Conspecific density dependence in seedlings varies with species shade tolerance in a wet tropical forest.
Ecol Lett
; 14(5): 503-10, 2011 May.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-21429063
ABSTRACT
Density-dependent seedling mortality could increase with a species relative abundance, thereby promoting species coexistence. Differences among species in light-dependent mortality also could enhance coexistence via resource partitioning. These compatible ideas rarely have been considered simultaneously. We developed models of mortality as functions of irradiance and local conspecific density (LCD) for seedlings of 53 tropical woody species. Species varied in mortality responses to these factors, but mortality consistently increased with shading and LCD. Across species, density-dependent mortality on a per-neighbour basis was inversely related to species community abundance, but higher LCD in more common species resulted in a weak relationship between species abundance and density-dependent mortality scaled to species maximum LCD. Species mortality responses to shading and maximum LCD were strongly and positively correlated. Our results suggest that species differences in density-dependent mortality are more strongly related to physiologically based life-history traits than biotic feedbacks related to community abundance.
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Árvores
/
Clima Tropical
/
Plântula
/
Luz
/
Modelos Biológicos
Tipo de estudo:
Prognostic_studies
País/Região como assunto:
America central
/
Costa rica
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2011
Tipo de documento:
Article