Is the Peltogyne gracilipes monodominant forest characterised by distinct soils? |
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| Institution: | 1. Laboratório de Ciências Ambientais, Centro de Biociências e Biotecnologia, UENF, Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, 28013-602, Brazil;2. INPA, Coordenação de Dinâmica Ambiental, Núcleo de Pesquisas de Roraima, Boa Vista, Roraima, 69301-150, Brazil;3. School of GeoSciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH9 3JN, UK;4. Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH3 5LR, UK;5. EMBRAPA Roraima, Boa Vista, Roraima, 69301-970, Brazil;1. Department of Life Sciences, University of Alcala, 28871 Alcala de Henares, Madrid, Spain;2. Colegio de Postgraduados, Campus San Luis Potosí, 78600 Iturbide No. 73, Centro Salinas, San Luis Potosí, Mexico;3. School of Environmental Studies, University of Victoria, 3800 Finnerty Rd., Victoria, BC, V8W 2Y2, Canada;4. Ecosystem Management Unit, Alberta Innovates-Technology Futures, 3-4476 Markham St., Victoria, BC, V8Z 7X8, Canada;5. Biodiversity and Conservation Unit, Department of Biology and Geology, Rey Juan Carlos University, Móstoles, 28933, Madrid, Spain;1. Dept of Botany, Univ. of Brasília, Brasília, DF 70910-900, Brazil;2. Dept of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, Univ. Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611-0430, USA;3. Center for Latin American Studies, Univ. Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611-5530, USA;4. Dept of Ecology, Univ. of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP 05508-090, Brazil |
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| Abstract: | Various explanations have been put forward for monodominance in otherwise diverse tropical forests. This study assesses if the monodominance of Peltogyne gracilipes on Maraca Island in the northern Amazon can be related to edaphic factors. The basal area of P. gracilipes and the five other most common tree species on Maraca Island (Astrocaryum aculeatum, Attalea maripa, Ecclinusa guianensis, Licania kunthiana and Pradosia surinamensis) were recorded in 30 regularly-spaced 0.5 ha plots distributed over an area of 25 km2, for which data on topography and concentration of mineral elements in the soil were also obtained. Stems of P. gracilipes accounted for ≥50% of the basal area in five of the plots, which we consider indicative of monodominance, whilst the highest relative basal area that any of the other species achieved in any plot was 31%. The soils data explained more of the variation in the basal area of P. gracilipes than it did for the other five species. The presence vs. absence and basal area of P. gracilipes was positively related to concentrations of magnesium (Mg), aluminium (Al), iron (Fe), phosphorus (P) and silt in the soil and to Mg:Ca ratios. These soils were found in the plots at the lowest elevations, which suggests that drainage factors may also be important. Overall, our results suggest that edaphic factors may explain, at least partially, monodominance in this Amazonian forest. |
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| Keywords: | Amazonia Maracá Island Monodominance Soil-plant relationships Tropical forest |
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