The goal is to understand more about forest dynamics and thus aid in making sound decisions regarding conservation and use of forest ecosystems. SI/MAB's research plots in the upper Amazon lowland forest at Pakitza in the Manu Biosphere Reserve, Peru, were among the first established, and they continue to provide data essential to the goal of the program. This paper summarizes information from the Pakitza study plots related to floristic composition, diversity, mortality and recruitment: important keys to knowledge about ecosystem change. The data clearly show that monitoring, conducted over three to five year intervals, yield detailed data that are useful in understanding differences in composition and dynamics between habitats in the Manu ecosystem.