Tree and Liana Enumeration and Diversity on a One-Hectare Plot in Papua New Guinea1

Enumeration of a one hectare plot at 900 m a.s.l in Papua New Guinea revealed 693 individuals of 228 tree and liana species ≥ 10 cm DBH. A 0.1 hectare subplot contained 302 individuals of 106 species 2.5 ≥ DBH < 10 cm. Lauraceae, Moraceae, and Myristicaceae were the most important families in both size classes. This site is very diverse compared with other tropical forests, and like other species-rich sites worldwide, it has high aseasonal rainfall and high rates of natural disturbance.     

西双版纳龙脑香林与热带亚洲和中国热带北缘地区植物区系的关系

西双版纳龙脑香林只有与热带亚洲的龙脑香林完全一致的植物科的组成,绝大多数的属也与后者共有,特别是在乔木层的区系组成和数量特征上,二者很类似,表明西双版纳龙脑香林在植物区系性质上归属于热带亚洲龙脑香林,但为后者的一种北缘类型。与中国热带边缘地区的其它一些森林类型相比,西双版纳龙脑香林亦具有与它们基本一致的科的组成,但无论按在群落中的种数,按占科的世界区系百分比,还是按重要值指数,西双版纳龙脑香林中热带科均占有显著地位,并且包含有较高比例的热带亚洲分布属和种,故可认为它是中国热带北缘地区的森林类型中热带性强,在区系组成上接近热带亚洲龙脑香林而作为后者的一个部分的森林类型。     

Variation in Canopy Litterfall Along a Precipitation and Soil Fertility Gradient in a Panamanian Lower Montane Forest

Fertilization experiments in tropical forests have shown that litterfall increases in response to the addition of one or more soil nutrients. However, the relationship between soil nutrient availability and litterfall is poorly defined along natural soil fertility gradients, especially in tropical montane forests. Here, we measured litterfall for two years in five lower montane 1‐ha plots spanning a soil fertility and precipitation gradient in lower montane forest at Fortuna, Panama. Litterfall was also measured in a concurrent nitrogen fertilization experiment at one site. Repeated‐measures ANOVA was used to test for site (or treatment), year, and season effects on vegetative, reproductive and total litterfall. We predicted that total litterfall, and the ratio of reproductive to leaf litterfall, would increase with nutrient availability along the fertility gradient, and in response to nitrogen addition. We found that total annual litterfall varied substantially among 1‐ha plots (4.78 Mg/ha/yr to 7.96 Mg/ha/yr), and all but the most aseasonal plot showed significant seasonality in litterfall. However, litterfall accumulation did not track soil nutrient availability; instead forest growing on relatively infertile soil, but dominated by an ectomycorrhizal tree species, had the highest total litterfall accumulation. In the fertilization plots, significantly more total litter fell in nitrogen addition relative to control plots, but this increase in response to nitrogen (13%) was small compared to variation observed among 1‐ha plots. These results suggest that while litterfall at Fortuna is nutrient‐limited, compositional and functional turnover along the fertility gradient obscure any direct relationship between soil resource availability and canopy productivity.     

Tree diversity in primary forest and different land use systems in Central Sulawesi,Indonesia

We studied the tree communities in primary forest and three different land use systems (forest gardens, ca. 5-year-old secondary forests, cacao plantations) at 900–1200 m elevation in the environs of Lore Lindu National Park, Central Sulawesi. The primary forests had ca. 150 tree species 10 cm diameter at breast height (dbh) per hectare, which is unusually high for forests at this elevation in southeast Asia. Basal area in the primary forest was 140 m² ha^–1, one of the highest values ever recorded in tropical forests worldwide. Tree species richness declined gradually from primary forest to forest gardens, secondary forests, and cacao plantations. This decline was paralleled by shifts in tree family composition, with Lauraceae, Meliaceae, and Euphorbiaceae being predominant in primary forests, Euphorbiaceae, Rubiaceae and Myristicaeae dominating in the forest gardens and Euphorbiaceae, Urticaceae, and Ulmaceae in the secondary forests. Cacao plantations were composed almost exclusively of cacao trees and two species of legume shade trees. Forest gardens further differed from primary forests by a much lower density of understorey trees, while secondary forests had fewer species of commercial interest. Comparative studies of birds and butterflies demonstrated parallel declines of species richness, showing the importance of trees in structuring tropical forest habitats and in providing resources.     

海南五指山热带山地雨林植物物种多样性研究

王指山热带山地雨林的物种种类十分丰富,在１ｈｍ＾２样地中共出现５４个科,１００个属的乔木树种１７７种,１３３７个个体。区系地理分析表明属的分布区类型以热带分布型成分占优,为８９．０％,充分体现了五指山山地雨林的热带性质。多样性指数分析结果为：样地１Ｍａｒｇａｌｅｆ指数１７．８２２,Ｓｈａｎｎｏｎ－Ｗｉｅｎｅｒ指数５．６２１,均匀度０．８２３,Ｓｉｍｐｓｏｎ指数０．０５０,均匀度６．７７５,表明五指     

Species Composition,Physiognomy and Plant Diversity of the Tropical Montane Evergreen Broad-leaved Forest in Southern Yunnan

Species composition, physiognomy and plant diversity of the less known tropical montane forests in southern Yunnan were studied based on the data from 15 sampling plots in three sites. These forests are mainly dominated by the families Theaceae, Fagaceae, Lauraceae and Euphorbiaceae in floristic composition, and dominated by evergreen phanerophytes with mesophyllous leaves. These forests are similar to lower montane rain forests in equatorial southeastern Asia in floristic composition and altitudinal distributions, but differ in physiognomy by having few epiphytes, but more lianas and more plants with compound leaves. These differences could be due to strongly seasonal climate and so-called mass elevation effect in southern Yunnan. They also differ from the tropical seasonal rain forests at lower altitudes in southern Yunnan by having conspicuously lower species richness, few epiphytes, fewer mega-mesophanerophytes, more abundant micro-nanophanerophytes and hemicryptophytes and more plants with microphyllous leaves. It is suggested that these forests could be termed tropical montane evergreen broad-leaved forests, and be a vegetation type from the northern margin of mainland southeastern Asia controlled by a strongly seasonal climate.     

Tree population studies in low-diversity forests,Guyana. I. Floristic composition and stand structure

Studies were undertaken on the floristic composition and stand structure of four 1 hectare plots in the lowland forests of Kurupukari, Guyana. A total of 3897 trees, covering 153 species and 31 plant families were recorded at greater than 5 cm diameter at breast height (dbh). The number of species per hectare ranged from 61 to 84 (>5.0 cm dbh) and 50–71 (>10.0 cm dbh). The total number of trees per hectare varied two-fold between study plots, with 45–50% of the trees within the 5–10 cm size-class. Mean total basal area varied from 32.39–34.63 m² per 100 m². The four most dominant plant families represented 43.8% of the total number of trees, while representing only 11.2% of the species. No one plant family dominated in more than one of the four study plots, and all four plots held at least one plant family with more than 20% of the total number of trees. Although 14 tree species were common to all four plots, only 26%–35% of the species were represented by a single tree. Between three and seven species represented 50% of the trees within all size-classes, with species dominance occurring within the highest density plot.These tropical forest types of central Guyana may represent some of the lowest diversity forests in the neotropics, whereby the total number of tree species is relatively limited, typically with six dominant canopy species, but the relative abundance of these species is highly variable between the forest types. Mechanisms influencing the competitive interactions associated with species dominance are discussed in relation to the importance of mycorrhizae and the persistence of species dominance.     

西双版纳地区六种林型地表蜘蛛多样性比较研究

为探索地表蜘蛛多样性及其变化与森林类型和管理方式的关系, 在西双版纳勐仑自然保护区选择热带季节雨林、石灰山季节雨林和山地常绿阔叶林, 在自然保护区附近选择人工纯林、胶茶群落和橡胶林, 共6种林型, 每种林型选择3块样带, 共设置研究样地18块, 分别于2006年12月上旬（雾凉季）、2007年3月下旬（干热季）和2007年7月上旬（雨季）, 以单位地表面积法收集地表蜘蛛的物种组成和数量数据, 并以蜘蛛种类和数量分布为属性进行典范对应分析（CCA）, 探讨不同类型植被与地表蜘蛛多样性的关系。共采集蜘蛛标本9 849头, 用于统计分析的成熟蜘蛛3 119头, 归属于30科, 其中幽灵蛛科、皿蛛科、球蛛科和小密蛛科是地表蜘蛛的优势类群。各林型科的数量为: 热带季节雨林24科, 石灰山季节雨林22科, 山地常绿阔叶林22科, 人工纯林20科, 胶茶群落21科, 橡胶林19科; 各林型特有科数量: 热带季节雨林2科, 山地常绿阔叶林2科, 橡胶林1科; 而仅在雨林中分布的科4个（占全部30个科的13.3%）, 仅在自然林中分布的科6个（20.0%）, 仅在人工林中分布的科1个（3.3%）。从蜘蛛的数量分布看, 个体密度在热带季节雨林显著高于其他5种林型; 橡胶林多样性指数和丰富度指数显著低于3种自然林, 而均匀度指数的最低值也同样在橡胶林出现。CCA分析和聚类分析的结果表明, 6种林型趋于分成2组, 即: 自然林和人工林; 在自然林中两种次生林的相似程度更高; 人工林中人工纯林（非橡胶林）与胶茶群落的相似程度更高。以上结果表明: （1）森林砍伐后种植人工林措施改变了该地区地表蜘蛛群落的物种分布格局; （2）蜘蛛多样性随着人为干扰程度增加有减少的趋势; （3）减少人为干扰和增加植被群落多样性（橡胶林中种植茶树）对保护和恢复物种多样性有重要意义。     

Combined community ecology and floristics,a synthetic study on the upper montane evergreen broad-leaved forests in Yunnan,southwestern China

The upper montane evergreen broad-leaved forest in Yunnan occurs mainly in the zone of persistent cloud and has a discontinuous, island-like, distribution. It is diverse, rich in endemic species, and likely to be sensitive to climate change. Six 1-ha sampling plots were established across the main distribution area of the upper montane evergreen broad-leaved forest in Yunnan. All trees with d.b.h. > 1 cm in each plot were identified. Patterns of seed plant distributions were quantified at the specific, generic and family levels. The forests are dominated by the families Fagaceae, Lauraceae, Theaceae and Magnoliaceae, but are very diverse with only a few species shared between sites. Floristic similarities at the family and generic level were high, but they were low at the specific level, with species complementarity between plots. Diversity varied greatly among sites, with greater species richness and more rare species in western Yunnan than central Yunnan. The flora is dominated by tropical biogeographical elements, mainly the pantropic and the tropical Asian distributions at the family and genus levels. In contrast, at the species level, the flora is dominated by the southwest or the southeast China distributions, including Yunnan endemics. This suggests that the flora of the upper montane forest in Yunnan could have a tropical floristic origin, and has adapted to cooler temperatures with the uplift of the Himalayas. Due to great sensitivity to climate, high endemism and species complementarity, as well as the discontinuous, island-like, distribution patterns of the upper montane forest in Yunnan, the regional conservation of the forest is especially needed.     

滇南勐宋热带山地雨林木质藤本多样性研究

调查滇南勐宋山地雨林沟谷与坡地两种生境中木质藤本种的丰富度、径级分布、攀缘方式以及样地中被藤本缠绕的树木(dbh≥5cm)的数量和比率。结果表明:沟谷与坡地胸径≥1cm的木质藤本平均密度分别为95.7株/0.1hm2、57株/0.1hm2。调查样地内木质藤本共64种,隶属30个科。茎缠绕是最主要的攀缘方式,占总个体数的57%,卷须缠绕种所占比重最小,仅占3%;沟谷与坡地所调查树木被木质藤本缠绕的比例分别为43.7%和28.6%。与亚洲其它热带地区森林相比,勐宋地区藤本的多样性低,但是木质藤本的密度相当高,并且在一些样地中出现了大型木质藤本,这些可能与该地区森林的演替状态有关。     

“西双版纳热带山地雨林的植物多样性研究”的一些问题讨论

该文针对“西双版纳热带山地雨林的植物多样性研究”论文中存在的一些问题进行了讨论。原文所依据的6个调查样地, 从其分布海拔、生境、群落的生态外貌特征、植物区系组成及单位面积植物种数的统计上反映出它们并非都属于同样的植被类型,即原文所称的热带山地雨林,而可能分别属于《云南植被》中所应用的热带季节雨林的次生林群落(样地I和II)、季风常绿阔叶林群落(样地V和VI)及类似于苔藓常绿阔叶林(样地III和IV)的群落类型。由于这些样地代表了不同的植被类型, 导致在对这些样地的植物多样性特征的比较上出现较大差异。对原文在资料分析和与其它森林群落植物多样性的比较上存在的一些问题也作了讨论。原文的研究结果显示了西双版纳不同海拔高度上森林植物群落的物种多样性特征,但并不能全部运用于该地区的热带山地雨林这一特定植被类型。     

Composition and structure of a species rich Amazonian rain forest obtained by two different sample methods

Inventory data for trees ≥ 10 cm DBH from a hectare plot are compared to data obtained by the Point-Centered Quarter Method along a line transect from the same locality in Anangu, Amazonian Ecuador. The one-hectare quadrat plot of 100 × 100 m had 734 individuals, 153 species, 46 families, a total basal area of 22.2 m², and an estimated above ground tree volume of 240.5 m³. The line transect had a calculated density of 728 individuals per hectare, which included 239 species, 51 families, a total basal area of 34.1 m², and an estimated above ground tree volume of 409.6 m³. Of the 20 species with the highest IVI, only four were shared by the two samples. The most important species were Quararibea ochrocalyx on the hectare plot and Iriartea deltoidea on the line transect, constituting 26.6 and 13.3% of the individuals, respectively. The five families with the highest FIV on the hectare plot (Bombacaceae, Arecaceae, Moraceae, Caesalpinaceae, and Lauraceae) and on the line transect (Arecaceae, Moraceae, Meliaceae, Mimosaceae and Caesalpinaceae) constitute 40.4% and 35.4% of the Family Importance Values of the samples, respectively. The Point-Centered Quarter Method used along a line transect reflects maximum diversity and provides average values of density and tree size in the area. The quadrat plot reflects the local structure and composition of the forest within the plot.     

西双版纳热带雨林和热带山地常绿阔叶林附生苔藓的组成与多样性格局

为探讨西双版纳热带雨林和热带山地常绿阔叶林附生苔藓的组成、多样性格局及其维持机制,该文对两种植被的树干附生苔藓植物进行了调查与分析.所选择的样地位于西双版纳勐腊县,每种植被类型选择10个20 m×20 m的样方,每个样方选择约10棵样树.结果表明:(1)本调查共记录到附生苔藓20科39属60种,其中热带雨林附生苔藓有1...     

海南岛霸王岭热带山地雨林群落结构及树种多样性特征的研究

 以海南岛霸王岭自然保护区1 hm2老龄原始林样地的调查材料为基础,分析了热带山地雨林群落的组成、高度结构、径级结构及有关的树种多样性特征。结果表明：霸王岭热带山地雨林树种较丰富,物种多样性指数较高。树种数和树木的密度都随高度级、径级的增加而呈负指数或负幂函数递减;热带山地雨林不同高度级、不同径级和不同小样方斑块内的树种数都与树木密度呈显著的正相关关系。热带山地雨林经过自然的演替达到老龄顶极群落后,最后进入主林层的只是少部分树种的少数个体。     

弄岗北热带喀斯特季节性雨林15 ha监测样地的树种组成与空间分布

北热带喀斯特季节性雨林(northern tropical karst seasonal rain forest)是在我国热带北缘喀斯特地区分布的典型森林植被类型之一。由于富钙偏碱的地球化学背景及多样性的生境类型, 同时受季风气候影响, 该森林呈现群落结构多样、树种组成丰富、特有成分突出等特点。基于大型固定监测样地对该森林树种组成与空间分布进行的研究, 是探明该区域生物多样性形成与维持机制的基础。我们于2011年底建立了广西弄岗北热带喀斯特季节性雨林15 ha监测样地, 依照CTFS (Center for Tropical Forest Science)全球森林生物多样性监测规范, 定位并调查了样地内每一棵胸径≥1 cm的木本植物。结果表明: (1)样地内有监测树种223种, 隶属于56科157属; 独立个体总数为68,010株(含分枝为95,471株), 平均胸径为4.84 cm; (2)树种科、属的区系均以热带成分为主, 大戟科、马鞭草科、梧桐科等为优势科; (3)个体数最多的11个树种的个体数之和占到总个体数的51.64%, 前58个树种的占90.19%; 稀有种有75种, 占总树种数的33.63%; (4)群落结构稳定且更新良好, 主要优势种的径级结构均呈倒“J”形, 无明显断层; (5)树种分布在空间上表现出明显差异, 黄梨木(Boniodendron minus)等强耐旱型树种分布于山顶周围; 蚬木(Excentrodendron tonkinense)等树种分布于山坡中部; 对叶榕(Ficus hispida)等喜湿耐荫型树种分布于山谷周围; (6)胸径>20 cm的个体较多分布在山坡中下部, 极少分布在山顶周围; 胸径10–20 cm的个体较均匀分布于整个样地; 分枝和萌枝较多分布在山顶周围; (7)种–面积散点图在2–7 ha的取样面积下分化形成两条曲线, 表明了树种数量组成在空间上具有强烈异质性。研究初步认为: 强烈生境异质性及独特地质背景可能是影响该喀斯特森林物种组成及空间分布的重要因素。     

Net primary productivity allocation and cycling of carbon along a tropical forest elevational transect in the Peruvian Andes

The net primary productivity, carbon (C) stocks and turnover rates (i.e. C dynamics) of tropical forests are an important aspect of the global C cycle. These variables have been investigated in lowland tropical forests, but they have rarely been studied in tropical montane forests (TMFs). This study examines spatial patterns of above‐ and belowground C dynamics along a transect ranging from lowland Amazonia to the high Andes in SE Peru. Fine root biomass values increased from 1.50 Mg C ha^?1 at 194 m to 4.95 ± 0.62 Mg C ha^?1 at 3020 m, reaching a maximum of 6.83 ± 1.13 Mg C ha^?1 at the 2020 m elevation site. Aboveground biomass values decreased from 123.50 Mg C ha^?1 at 194 m to 47.03 Mg C ha^?1 at 3020 m. Mean annual belowground productivity was highest in the most fertile lowland plots (7.40 ± 1.00 Mg C ha^?1 yr^?1) and ranged between 3.43 ± 0.73 and 1.48 ± 0.40 Mg C ha^?1 yr^?1 in the premontane and montane plots. Mean annual aboveground productivity was estimated to vary between 9.50 ± 1.08 Mg C ha^?1 yr^?1 (210 m) and 2.59 ± 0.40 Mg C ha^?1 yr^?1 (2020 m), with consistently lower values observed in the cloud immersion zone of the montane forest. Fine root C residence time increased from 0.31 years in lowland Amazonia to 3.78 ± 0.81 years at 3020 m and stem C residence time remained constant along the elevational transect, with a mean of 54 ± 4 years. The ratio of fine root biomass to stem biomass increased significantly with increasing elevation, whereas the allocation of net primary productivity above‐ and belowground remained approximately constant at all elevations. Although net primary productivity declined in the TMF, the partitioning of productivity between the ecosystem subcomponents remained the same in lowland, premontane and montane forests.     

Critical forest age thresholds for the diversity of lichens,molluscs and birds in beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) dominated forests

Forest age is one of the most simple but ecologically effective key values that may be controlled by forest management. Young and mature but managed forests differ significantly from old-growth forests in species composition, structure and socio-ecological function. Human land-use has already caused the loss or dramatic reduction in occurrence of some entire species assemblages, especially of logging-sensitive species, in Central European forests. These general statements also apply to beech forests, beech (Fagus sylvatica) being the naturally dominating tree species in Central Europe. Based on data for breeding birds (from 258 sampling plots in a sub-montane and 228 plots in a montane area), molluscs (36 plots in the sub-montane and 79 plots in the montane area) and lichens (84 plots in the montane forest), this paper aims at identifying significant forest age threshold ranges for the occurrence of these old-growth sensitive taxa. The sampling plots in the sub-montane zone (420–520 m a.s.l.) are in beech-oak forests, plots in the montane zone (650–1150 m a.s.l.) are in beech-spruce-fir forests. Stand ages in both areas range up to around 350–400 years. Threshold values for the total number of species related to stand age were calculated by recursive partitioning.In all three taxonomic groups the number of species per plot significantly increases with forest age. The same analysis was run for red-listed lichen and mollusc species as well as hole-nesting bird species. The threshold values obtained are very similar to those for the whole species assemblages, except for molluscs where considerably lower threshold values are computed with red-listed species assemblages. Regarding the confidence intervals, the difference pattern between the whole species datasets and the more sensitive species subsets is inconsistent. Threshold values in sub-montane beech forests range from 100 to 170 years and in mixed montane forests from 160 to 220 years.These threshold levels are clearly incompatible with economic interests that aim on reducing the rotation period in beech stands to less than 140 years to avoid formation of red heartwood. It would therefore seem to be essential to establish a network of trees and stands that are never logged and may thus act as areas for retreat and dispersion for logging-sensitive species.     

Altitude and species identity drive leaf litter decomposition rates of ten species on a 2950 m altitudinal gradient in Neotropical rain forests

Identifying the environmental factors controlling litter decomposition is key to understanding the magnitude and rates of nutrient cycling in tropical forests, and how they may be influenced by climate variability and environmental change. We carried out a leaf litter translocation experiment in mature rain forest over a 2,520 m altitudinal gradient in Costa Rica. Leaf litter decomposition rates (k) of ten tree species, two dominant species from each ecosystem, plus two standard species, were calculated over 540 days in four life zones. k was lowest in montane with 0.83 per year and lower montane forests with 2.21 per year. k did not differ between lowland and premontane forests at 3.12 per year, in spite of the 3℃ difference of mean annual temperature between these life zones. k varied fourfold among species. Species decomposition rates ranked as follows, and were predictably related to leaf economic spectrum traits of the species: Acalypha communis (standard, fast decomposer)» Hyeronima oblonga > Alchornea latifolia, Quercus bumelioides, Jarava ichu (standard, slow decomposer)> Minquartia guianensis > Magnolia sororum > Vochysia allenii > Pourouma bicolor, Carapa guianensis. These two slowest-decomposing species were native premontane and lowland forest dominants, respectively, with tough, low-nutrient leaves. The ranking of species by k varied very little among life zones suggesting that decomposer organisms in very different ecosystems and environments react in similar ways to the litter quality in general. We conclude that while k decreases with temperature in rain forests on tropical mountains, bioclimatic zones defined as premontane may be “functionally lowland.” The effects of species identity on decomposition rates on tropical mountains are consistent and independent of environment for both standard and native species. Under climate change on these mountains, if moisture regimes do not change, decomposition rates will increase due to rising temperatures. Soil carbon storage may therefore decrease. Changes in the altitudinal distributions of currently dominant species will also affect this critically important biogeochemical process.     

Alpha diversity of lianas in a tropical evergreen forest in the Anamalais, Western Ghats, India

Abstract. Species richness, abundance, size-class distribution, climbing mode and spatial patterns of lianas were investigated in a 30-ha permanent plot of tropical evergreen forest at Varagalaiar in the Anamalais, Western Ghats, India. Each hectare was subdivided into 10 m × 10 m quadrats, in which all lianas ≥ 1 cm d.b.h. were measured, tagged and identified. The total liana density was 11, 200 individuals (373 ha–1) and species richness was 75 species, representing 66 genera and 37 families. The richness estimators employed for species and family accumulation curves after 100 times randomization of sample order, have stabilized the curves at 16th and 15th hectares, respectively. A greater proportion of lianas was twiners (55% of species and 44.4% of density) and root climbers (5% of species and 14% of density), and a few were tendril climbers, reflecting the late successional stage of the forest. In the size-class distribution, 82% of abundance and 97% of species richness fell within 1–3 cm diameter threshold. The dominance of succulent diaspore type signifies the faunal dependence of lianas on vertebrate frugivores for dispersal. The diversity, population density and family composition of lianas of our site is compared with those of other tropical forests. The need for biomonitoring of this synusia in the permanent plot for forest functioning is emphasized.     

A botanical inventory of a tropical seasonal forest in Khao Yai National Park,Thailand: implications for fruit–frugivore interactions

The diversity of plants in tropical forests makes dietary studies of frugivores difficult. This paper provides a botanical inventory of a tropical seasonal forest community in Khao Yai National Park, Thailand. The forest is valuable from a conservation perspective because it is one of the last remaining intact forests in northeastern Thailand, and is an important refuge for many animal and plant species. A 4-ha inventory plot measuring 200 × 200 m was established and all plants greater than or equal to 10 cm in diameter at breast height (dbh) were measured and permanently labeled. We found 1610 stems belonging to 105 species, 76 genera and 35 families, with a combined basal area of 142.5 m². The community was dominated by species of Lauraceae, Cornaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Meliaceae, and Elaeocarpaceae. About one-third of the plant species (40 spp.) identified in this study were vulnerable to extinction because they were mostly dispersed by large frugivores, which were intolerant of human impact. If they disappear, these forests may become dominated by plant species that are dispersed by abiotic means and species with small-seeded fruits.