Forest ecologists researching the functional basis of tree regeneration patterns and species coexistence often attempt to correlate traits with light-gradient partitioning. However, an exclusive focus on light can overlook other important drivers of forest dynamics. We measured light, temperatures, humidity and sapling densities in each of four phases of a forest dynamic mosaic in New Zealand: ...

When populations occur in ephemeral patches, such as treefall gaps, rapid changes in patch quality may affect colonization processes. I asked what effect patch quality dynamics and propagule dispersal would have on colonization by Passiflora vines that establish in canopy gaps in lowland rainforests of Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica. Passiflora vine recruitment required high patch quality,...

Gaps created by falling trees (tree-fall gaps) are a natural disturbance in forest ecosystems. Understanding scale, pattern and the effect of gaps on regeneration is important to current and future forest management. The aim of this study was to determine the size, shape and the spatial pattern of tree-fall gaps and of associated regeneration. This study was carried out in three parcels (No.15,...

In closed-canopy forests, plant morphology and physiology determine shade tolerance and potential growth and mortality rates; potential vital rates and ongoing gap dependence determine realized vital rates; and realized vital rates determine individual size distributions. This hypothesis was evaluated for the 73 most abundant canopy tree species from Barro Colorado Island, Panama. The percentag...

We examined the distribution, germination, growth and photosynthetic characteristics of two co-existing morphotypes of the pioneer tree Trema micrantha at the Barro Colorado Nature Monument (BCNM), Panama. Morphotypes differed significantly in distribution and in seed characteristics. A ‘large’-seeded morphotype (endocarp mass = 3.83 mg) was associated with treefall gaps in the forest interior,...

In the lowlands of central Panama, the Neotropical pioneer tree Trema micrantha (sensu lato) exists as two cryptic species: "landslide" Trema is restricted to landslides and road embankments, while "gap" Trema occurs mostly in treefall gaps. In this study, we explored the relative contributions of biotic interactions and physical factors to habitat segregation in T. micrantha. Field surveys sho...

The treefall mounds and pits resulting from uprooting caused by strong winds is an indispensable microtopography for the regeneration of many tree species through improved light conditions mineral soil exposure. These microtopographies are expected to become more important because global warming predicted increase windstorm frequency. This study aimed clarify characteristics that contribute ear...

Quadrat-based analysis of two rainforest plots of area 50 ha, one in Panama (Barro Colorado Island, BCI) and the other in Malaysia (Pasoh), shows that in both plots recruitment is in general negatively correlated with both numbers and biomass of adult trees of the same species in the same quadrat. At BCI, this effect is not significantly influenced by treefall gaps. In both plots, recruitment o...

This study quantifies the effect of low- to moderate-intensity anthropogenic activities and natural affecting less than 40% canopy cover on major plant functional traits associated soil microbial diversity in western Himalayan temperate forests. Plots 0.1 ha were placed forests along disturbance gradient categorized based lopping intensity, deadwood counts, grazing, litter removal. classified i...

In tropical forest systems tree community change after initial succession (approximately 50–100 years) is very difficult to detect because of the very slow pace of transformation. Since the mid 1980s, there has been an accumulation of evidence that many forests traditionally considered old growth or mature forests have been disturbed. Using 18 years of data on forest change in Kibale National P...