10.5061/DRYAD.CRJDFN35T
Addo-Fordjour, Patrick
0000-0001-5102-2961
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology
Edge disturbance shapes liana diversity and abundance but not liana-tree
interaction network patterns in moist semi-deciduous forests, Ghana
Dryad
dataset
2022
FOS: Biological sciences
2023-01-24T00:00:00Z
2023-01-24T00:00:00Z
en
22087 bytes
1
CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication
Edge disturbance can drive liana community changes and alter liana-tree
interaction networks, with ramifications for forest functioning.
Understanding edge effects on liana community structure and liana-tree
interactions is therefore essential for forest management and
conservation. We evaluated the response of liana community structure and
the patterns of liana-tree interaction structure to forest edge in two
moist semi-deciduous forests in Ghana (Asenanyo and Suhuma Forest
Reserves: AFR and SFR, respectively). Liana community structure and
liana-tree interactions were assessed in 24 50 × 50 m randomly located
plots in three forest sites in each forest: edge, interior and
deep-interior established at 0-50 m, 200 m and 400 m from edge. Edge
effects positively and negatively influenced liana diversity in forest
edges of AFR and SFR, respectively. There was a positive influence of edge
disturbance on liana abundance in both forests. We observed anti-nested
structure in all the liana-tree networks in AFR, while no nestedness was
observed in the networks in SFR. The networks in both forests were less
connected, and thus more modular and specialised than their null models.
Many liana and tree species were specialised, with specialisation tending
to be symmetrical. The plant species played different roles in relation to
modularity. Most of the species acted as peripherals (specialists), with
only a few species having structural importance to the networks. The
latter species group consisted of connectors (generalists) and hubs
(highly connected generalists). Some of the species showed consistency in
their roles across the sites, while the roles of other species changed.
Generally, liana species co-occurred randomly on tree species in all the
forest sites, except edge site in AFR where lianas showed positive
co-occurrence. Our findings deepen our understanding of the response of
liana communities and liana-tree interactions to forest edge disturbance,
which are useful for managing forest edge.