Climbing aroids in a Panamanian lowland forest: We should reconsider our categories

IF 2.2 3区环境科学与生态学 Q2 ECOLOGY

Journal of Vegetation Science Pub Date : 2024-03-10 DOI:10.1111/jvs.13246

Helena Julia Regina Einzmann, Letizia Weichgrebe, Juliane Kohlstruck, Gerhard Zotz

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Abstract

Background

In contrast to woody climbers, information on community composition or vertical extension within the forest is scarce for herbaceous climbers, even in well-studied field sites like Barro Colorado Island. Moreover, questions regarding ontogenetic patterns (site of germination, changes in root/shoot connection with the soil) are unresolved because of a lack of field data.

Location

Barro Colorado Island, Panama.

Methods

In 17 plots of 400 m² each, which were distributed all over the island, we recorded all potential hosts (trees, palms, lianas) with a diameter at breast height larger than 1 cm, and all climbing aroids attached to them. For aroids, we recorded species identity, number of shoots, root connections to the ground, and vertical shoot extension. By distinguishing three size classes for each species in our analyses we deduced the site of germination and ontogenetic changes in the root/shoot connection with the soil.

Results

Only 16% of all potential hosts were occupied by climbing aroids. We recorded 1196 individuals of 17 species. Aroids preferred larger trees and old-growth forest. Species differed strongly in vertical distribution. Hemiepiphytic species germinate epiphytically, often high up in tree crowns and later establish root contact with the soil, while the majority of species establish on or close to the ground and reach moderate heights of 5–15 m (forest height ca. 35 m). In all of these species, we observed dieback of the proximal portion of the shoot to a varying extent but contact with the soil was invariably retained via adventitious roots.

Conclusions

We provide rare quantitative data on species richness and abundance of herbaceous climbers in a tropical lowland forest. Few species fall neatly into the categories of vines, nomadic vines and hemiepiphytes. This highlights the need for longitudinal observational and experimental studies to resolve the current debate on the appropriate grouping of these climbers.

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巴拿马低地森林中的攀缘植物：我们应该重新考虑我们的分类

背景与木本攀援植物相比，草本攀援植物在森林中的群落组成或垂直延伸方面的信息很少，即使是在巴罗科罗拉多岛这样经过充分研究的野外地点也是如此。此外，由于缺乏实地数据，有关本体发生模式（发芽地点、根/芽与土壤连接的变化）的问题也没有得到解决。地点巴拿马巴罗科罗拉多岛。方法在分布于全岛的 17 块每块 400 平方米的土地上，我们记录了胸径大于 1 厘米的所有潜在寄主（树木、棕榈树、藤本植物），以及附着在这些寄主上的所有攀援藤本植物。对于攀缘植物，我们记录了其物种特征、枝条数量、根部与地面的连接情况以及枝条的垂直伸展情况。通过在分析中区分每个物种的三个大小等级，我们推断出了根/芽与土壤连接的发芽部位和本体变化。结果只有16%的潜在寄主被攀援藤本植物占据。我们记录了 17 个物种的 1196 个个体。攀缘植物喜欢较大的树木和古老的森林。物种的垂直分布差异很大。半附生物种通常在树冠的高处附生发芽，随后根部与土壤接触，而大多数物种则在地面或靠近地面的地方发芽，高度在 5-15 米之间（森林高度约为 35 米）。在所有这些树种中，我们都观察到了不同程度的嫩枝近端枯死现象，但与土壤的接触总是通过不定根进行的。结论我们提供了热带低地森林中草本攀援植物物种丰富度和丰度的罕见定量数据。很少有物种能完全归类为藤本植物、游牧藤本植物和半附生植物。这凸显了进行纵向观察和实验研究的必要性，以解决目前对这些攀援植物进行适当分类的争论。

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来源期刊

Journal of Vegetation Science 环境科学-林学

CiteScore

6.00

自引率

3.60%

发文量

审稿时长

2 months

期刊介绍： The Journal of Vegetation Science publishes papers on all aspects of plant community ecology, with particular emphasis on papers that develop new concepts or methods, test theory, identify general patterns, or that are otherwise likely to interest a broad international readership. Papers may focus on any aspect of vegetation science, e.g. community structure (including community assembly and plant functional types), biodiversity (including species richness and composition), spatial patterns (including plant geography and landscape ecology), temporal changes (including demography, community dynamics and palaeoecology) and processes (including ecophysiology), provided the focus is on increasing our understanding of plant communities. The Journal publishes papers on the ecology of a single species only if it plays a key role in structuring plant communities. Papers that apply ecological concepts, theories and methods to the vegetation management, conservation and restoration, and papers on vegetation survey should be directed to our associate journal, Applied Vegetation Science journal.