10.5061/DRYAD.M2471
García León, María M.
Marquette University
Martínez Izquierdo, Laura
Marquette University
Mello, Felipe Nery Arantes
Marquette University
Powers, Jennifer S.
University of Minnesota
Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute
Schnitzer, Stefan A.
Marquette University
Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute
Data from: Lianas reduce community-level canopy tree reproduction in a
Panamanian forest
Dryad
dataset
2018
liana cutting
dispersal limitation
Tropical forests
National Science Foundation
https://ror.org/021nxhr62
NSF DEB-1019441, NSF-DEB 0845071, NSF-DEB 1019436, NSF-IOS 1558093
2018-04-28T00:00:00Z
2018-04-28T00:00:00Z
en
https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2745.12807
2633 bytes
1
CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication
Lianas are a key component of tropical forests, where they compete
intensely with trees, reducing tree recruitment, growth and survival. One
of the most important potential outcomes of liana competition is the
reduction of tree reproduction; however, no previous study has
experimentally determined the effects of lianas on tree reproduction
beyond a single tree species. We used a large-scale liana removal
experiment to quantify the effect of lianas on community-level canopy and
understorey tree and palm reproduction. In 2011, we removed lianas from
eight 6,400-m2 plots (eight plots served as controls) and surveyed
understorey tree reproduction in 2012, canopy tree and palm reproduction
in 2013, and a second census of all plants in 2016. We found that lianas
significantly reduced canopy tree community flowering and fruiting after
liana removal. Two years after liana removal, the number of canopy trees
with fruits was 173% higher, fruiting individuals had 50% more of their
canopy covered by fruits and the number of tree species with fruits was
169% higher than in control plots where lianas were present. Five years
after liana removal, the number of canopy trees with fruits was 150%
higher, fruiting individuals had 31% more of their canopy covered by
fruits and the number of tree species with fruits was 109% higher than in
unmanipulated control plots. Liana removal had only a slight positive
effect on palms and on understorey tree flower and fruit production, even
though understorey light levels had increased 20% following liana cutting.
Synthesis. Our findings provide the first experimental demonstration that
competition from lianas significantly reduces community-level canopy tree
reproduction. Reduced reproduction increases canopy tree seed and
dispersal limitations, and may interfere with deterministic mechanisms
thought to maintain tropical canopy tree species diversity, as well as
reduce food availability to many animal species. Because lianas are
increasing in abundance in many neotropical forests, the effects of lianas
on tree reproduction will likely increase, and if the effects of lianas on
tree reproduction vary with tree species identity, lianas ultimately could
have a destabilizing effect on both tree and animal population dynamics.
Canopy_Data_FINALCanopy tree reproduction data per plot in 8 liana-removal
and 8 control plots (with lianas present) on Gigante Peninsula, Panama.
There are 9 columns: plot number, treatment, year sampled, proportion of
canopy covered by flowers, proportion of canopy covered by fruits, number
of individuals with flowers, number of individuals with fruits, number of
species with flowers, number of species with
fruits.Understorydata_Data_FINALUnderstory plant reproduction data per
plot in 8 liana-removal and 8 control plots (with lianas present) on
Gigante Peninsula, Panama. There are 9 columns: plot number, treatment,
year sampled, mean number of flowers per understory plant, mean number of
fruits per understory plant, number of individuals with flowers, number of
individuals with fruits, number of species with flowers, number of species
with fruits.palm_data_FINALUnderstory plant reproduction data per plot in
8 liana-removal and 8 control plots (with lianas present) on Gigante
Peninsula, Panama. There are 5 columns: plot number, treatment, year
sampled, mean number of flower clusters per palm, mean number of fruit
clusters per palm.
Panama
tropics
neotropics