吉林蛟河针阔混交林树木生长与生境的关联性

以吉林蛟河21.12 hm2(660 m×320 m)针阔混交林样地为对象,在以海拔、坡度、坡向以及凸凹度为地形变量划分样地生境类型的基础上,利用2009—2014年植被生长数据,研究生境差异对树木生长的影响机制。研究采用生境空间随机(生境CSR)、物种空间随机(物种CSR)以及物种Thomas3种生态学过程零模型,检验树木径向生长与4种生境类型之间的关联性;采用Pearson相关系数计算树木生长与地形变量之间的相关关系,量化地形变量对树木生长的影响。研究结果显示:(1)样地内绝大多数物种(生境CSR过程:86.1%;物种CSR过程:94.4%;物种Thomas过程:61.1%)的径向生长表现出明显的生境关联性。(2)不同生活型物种的生境利用方式不同:灌木和亚乔木具有类似的生境偏好,与海拔相对较低、地势相对平缓的生境型1正关联,与海拔相对较高、坡度相对较大的生境型2和生境型4负关联;乔木在不同生境类型中会同时存在正、负关联性,但更倾向于和生境1发生负关联,而和生境4发生正关联,并且乔木树种的径向生长对地形之间的差异更加敏感;(3)高达86.1%的物种生长与至少一种地形变量显著相关,其中海拔对树木生长影响最大,其次是坡度和凸凹度,坡向的影响则相对最小。上述结果表明,样地内不同物种之间出现了明显的生境利用性分化,生境利用性分化是影响温带针阔混交林树木径向生长的重要因素。     

The ethnobotany of deergrass,Muhlenbergia rigens (Poaceae): Its uses and fire management by California Indian tribes

Deergrass (Muhlenbergia rigens, Poaceae), a once abundant and widespread native perennial bunchgrass in California, was utilized extensively by at least twenty tribes for its flower stalks, incorporated into many types of coiled baskets. The craft of coiled basketry required the annual harvesting of thousands of culms by each village and the frequent setting of small-scale fires in many plant community types to eliminate detritus, recycle nutrients, increase culm production and prohibit shrub or tree encroachment. Detailed examination of Native American past fire management practices will provide insights into the cultural processes that shaped various ecosystem states, and unravel the ecological principles embedded in ancient land management systems. There are at least 300 contemporary Native American weavers and the successful revival of basketry in California is inextricably tied to access to and availability of plant resources on public lands.     

Is insect defoliation in eucalypt forests greater than that in other temperate forests?

Claims have been made in the past that insect defoliation in eucalypt forests of Australia is both chronically high and greater than defoliation levels in northern temperate forests. Recent published data, however, indicate that some eucalypt forests may sustain low level defoliation. Careful reexamination of the literature on defoliation in eucalypt forests indicates that there are not enough data available to quantify defoliation on an Australian-wide basis. Therefore it cannot be claimed that insect defoliation in eucalypt forests is greater than that in other temperate forests. There are also insufficient data to claim that insects are a major factor responsible for the growth differential between indigenous and overseas plantation-grown eucalypts. The ecological impact of herbivorous insects in eucalypt and northern temperate forests is also discussed.     

Diversity, regeneration status and socio-economic importance of the vegetation in the islands of Lake Ziway, south-central Ethiopia

This study was conducted in the islands of Lake Ziway located in the main Ethiopian Rift Valley in south-central Ethiopia. Its main objective was to investigate the diversity, regeneration status, socio-economic importance and the factors that cause degradation of the plant resources in the islands. A total of 73 relevés, measuring 20×20 m, were established along line transects laid from the central part of each island to the lake edge in eight aspects. Herbaceous species were sampled by using a 2×2 m sub-relevé laid within each relevé. In each relevé, the cover/abundance of each species was estimated, woody species were counted, diameter at breast height and height of trees and shrubs and the environmental variables altitude, slope, aspect and position were measured. Participatory Rural Appraisal was employed to generate the socio-economic information. A total of 141 species belonging to 113 genera and 55 families were identified, of which 18.4% were trees, 21.3% trees/shrubs, 12.1% shrubs, 3.5% lianas, 4.3% herbaceous climbers and 40.4% herbs. The overall Shannon diversity and evenness of woody species in the islands were 2.60 and 0.62, respectively. The number of species on the islands correlated with island's size, habitat diversity and degree of human disturbance. The similarity in species composition between the islands was low, indicating that each island has its own unique flora. Nine plant communities were recognized and described. The total density and basal area of the vegetation were 2979 individuals ha⁻¹ and 191 m² ha⁻¹, respectively. The importance value index and the diameter and height class distribution revealed that some species are threatened and need the highest priority for conservation. The socio-economic survey showed that the island communities are highly dependent on the natural vegetation for various purposes. On the other hand, the islanders have maintained the soil and vegetation resources for centuries through their indigenous resource management systems and practices. Human population growth coupled with farmland expansion, soil erosion, free grazing and cutting trees for various purposes are the major threats to the vegetation resources in the islands. The implications of the results are discussed and recommendations are suggested for conservation, management and sustainable utilization of the fragile island ecosystems.     

Invasive plants and their ecological strategies: prediction and explanation of woody plant invasion in New England

Effective management of introduced species requires the early identification of species that pose a significant threat of becoming invasive. To better understand the invasive ecology of species in New England, USA, we compiled a character data set with which to compare non-native species that are known invaders to non-native species that are not currently known to be invasive. In contrast to previous biological trait-based models, we employed a Bayesian hierarchical analysis to identify sets of plant traits associated with invasiveness for each of three growth forms (vines, shrubs, and trees). The resulting models identify a suite of 'invasive traits' highlighting the ecology associated with invasiveness for each of three growth forms. The most effective predictors of invasiveness that emerged from our model were 'invasive elsewhere', 'fast growth rate', 'native latitudinal range', and 'growth form'. The contrast among growth forms was pronounced. For example, 'wind dispersal' was positively correlated with invasiveness in trees, but negatively correlated in shrubs and vines. The predictive model was able to correctly classify invasive plants 67% of the time (22/33), and non-invasive plants 95% of the time (204/215). A number of potential future invasive species in New England that deserve management consideration were identified.     

Seasonal variation in insect abundance among three Australian rain forests,with particular reference to phytophagous types

Monthly sweep net and light trap samples were used to examine seasonal changes in the abundance of insects in subtropical, warm and cool temperate rain forest in New South Wales. Maximum insect abundance, especially of phytophages, coincided with leaf flushing in the canopy trees. Cool temperate insect numbers were highest during the month just following the beech leaf flush, a rapid and synchronous growth event. Conversely, numbers of subtropical insects fluctuated over a longer period, in a pattern similar to the continuous growth of leaves that occurred throughout spring and summer there. The warm temperate was intermediate in its vegetation growth phenology and insect patterns. Rainforest insect abundance varied both temporally and spatially.     

Altitudinal variation in stomatal conductance,nitrogen content and leaf anatomy in different plant life forms in New Zealand

Summary This study is part of a series of investigations on the influence of altitude on structure and function of plant leaves. Unlike most other mountain areas, the Southern Alps of New Zealand provide localities where physiologically effective moisture stress occurs neither at high nor at low elevation, but the changes in temperature and radiation with elevation are similar or even steeper than in most other regions. In comparison with results from other mountains, where moisture may impair plant functioning at low elevation, this study allows an estimation of the relative role of water for the expression of various leaf features typically associated with alpine plants. Maximum leaf diffusive conductance (g), leaf nitrogen content (LN), stomatal density (n) and distribution, as well as area (A), thickness (d) and specific area (SLA) of leaves were studied. Three different plant life forms were investigated over their full altitudinal range (m): trees, represented by Nothofagus menziesii (1,200 m), ericaceous dwarf shrubs (1,700 m), and herbaceous plants of the genus Ranunculus (2,500 m). In all three life forms g, LN, and n increased, while SLA and A decreased with elevation. Recent investigations have found similar trends in other mountains from the temperate zone, but the changes are larger in New Zealand than elsewhere. Herbs show the greatest differences, followed by shrubs and then trees.It is concluded that g is dependent upon light climate rather than water supply, whereas SLA and related structural features appear to be controlled by the temperature regime, as they show similar altitudinal changes under different light and moisture gradients. The higher leaf nitrogen content found at high elevations in all three life forms, suggests that metabolic activity of mature leaves is not restricted by low nitrogen supply at high altitude. In general, the leaves of herbaceous plants show more pronounced structural and functional changes with altitude than the leaves of shrubs and trees.     

Plant biodiversity and ethnobotany of Borana pastoralists in Southern Oromia, Ethiopia

A survey of plant biodiversity and ethnobotanical studies was conducted in southern Ethiopia using an integrated approach of botanical collections, group discussions, interviews and questionnaires. Species richness, growth forms and uses of native wild plants are described. Borana pastoralists distinguished and named 86% of the plant species identified. A total of 327 plant species distributed among 197 genera and 69 families are documented: 40% are trees/shrubs, 30% forbs (non-woody plants other than grasses and sedges), 16% grasses, 10% climbers, 2% sedges and 2% succulents. Based on richness of species and usefulness, the most important families are Poaceae, Fabaceae, Lamiaceae and Asteraceae. Two hundred forty-eight species (76%) are used by Borana pastoralists, out of which 42% have multiple uses. Indigenous knowledge of pastoralists on use and management of their plant resources is a valuable source of information for conservation and sustainable utilization of the plant biodiversity and, hence, conservation based on indigenous knowledge is recommended.     

The Same,but Different: Indigenous Knowledge Retention,Erosion, and Innovation in the Brazilian Amazon

This study explores how indigenous knowledge (IK) might be retained and/or changed among contemporary indigenous peoples. Through semi-structured interviews and quantitative analyses of long-term changes in artistic knowledge among three geographically displaced Kaiabi (Kawaiwete) we found an association between language proficiency and gender with greater IK retention, and formal schooling with IK erosion. Six mechanisms of innovation in knowledge of basketry and textiles among men and women were documented. A mixed mode of collaborative learning and knowledge transmission involving diverse actors emerged from community workshops and group forums. Innovative mechanisms for cultural transmission have taken advantage of media, technology, and non-indigenous support organizations to expand weaving knowledge of basketry designs. Our results illustrate how indigenous peoples actively shape cultural transmission and change, as well as the role that public policies and academic research may play in these processes.     

Variation in plant species richness of different life forms along a subtropical elevation gradient in the Himalayas, east Nepal

Aim To explore the variation in species richness along a subtropical elevation gradient, and evaluate how climatic variables explain the richness of the different life forms such as trees, shrubs, climbers, herbs and ferns. Location The study was made in a subtropical to warm temperate region in the south‐eastern part of Nepal, between 100 and 1500 m above sea level (a.s.l.). Methods The number of species was counted in six plots (50 × 20 m) in each of the 15 100 m elevation bands covering the main physiognomic structures along an imaginary transect. Each species recorded was assigned to a life form. Potential evapotranspiration (PET, i.e. energy), mean annual rainfall (MAR), and their ratio (MI = moisture index) were evaluated as explanatory variables by means of generalized linear models (GLM). Each variable was tested individually, and in addition MAR and PET were used to test the water‐energy dynamics model for each life form. Results The richness of herbaceous species, including herbaceous climbers, was unrelated to any of the climate variables. PET was strongly negatively correlated with elevation, and the following relationships were found between increasing PET and richness: (i) shrubs, trees and total species (sum of all life forms) showed unimodal responses (ii) ferns decreased monotonically, and (iii) woody climbers increased monotonically. Richness of all woody groups increased monotonically with MAR and MI. The water‐energy dynamics model explained 63% of the variation in shrubs, 67% for trees and 70% for woody species combined. Main conclusions For the various herbaceous life forms (forbs, grasses, and herbaceous climbers) we found no significant statistical trends, whereas for woody life forms (trees, shrubs, and woody climbers) significant relationships were found with climate. E.M. O’Brien's macro‐scale model based on water‐energy dynamics was found to explain woody species richness at a finer scale along this elevational‐climatic gradient.     

生长型分类方案不同导致森林生态系统植物功能性状的统计偏差

将植物划分为不同的生长型来统计植物功能性状特征,是当前植物性状研究中常用的方法;但生长型分类方案的不同很可能造成植物功能性状统计分析的偏差,对此偏差的评估却尚未见报道。根据植物志描述及野外调查实际情况,将生长型划分为3种不同的分类方案：分类1：根据植物志信息划分为传统意义的乔木和灌木;分类2：根据树高和胸径划分乔木、小乔木和灌木;分类3：仅根据树高划分乔木层与灌木层的乔木和灌木。以东部亚热带常绿阔叶林区域的浙江金华北山35种优势阔叶木本植物的枝叶性状为研究对象,比较不同生长型分类对植物枝叶性状统计数据的影响。结果表明：（1）与传统的分类1相比,分类2对乔木植物枝叶性状影响的显著程度要高于分类3,而对灌木植物枝叶性状的影响程度低于分类3;但不同生长型分类方案中乔木和灌木的枝叶性状总体差异不显著。而与分类2小乔木相比,分类1以及分类2内部的乔木和灌木生长型的性状与分类2小乔木差异非常明显;（2）将不同生长型植物再划分为不同生活型后,不同生长型分类方案对性状统计的影响增大。无论是常绿还是落叶生活型的小乔木,其与不同生活型乔木和灌木的性状差异仍然显著。可见,不同的生长型分类方案可造成植物功能性状统计的差异;把小乔木植物这一功能类群划分出来,能更好地反映森林生态系统性状特征的差异性。     

Present and past old‐growth forests of the Lake Tahoe Basin,Sierra Nevada,US

Abstract. We described 38 relictual old‐growth stands – with data on the mortality, regeneration, floristic richness, fuel load and disease incidence in our study area in the Tahoe Basin of California and Nevada. The stands are within the lower and upper montane zones (1900–2400 m a.s.l.) and they are rare, occupying < 2% of the land in the Basin's watershed. Correlation matrices and ANOVAs of forest types and conifer species with environmental gradients revealed significant relationships with elevation, distance east of the Sierran crest, slope aspect, annual precipitation, date of complete snow melt, litter depth and degree of soil profile development. Pathogens, parasites and wood‐boring insects were present on 23% of living trees; 16% of all trees were dead. We compared these stands to a reconstruction of pre‐contact Basin forests and to ecologically analogous old‐growth forests of Baja California that have never experienced fire suppression management. Currently, overstorey trees (> 180 yr old) in the Basin stands have ca. 33% cover, 54 m².ha^‐1 basal area and 107 individuals.ha^‐1, values very similar to reconstructions of pre‐contact Basin forests and to modern Baja California forests. Understorey trees (60–180 yr old), however, are several times more dense than historic levels and species composition is strongly dominated by A. concolor, regardless of the overstorey composition. The ratio of Pinus: Abies has increased – and the age structure of extant stands predicts that it will continue to increase – from approximately 1:1 in pre‐contact time to 1:7 within the next century. Disease incidence and mortality in Baja forests were lower. Although we quantitatively defined current Basin old‐growth forests – in terms of stand structure – we realize that our definition will differ from that of both past and future old‐growth forests unless management protocols are changed.     

Laticiferous plants of economic importance II

The genus Cnidoscolus, of the Spurge Family (Euphorbiaceae), is a homogeneous group of herbs. shrubs or small to medium-sized trees indigenous to tropical America, with a few species extending to subtropical and temperate regions. The generic name, derived from the Greek meaning nettle and spine, alludes to the painfully stinging hairs frequently present. Two species of chilte growing in west-central Mexico are now utilized in industry as a source of gutta-like material with high hydrocarbon and resin content.     

城市化地区河岸带植被特征及其与河岸硬度的关系——以晋江市为例

确立了滨河河道硬度与滨河土地硬度两个指标,用以研究城市化地区河岸带的植物构成、多样性与均匀度、优势植物等特征与河岸硬度的关系。选定晋江市都市区12条主要河流作为研究对象,通过样地调查收集数据,并采用相应指数进行数据处理分析,结果表明:(1)调查河流的河岸带植被物种共计70科143属159种,其中乔木20科30属41种,灌木15科15属20种,草本35科98属98种,草本居主导地位,河流间种类分布不均衡;(2)河岸带植物乔灌草区系均以广义热带性成分居多,其次为世界性成分、温带性成分,无中国特有分布类型,乔木中广义热带成分占绝对主导,直观反映地带性特征,灌木与草本中的温带成分多于乔木中的温带成分,类型趋于多元,种类更丰富;(3)从河岸植被优势植物构成来看,主要优势乔木与灌木基本为本土植物,而主要草本中外来植物入侵严重,对地带性植物景观的指示显然不及乔木与灌木;(4)从河岸植被的人工美学属性来看,灌木优势植物中园林观赏植物的种类数显著多于乔木、草本优势植物,反映出晋江人工审美主导的滨河景观空间主要改变与塑造了灌木层植被景观;(5)从河岸植物的人居需求属性来看,龙眼、杨桃等多见于庭院林、水岸林的水果树种也在河岸植被中频繁出现,反映出人口密集区由于对植物生产用途的重视而对河岸植被产生的影响;(6)滨河土地硬度与河道硬度对河岸带灌木植物的影响最强烈,二者均对河岸带植物多样性造成威胁,且前者具有更大的影响力,而后者直接影响了河岸植物的分布形态,出于生产与审美目的的人为干扰对河岸带植物优势种的影响力随滨河硬度的增加而加强,低滨河硬度有助留存原生植被群落;(7)天然弯曲的河流形态对河流植被特征具有积极影响,有助于保留更多本土植被类型,并能在某种程度上丰富乔灌草的植物种类,但这种缓和作用无法根本扭转河岸硬化对植物多样性的胁迫影响。研究表明,城市化地区河流的岸带植被特征与沿线人为干扰类型和强度密切相关,恢复与塑造河岸生态景观要以乡土植被为主,通过乔木景观塑造地带性景观,并以灌木与草本丰富植被景观。     

Early growth of environmental plantings in relation to site and management factors

In extensively cleared areas of temperate Australia, large‐scale mixed‐species environmental revegetation is often recommended to address land and water degradation in rural landscapes. Although survival and growth are central to the success of revegetation, there is very limited information on this aspect of practice. We investigated how site and management practices influence early growth by surveying 29 planted or direct‐seeded sites, covering ages from 3–6 years, in north central Victoria, Australia. We measured heights and crown widths of trees and shrubs at each site and estimated average growth over time at the scale of: (i) individual trees or shrubs (mean height increment) and (ii) stand (vegetation cover increment and a ‘height integral’ increment variable, which integrates differences in both height and stand density). Relationships between growth increment variables and site factors, including climate, site preparation and land‐use history, were investigated to identify the main factors influencing early growth rates. Mean annual increment in height of individual trees was significantly higher for trees established from tubestock than those from direct seeding. Multiple linear regression models for two growth variables, cover increment and height integral increment, explained 61% and 38% of the variation, respectively, but with high uncertainty. Ploughing, pre‐establishment weed control and fertiliser addition improved growth rates. Revegetation method had a significant effect on early growth; at the scale of individuals, growth rates were higher for planted tubestock than for direct seeding, while at the stand scale, growth rates were higher for direct seeding than for planted tubestock.     

Depth-dependent effects of ericoid mycorrhizal shrubs on soil carbon and nitrogen pools are accentuated under arbuscular mycorrhizal trees

Plant mycorrhizal associations influence the accumulation and persistence of soil organic matter and could therefore shape ecosystem biogeochemical responses to global changes that are altering forest composition. For instance, arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) tree dominance is increasing in temperate forests, and ericoid mycorrhizal (ErM) shrubs can respond positively to canopy disturbances. Yet how shifts in the co-occurrence of trees and shrubs with different mycorrhizal associations will affect soil organic matter pools remains largely unknown. We examine the effects of ErM shrubs on soil carbon and nitrogen stocks and indicators of microbial activity at different depths across gradients of AM versus ectomycorrhizal (EcM) tree dominance in three temperate forest sites. We find that ErM shrubs strongly modulate tree mycorrhizal dominance effects. In surface soils, ErM shrubs increase particulate organic matter accumulation and weaken the positive relationship between soil organic matter stocks and indicators of microbial activity. These effects are strongest under AM trees that lack fungal symbionts that can degrade organic matter. In subsurface soil organic matter pools, by contrast, tree mycorrhizal dominance effects are stronger than those of ErM shrubs. Ectomycorrhizal tree dominance has a negative influence on particulate and mineral-associated soil organic matter pools, and these effects are stronger for nitrogen than for carbon stocks. Our findings suggest that increasing co-occurrence of ErM shrubs and AM trees will enhance particulate organic matter accumulation in surface soils by suppressing microbial activity while having little influence on mineral-associated organic matter in subsurface soils. Our study highlights the importance of considering interactions between co-occurring plant mycorrhizal types, as well as their depth-dependent effects, for projecting changes in soil carbon and nitrogen stocks in response to compositional shifts in temperate forests driven by disturbances and global change.     

Environmental constraints on phenology and internal nutrient cycling in the Mediterranean winter-deciduous shrub Amelanchier ovalis Medicus

The functional adjustments of winter-deciduous perennials to Mediterranean conditions have received little attention. The objectives of this study were: (i) to determine whether Amelanchier ovalis, a winter-deciduous shrub of Mediterranean and sub-Mediterranean regions, has nutritional and phenological traits in common with temperate zone deciduous trees and shrubs and (ii) to determine the constraints of Mediterranean environmental conditions on these traits. Over two years, phenology and nitrogen, and phosphorus concentrations were monitored monthly in the crown of A. ovalis. Leaf longevity, survival and nutrient resorption from senescing leaves were used to infer nutrient use efficiency and retention times of nutrients within the crown. In A. ovalis, bud burst was much earlier than in temperate deciduous trees and shrubs. Most vegetative and reproductive growth occurred in spring. Limited phenological development took place during the summer drought period. Unexpectedly, leaf shedding was very gradual, which might be related to water shortages in summer. Leaf longevity, nutrient resorption from senescing leaves, and maximum leaf nutrient concentrations indicated that nutrient retention times were short and nutrient use efficiency was low compared to that found in temperate deciduous plants and co-occurring Mediterranean evergreens. A. ovalis exhibited phenological development appropriate for a Mediterranean climate, although its limited ability to retain nutrients likely restricts the types of sites that it can occupy.     

Photosynthetic, hydraulic and biomechanical responses of Juglans californica shoots to wildfire

Leaf gas exchange and stem xylem hydraulic and mechanical properties were studied for unburned adults and resprouting burned Juglans californica (southern California black walnut) trees 1 year after a fire to explore possible trade-offs between mechanical and hydraulic properties of plants. The CO₂ uptake rates and stomatal conductance were 2–3 times greater for resprouting trees than for unburned adults. Both predawn and midday water potentials were more negative for unburned adult trees, indicating that the stems were experiencing greater water stress than the stems of resprouting trees. In addition, the xylem specific conductivity was similar in the two growth forms, even though the stems of resprouting trees were less vulnerable to water-stress-induced embolism than similar diameter, but older, stems of adult trees. The reduced vulnerability may have been due to less cavitation fatigue in stems of resprouts. The modulus of elasticity, modulus of rupture and xylem density were all greater for resprouts, indicating that resprouts have greater mechanical strength than do adult trees. The data suggest that there is no trade-off between stem mechanical strength and shoot hydraulic and photosynthetic efficiency in resprouts, which may have implications for the success of this species in the fire-prone plant communities of southern California.     

Leaf traits and their interrelationship of 23 plant species in southeast of Keerqin Sandy Lands,China

Six leaf traits,i.e.,fresh mass (FM),dry mass (DM),leaf dry matter content (DMC),area (AR),specific leaf area (SLA) and thickness (TH) from 23 plant species in the southeastern Keerqin Sandy Lands,China were measured.The results show that leaf traits of herbs were more diversified than those of shrubs and trees and aver-age SLA tended towards a decreasing trend from herbs to shrubs to trees.On the contrary,DMC and DM show an upward trend from herbs to shrubs to trees.No apparent difference was found in TH.Except for DM and TH,there were significant variations in SLA and DMC among three different growth forms.Moreover,a significant correla-tion was found between SLA and DMC.It is concluded that SLA and DMC could be used to predict species posi-tion along a resource use gradient.     

Diversity Patterns in the Flora of the Campo-Ma’an Rain Forest, Cameroon: Do Tree Species Tell it All?

This study describes diversity patterns in the flora of the Campo-Ma’an rain forest, in south Cameroon. In this area, the structure and composition of the forests change progressively from the coastal forest on sandy shorelines through the lowland evergreen forest rich in Caesalpinioideae with Calpocalyx heitzii and Sacoglottis gabonensis, to the submontane forest at higher elevations and the mixed evergreen and semi-deciduous forest in the drier Ma’an area. We tested whether there is a correlation between tree species diversity and diversity of other growth forms such as shrubs, herbs, and lianas in order to understand if, in the context of African tropical rain forest, tree species diversity mirrors the diversity of other life forms or strata. Are forests that are rich in tree species also rich in other life forms? To answer this question, we analysed the family and species level floristic richness and diversity of the various growth forms and forest strata within 145 plots recorded in 6 main vegetation types. A comparison of the diversity within forest layers and within growth forms was done using General Linear Models. The results showed that tree species accounted for 46% of the total number of vascular plant species with DBH ≥1 cm, shrubs/small trees 39%, climbers 14% and herbs less than 1%. Only 22% of the diversity of shrubs and lianas could be explained by the diversity of large and medium sized trees, and less than 1% of herb diversity was explained by tree diversity. The shrub layer was by far the most species rich, with both a higher number of species per plot, and a higher Shannon diversity index, than the tree and the herb layer. More than 82% of tree species, 90% of shrubs, 78% of lianas and 70% of herbaceous species were recorded in the shrub layer. Moreover, shrubs contributed for 38% of the 114 strict and narrow endemic plant species recorded in the area, herbs 29%, trees only 20% and climbers 11%. These results indicate that the diversity of trees might not always reflect the overall diversity of the forest in the Campo-Ma’an area, and therefore it may not be a good indicator for the diversity of shrubs and herbaceous species. Furthermore, this suggests that biodiversity surveys based solely on large and medium sized tree species (DBH ≥0cm) are not an adequate method for the assessment of plant diversity because other growth form such as shrubs, climbers and herbs are under-represented. Therefore, inventory design based on small plots of 0.1 ha, in which all vascular plants with DBH ≥1 cm are recorded, is a more appropriate sampling method for biodiversity assessments than surveys based solely on large and medium sized tree species.