海南橡胶林植物多样性特征

为探讨人工林物种多样性维持机制及人为干扰后人工林群落的多样性恢复机制, 作者依据自然林的核心理论建立了一个1 ha的橡胶(Hevea brasiliensis)林固定样地, 通过研究近自然管理后样地内植物物种组成与分布来探讨近自然管理后橡胶林生物多样性的特征。结果表明: 近自然管理后橡胶林群落物种多样性较高, 1 ha样地内共有植物69科155属183种。在面积为4,000 m²、3,000 m²和2,000 m²时分别包含了样地内大约90%的种、属和科; 逻辑斯蒂模型拟合拟合种-面积曲线效果较好(R²=0.997), 证明了1 ha取样尺度可以满足橡胶林群落物种多样性研究的需要。多度-面积曲线和丰富度-面积曲线与随机分布模型有明显的差异, 表明橡胶林群落内个体数及物种分布呈非随机性。(4)对数级数模型和对数正态模型拟合橡胶林群落的种-多度分布都不理想, 相比而言后者拟合效果稍好。     

塔里木荒漠河岸林灰胡杨群落最小面积确定与研究方法比较

荒漠河岸林是塔里木极端干旱区唯一的森林群落类型,群落结构组成简单。我们采用种-面积曲线、群落系数-面积曲线与重要值-面积曲线3种方法对塔里木河上游荒漠河岸林灰胡杨（Populus pruinosa Schrenk）群落最小面积进行研究。结果显示,4种饱和种-面积曲线的拟合效果差异明显,S=aA/（1+bA）和S=a（1-e^-bA）模型拟合的相关系数较高（P < 0.01）,拟合效果优于其它2种模型。当取样面积为100 m²时,可包括群落60%~80%的物种数,取样面积为200 m²时,则可包括群落90%的物种数。群落系数-面积曲线与重要值-面积曲线2种方法确定的群落最小面积均为400 m²,二者克服了种-面积曲线仅关注物种出现与否和饱和种的估算问题,拟合结果更符合实际情况,更适用于塔里木荒漠河岸林最小取样面积的确定。本研究结果表明荒漠河岸林包括60%、80%、90%群落物种的临界抽样面积分别为100 m²、200 m²和400 m ²,可以满足不同研究精度的要求;塔里木河上游荒漠河岸林灰胡杨群落学调查的最适取样面积是400 m²。     

格氏栲天然林林窗植物物种多样性与系统发育多样性

林窗环境异质性导致群落物种多样性与系统发育多样性(phylogenetic diversity, PD)存在差异, 研究不同大小的林窗中群落的物种多样性与系统发育多样性有助于揭示林下生物多样性的形成及维持机制。本文以格氏栲(Castanopsis kawakamii)天然林为研究对象, 通过Pearson相关性分析与广义线性模型探讨了林窗内物种多样性与系统发育多样性间的相互关系及其环境影响因素。结果表明: (1)大林窗(面积 > 200 m²)植物种类及多度均高于中林窗(50 m² ≤ 面积 < 100 m²)、小林窗(30 m² ≤ 面积 < 50 m²)和非林窗(面积 = 100 m²)。大林窗群落系统发育结构趋于发散, 中、小林窗和非林窗群落系统发育结构受到生境过滤和竞争排斥综合作用。(2)群落系统发育多样性指数与物种丰富度(species richness, SR)、Margalef丰富度指数和Shannon-Wiener指数均呈显著正相关, 这与林窗内稀有种种类组成多于优势种有关。(3)林窗面积对物种多样性存在显著正效应; 土壤全氮含量对系统发育多样性和系统发育结构存在显著正效应。林窗形成提高了格氏栲天然林群落物种多样性和系统发育多样性, 林窗面积与土壤全氮共同驱动了格氏栲天然林林窗物种多样性和系统发育多样性的变化。     

海南尖峰岭热带山地雨林林冠层树种功能多样性特征

以海南尖峰岭热带山地雨林3块1 hm²样地为研究对象,利用11个林冠功能性状结合样地地形及林冠乔木树种样地清查数据,分别基于单维性状和多维性状比较物种多度加权对群落功能离散度指数——平均成对距离(MPD)和平均最近类群距离(MNTD)的影响;同时分析林冠层功能丰富度(FRic)与物种丰富度之间的关系,最后利用零模型探讨不同生境类型下标准化效应MPD和MNTD(经过物种多度加权且剔除群落物种丰富度差异影响)的变化,进而评价林冠层群落水平功能多样性格局及其对局域生境异质性的响应.结果表明: 功能性状维度和物种多度对MPD的影响强烈,不同维度功能性状多度加权前后MPD相关性较弱(R=0.359～0.628);但对MNTD的影响相对较弱,不同维度功能性状多度加权前后MNTD相关性较强(R=0.746～0.820);未经物种多度加权的MPD和MNTD均普遍高估了林冠层的功能离散度.林冠层功能丰富度与物种丰富度基本呈指数相关关系(F=128.20;R²=0.632;AIC=97.72;P＜0.001),且功能丰富度很有可能存在一定的物种丰富度阈值.基于不同维度功能性状的林冠层功能多样性格局及其生境响应存在一定的差异性.在生物竞争激烈的低沟生境中,林冠层功能多样性倾向于比预期零模型随机产生的功能多样性高,林冠树种功能性状表现出离散分布;而在其他生境类型中,林冠层功能多样性倾向于接近或低于随机产生的功能多样性,林冠树种功能性状随机或聚集分布.     

东北阔叶红松林地表葬甲群落多样性及其空间变异特征

为了探明我国东北阔叶红松(Pinus koraiensis)林地表葬甲多样性及其空间变异特征,在胜山、丰林、凉水和长白山的4个大型森林动态监测样地内,通过布置900个陷阱调查了36 hm²范围内的地表葬甲群落基本特征。基于群落物种数量、个体数量和总体长,分析了地表葬甲多样性及其空间变异性。结果表明：(1)东北阔叶红松林区域物种库包含12个葬甲物种,密度为0.018只/m²,总平均体长达0.32 mm/m²。北方花葬甲(Nicrophorus tenuipes)是东北阔叶红松林内的广布物种,黑葬甲(Nicrophorus concolor)等五个物种具有明显的生境偏好,仅存在于单个局域物种库内。(2)物种数量、个体数量和总体长在胜山、丰林、凉水和长白山样地存在明显差异,其中纬度较低的局域物种库(凉水、长白山)可维持更高的物种多样性,纬度最高的局域物种库(胜山)维持较低的物种多样性。(3)地表葬甲群落在胜山和丰林样地存在显著的空间自相关性,在凉水和长白山样地则不显著。(4)葬甲群落具有较明显的空间异质性,长白山样地的空间变异...     

尖峰岭热带山地雨林海南特有木本植物群落结构

以海南尖峰岭4.8 hm ²的热带山地雨林原始林为研究对象, 分析了群落内海南特有乔、灌木植物(以下简称特有种)的物种组成、特有种种群的多度和径级结构特点, 分析了保留和剔除特有种对群落物种多样性指数的影响。结果表明, 在4.8 hm ²样地中, 共记录了胸径≥1.0 cm的个体36481株, 隶属于65科134属247种; 其中, 24种为特有种, 占样地内总种数的9.7%; 大多数特有种多度较小, 在群落发展中居从属地位。多数特有种对生境具有选择性, 分布区域相对狭窄, 种实以动物传播型为主。剔除特有种后, 导致群落的Margalef丰富度指数和Shannon-Wiener多样性指数极显著下降(p < 0.01), 对Simpson和Pielou均匀度指数影响不显著。由此可见, 特有种不仅对维持尖峰岭山地热带山地雨林的物种多样性具有重要的意义, 也具有较高的科学研究价值。     

林冠结构和地形对亚热带常绿落叶阔叶林林下幼苗物种多样性和功能多样性的影响

森林结构和地形是森林生态系统最明显的特点,也是影响林下幼苗存活和物种多样性的关键因子。该研究采用半球面摄影方法提取八大公山生长监测样地（共1.2 hm²）林冠结构参数,通过调查地表层木本植物幼苗的组成和多度,获取常见植物幼苗叶片功能性状,结合详细的地形信息,利用空间同步自回归模型探究林冠结构变量及地形因子对幼苗物种多样性及功能多样性的影响。结果表明：（1）八大公山亚热带山地常绿落叶阔叶林林冠结构复杂度较高,最大林冠高的平均值达到19.94 m,叶面积指数、平均叶倾角和林冠覆盖度分别为2.94、30.88°和0.87;（2）林冠结构变量和地形因子能够解释32.6%~48.4%的林下幼苗物种多样性指数变异和28.5%~70.2%的功能多样性变异,但地形因子对幼苗物种多样性的影响很小;（3）预测在亚热带常绿落叶阔叶林高海拔的山坡上,有较低的叶面积指数和平均叶倾角群落有较高的幼苗物种多样性;而在低海拔山脊上,较低的叶面积指数和平均叶倾角群落林下幼苗层有较高的功能多样性。此结果对科研人员和林业工作者开展野外森林更新情况评估和样方调查将有所帮助。     

鼎湖山南亚热带常绿阔叶林群落垂直结构及其物种多样性特征

群落结构在森林生态系统中具有重要作用, 其构建机制一直是森林生态学的研究核心。群落结构不仅包括水平方向上的物种分布格局, 还包括垂直方向上的物种分层结构。本文基于鼎湖山南亚热带常绿阔叶林塔吊样地, 利用林冠塔吊和测高杆精准测量样地内每个个体(胸径大于1 cm)的树高, 并划分群落的垂直层次, 研究了每层的群落多样性特征(α多样性)和林层间的群落多样性变化特征(β多样性)。结果表明: (1)样地群落垂直层次由下至上分为5层: 灌木层、亚冠层、林冠下层、林冠中层和林冠上层。(2)随林层向上, 物种丰富度、多度和Shannon-Wiener指数均下降, Pielou均匀度指数在林冠下层最大。(3)利用POD法计算并分解β多样性, 发现随林层向上, β多样性在灌木层与其他各层间呈递增趋势, 在相邻林层间呈单峰型, 不同林层间的物种组成差异主要由丰富度差异造成。 但在林冠下层与林冠中层间丰富度差异较小, 物种替换组分增大, 可能与林冠下层所处特殊位置有关。(4)各林层内微环境从灌木层向上, 趋于高温、强光照和低空气相对湿度, 但林冠下层平均日光强最低。综上, 鼎湖山南亚热带常绿阔叶林林冠下层可能存在强烈的环境筛选作用, 且光照可能是影响群落垂直结构形成的限制因子。     

塔河源荒漠河岸林群落物种组成、结构与植物区系特征

为了更好地了解荒漠河岸林植被动态与生物多样性维持机制,于塔里木河干流源头荒漠河岸林内建立6个1 hm²样地,对群落物种组成、数量特征和空间格局等进行综合分析。结果表明,塔河源荒漠河岸林群落结构简单、物种多样性低,共有物种12科15属16种,杨柳科重要值最大（28.97%）,是群落优势建群科。取样面积在0.04 hm²时,包括了87.5%的物种;样地内稀有种和偶见种均占所有物种的12.5%。植物区系贫乏,单种科、属多,温带成分占绝对优势,古地中海成分也占有重要地位,具典型温带区系性质。样地内DBH ≥ 1 cm的活木本个体有2497株,灰胡杨多度占92.95%,胸高断面积和重要值最大,在群落中占绝对优势地位。群落内科、属、种的数量随植株高度级的增加而减少,垂直结构层次分明,由乔木层、灌木层和草本层构成。样地内所有树种平均胸径15.57 cm,径级与高度级结构均呈偏正态分布,缺乏高度≤ 2 m的个体,群落更新不良。优势种灰胡杨、胡杨径级结构均呈单峰型,其中胡杨幼树出现断层,灰胡杨幼苗向幼树发展过程中死亡率极高（92.56%）,均为衰退型种群。两个优势种空间格局呈聚集分布,不同生境下随径级增大空间分布格局变化不同;且两个优势种在空间上相互排斥而占据不同生境,暗示着种间竞争与生境异质性是影响荒漠河岸林物种空间分布格局和物种共存的重要因素。     

吉林省蛟河市针阔混交林林层结构与地形的关系

探讨不同林层群落结构动态及其与地形因子之间的关系,为群落结构优化和可持续经营管理提供理论支持。基于吉林蛟河30 hm²针阔混交林固定监测样地的野外调查数据,以2010和2015年胸径（DBH）≥1 cm的木本植物为研究对象,分析了不同林层物种组成、林分密度、群落结构多样性差异及其5年间的动态变化,利用偏相关分析研究了不同林层群落结构特征和地形因子的关系。结果表明：（1）林下层物种丰富度略高于林冠层,林冠层蓄积生产力是整个森林群落蓄积生产力的主要贡献者,林下层的物种多样性和林分结构多样性变化较林冠层明显;（2）林冠层优势树种的重要值在群落演替过程中逐渐扩大,整个样地林冠层树木个体数量减少了175株,林下层树木个体增加了3503株;（3）地形因子中海拔是影响群落结构动态最主要的因子,通过影响土壤和光照等条件从而影响群落结构变化。该林分处于相对稳定状态,不同林层群落结构特征差异显著,正确把握地形因子与不同林层群落结构动态变化的关系对森林的可持续经营具有重要意义。     

大兴安岭北部兴安落叶松(Larix gmelinii)林下穿透雨空间分布特征

森林冠层对降雨的水量和水质再分配是生态水文学研究的热点问题之一。为了研究兴安落叶松林下穿透雨的空间分布规律,探究森林冠层结构对穿透雨影响的生态机制,利用在兴安落叶松林下布设38个雨量筒,测定19场不同降雨事件的穿透雨数据(2013年7—8月),通过统计学方法分析冠层结构各因子与穿透雨的空间变异性规律,结果表明:观测期间,兴安落叶松林穿透雨量为148.3 mm,占同期大气降雨量的80.62%,穿透雨率随着降雨量的增加呈增加趋势;兴安落叶松林下穿透雨具有较大空间异质性,其变异程度随降雨量的增加而减小,以对数方程拟合较好(P0.01);冠层结构特征是影响穿透雨空间变异的重要因素,冠层复杂程度与穿透雨量呈负相关关系(P0.01);距树干距离、冠层厚度、叶面积指数等因素均可影响穿透雨的空间分布,以距树干距离影响最大,其与穿透雨率呈正相关关系(P0.01),而冠层厚度、叶面积指数则均与穿透雨率呈负相关关系(P0.01),但拟合效果不佳;从影响穿透雨的生态学机制来考虑,在冠层结构特征因子中,冠层厚度是决定穿透雨空间分布的最主要因素。     

Influence of clay licks on the diversity and structure of an Amazonian forest

The spatial heterogeneity of resource availability is a major driver of biodiversity patterns. Some environmental conditions and resources are characterized by large‐scale patterns of variation within the landscape. Clumped local discontinuities or discrete elements also increase spatial heterogeneity, promoting local ‘biodiversity hot spots’ by modifying habitat characteristics and promoting plant–animal interactions. Clay licks are faunal attractors owing to their role in the nutritional ecology of the user species; nevertheless, the effect of their presence on the surrounding vegetation has been poorly quantified. Here, we use data from 100 × 10 m transects and evaluate the effects of the presence of clay licks on forest diversity and structure at local and landscape scales. In clay lick areas, there was a higher abundance of certain species, which helps to homogenize species composition between localities counteracting the natural distance‐decay of compositional similarity between transects without clay lick influence (controls). Compared to control sites, clay lick′s forests had higher palm densities, shorter but more variable individuals in the canopy and understory, a thinner canopy layer, and denser herbaceous and ground level covers. These differences were found along the whole length of transects in both sampled areas types. These results reveal that the presence of discrete elements (i.e., clay licks) may help to explain the compositional and structural heterogeneity of Amazonian forests influencing ecological processes such as seed dispersal and trampling. These considerations may be relevant for other biomes where clay licks are present and give weight to their inclusion in conservation initiatives in tropical forests.     

Composition,structure and diversity of cove forest stands in the Great Smoky Mountains: a patch dynamics perspective

Abstract. Cove forests of the Great Smoky Mountains are North American examples of old-growth temperate forest. Ecological attributes of seven stands were studied using one 0.6 - 1.0 ha plot per stand. Stand basal area (39 - 55 m²/ha) and biomass (326 - 471 Mg/ha) were high for temperate deciduous forest. Density ranged from 577 to 1075 stems/ha. All stands had a mixture of deciduous canopy species. Only rarely did a single species comprise more than half of the stand by density, basal area or biomass. Shade-intolerant species were present at low levels (1 - 5 % of total stand density). A wide range of stem diameters was characteristic of most species. However, some species lacked small stems, indicating discontinuous regeneration. Stands tended to have 10 - 20 tree species per ha and at least five species had biomass levels > 10 Mg/ha, indicating high evenness. Canopy gaps covered 10 % of the total area (2 - 21 % by stand). Gaps and conspecific patches of canopy trees > 0.05 ha in size were infrequent. Spatial analyses revealed a variety of patterns among species at inter-tree distances of 1 to 25 m. When all species were combined, juveniles showed aggregation, and adults were often hyperdispersed. Analyses for individual species confirmed that the mosaic of canopy species is influenced by non-random spatial processes. Adults of several species were aggregated at distances > 10 m. Juveniles of all major species exhibited aggregation. Several species exhibited regeneration near conspecific adults. This pattern suggested limited mobility for such species within the shifting mosaic. A diverse patchwork resulted despite the fact that many species did not exhibit segregation of adults and juveniles. Further understanding of patch dynamics and the potential for compositional steady state in cove forests requires long-term study with spatial data.     

Regional-Scale Drivers of Forest Structure and Function in Northwestern Amazonia

Field studies in Amazonia have found a relationship at continental scales between soil fertility and broad trends in forest structure and function. Little is known at regional scales, however, about how discrete patterns in forest structure or functional attributes map onto underlying edaphic or geological patterns. We collected airborne LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) data and VSWIR (Visible to Shortwave Infrared) imaging spectroscopy measurements over 600 km² of northwestern Amazonian lowland forests. We also established 83 inventories of plant species composition and soil properties, distributed between two widespread geological formations. Using these data, we mapped forest structure and canopy reflectance, and compared them to patterns in plant species composition, soils, and underlying geology. We found that variations in soils and species composition explained up to 70% of variation in canopy height, and corresponded to profound changes in forest vertical profiles. We further found that soils and plant species composition explained more than 90% of the variation in canopy reflectance as measured by imaging spectroscopy, indicating edaphic and compositional control of canopy chemical properties. We last found that soils explained between 30% and 70% of the variation in gap frequency in these forests, depending on the height threshold used to define gaps. Our findings indicate that a relatively small number of edaphic and compositional variables, corresponding to underlying geology, may be responsible for variations in canopy structure and chemistry over large expanses of Amazonian forest.     

小兴安岭阔叶红松林粗木质残体空间分布的点格局分析

采用点格局分析方法对小兴安岭典型阔叶红松林9hm2(300m×300m)固定样地内粗木质残体(CWD)的空间分布格局进行了研究。结果表明:固定样地内CWD的总密度为368.8株/hm2,径级结构呈现明显的正态分布,各径级密度差别较大。花楷槭(27.8株/hm2)和枫桦(26.1株/hm2)是阔叶CWD的主要组成树种。红松(41.6株/hm2)是针叶CWD的主要组成树种,针叶树种CWD的数量随着径级的增大而增加,呈典型的J型分布。在150m的空间尺度内,CWD总体在较小尺度上表现为集群分布,在40m尺度上聚集强度最大(0.40),随着尺度的增加,CWD趋于均匀分布。不同径级组在不同规模尺度聚集,随着径级的增加,聚集强度呈下降趋势。不同物种CWD在各径级下的空间分布格局有所不同,具体表现为集群分布和由集群分布向随机分布发展两种形式。不同存在形式的CWD在研究尺度内随着尺度的增加,由集群分布向随机分布发展。随着CWD腐烂等级的增高,其聚集强度和聚集尺度均增大。CWD的空间分布格局是阔叶红松林群落与其自然环境长期作用的结果,从某种程度上也反映了该林型天然更新的格局和机制。     

The relative role of rivers,environmental heterogeneity and species traits in driving compositional changes in southeastern Amazonian bird assemblages

Amazonian rivers have been proposed to act as geographic barriers to species dispersal, either driving allopatric speciation or defining current distribution limits. The strength of the barrier varies according to the species’ ecological characteristics and the river's physical properties. Environmental heterogeneity may also drive compositional changes but has not been well assessed in Amazonia. Aiming to understand the contributions of riverine barriers and environmental heterogeneity in shaping compositional changes in Amazonian forest bird assemblages, we focus on the Tapajós River. We investigate how spatial variation in species composition is related to physical barriers (Tapajós and Jamanxim rivers), species’ ecological characteristics (distinct guilds), and environmental heterogeneity (canopy reflectance, soils, and elevation). We sampled birds through point-counts and mist nets on both banks of the Tapajós and Jamanxim rivers. To test for relationships between bird composition and environmental data, we used Mantel and partial Mantel tests, NMDS, and ANOVA + Tukey HSD. The Mantel tests showed that the clearest compositional changes occurred across the Tapajós River, which seems to act unequally as a significant barrier to the bird guilds. The Jamanxim River was not associated with differences in bird communities. Our results reinforce that the Tapajós River is a biogeographical boundary for birds, while environmental heterogeneity influences compositional variation within interfluves. We discuss the combined influence of geographical barriers, environmental heterogeneity, and ecological characteristics of species in shaping species distributions and community composition and the complexity of extrapolating the patterns found for birds to other Amazonian organisms. Abstract in Portuguese is available with online material.     

关帝山寒温性云杉次生林样地树种组成、结构和空间分布

云杉次生林是关帝山的优势森林植被类型,也是华北亚高山地区寒温性常绿针叶林的代表类型.为更好地了解其物种组成、群落结构等基本特征及其潜在的生态学过程和机制,于2010年在关帝山庞泉沟国家自然保护区建立了4 hm²的云杉次生林固定监测样地(GDS样地).本文以第一次本底调查数据为基础,分析了样地树种组成、结构和空间分布.结果表明: 样地共有木本植物30种,隶属于11科22属.包括分枝的总个体数为26218(其中独立个体数为10266).植物区系组成属北温带成分;不同树种个体数、平均胸径和胸高断面积差异较大,导致群落成层分明,各层优势种明显.乔木层第一亚层树种径级结构呈双峰偏正态分布,乔木层第二亚层树种径级呈近似正态分布,灌木层树种径级呈“L”型分布.乔木优势树种青杄和华北落叶松的空间分布无论在个体数量还是聚集程度上均随径级变化而呈现不同的格局特征.相同径级的两树种,胸径(DBH)≥30 cm的华北落叶松在样地居多且聚集分布于样地中部,而DBH≥30 cm的青杄则相对较少,没有表现出空间聚集性.DBH≤10 cm的华北落叶松个体很少且散生于样地,而DBH≤10 cm的青杄大量聚集于样地中部.DBH≤10 cm的青杄在样地偏西北区域也有大量分布,而DBH≤10 cm的红桦主要分布于样地偏东南区域.灰栒子、土庄绣线菊和四川忍冬等灌木树种也表现出一定的异质性空间分布特征.树种分布格局受生境条件影响,同时与自身发育规律、更新特征及生态习性等相关.     

Structure and dynamics of subalpine forests in the Wang Lang Natural Reserve, Sichuan, China

Population structure (size, age, spatial patterns) and radial growth patterns are used to analyze regeneration patterns of Abies faxoniana, Betula albosinensis, Betula utilis, Larix potaninii, Picea purpurea, and Sabina saltuaria and reconstruct disturbance history in 8 subalpine forest stands in Wang Lang Natural Reserve, Sichuan, China. In old-growth stands tree regeneration occurs in tree-fall gaps whereby A. faxoniana, Betula sp., P. purpurea, and S. saltuaria persist at stand scales by gap-phase regeneration. Clump sizes of young populations are similar to canopy gap sizes but clumps sizes vary among species. Young Betula patches are larger than those of A. faxoniana suggesting that gap-partitioning by size contributes to species coexistence in mixed stands. Picea purpurea and S. saltuaria are longer lived than A. faxoniana which may compensate for lower recruitment and prevent their replacement by A. faxoniana. Tree regeneration and community structure are also influenced by the understory bamboo Fargesia denudata. Seedlings, saplings, and shrub density all decline with an increase in bamboo cover. Species that regenerate in old-growth forest also regenerate after flooding as do species that establish only on bare substrates (i.e. Larix potaninii, Prunus sp.). Structural and compositional patterns in Wang Lang forests are a reflection of disturbance history, canopy species life history attributes such as dispersal ability, shade tolerance, growth rates, and longevity, and competition of trees and shrubs with understory bamboos.     

REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY OF TROPICAL LOWLAND RAIN FOREST TREES. II. POLLINATION SYSTEMS

The reproductive biology of tree species of a tropical rain forest was investigated to determine the relative frequency and spatial distribution of different types of pollination mechanisms. Species pollinated by medium-sized to large bees were most frequent, followed by those pollinated by moths, small diverse insects and small bees, in that order. Almost one half the total species were found to have pollinators with wide foraging ranges. Species pollinated by various groups of pollinators were distributed non-randomly. The greatest diversity of pollination systems was found in the subcanopy. As compared to the subcanopy, pollination mechanisms in the canopy were monotonous, consisting primarily of species pollinated by bees and small diverse insects. The hummingbird- and sphingid moth-pollinated species were found mainly in the subcanopy. The factors underlying the non-random distribution of pollinators are discussed and the potential implications of such distribution on the forest structure are explored.