Contribution of lianas to plant area index and canopy structure in a Panamanian forest
- Department of Biological Sciences Marquette University Milwaukee Wisconsin 53203 USA, Department of Biological Sciences University of Wisconsin‐Milwaukee Milwaukee Wisconsin 53211 USA, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute Apartado 2072 Balboa Panamá
- Department of Civil, Environmental and Geodetic Engineering The Ohio State University Columbus Ohio 43210 USA
- Department of Civil, Environmental and Geodetic Engineering The Ohio State University Columbus Ohio 43210 USA, Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences and Alberta Centre for Earth Observation Sciences (CEOS) University of Alberta Edmonton Alberta T6G 2E3 Canada
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute Apartado 2072 Balboa Panamá, Departments of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior and Plant Biology University of Minnesota St. Paul Minnesota 55108 USA
- Department of Biological Sciences Marquette University Milwaukee Wisconsin 53203 USA, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute Apartado 2072 Balboa Panamá
Abstract Lianas are an important component of tropical forests, where they reduce tree growth, fecundity, and survival. Competition for light from lianas may be intense; however, the amount of light that lianas intercept is poorly understood. We used a large‐scale liana‐removal experiment to quantify light interception by lianas in a Panamanian secondary forest. We measured the change in plant area index ( PAI ) and forest structure before and after cutting lianas (for 4 yr) in eight 80 m × 80 m plots and eight control plots (16 plots total). We used ground‐based Li DAR to measure the 3‐dimensional canopy structure before cutting lianas, and then annually for 2 yr afterwards. Six weeks after cutting lianas, mean plot PAI was 20% higher in control vs. liana removal plots. One yr after cutting lianas, mean plot PAI was ~17% higher in control plots. The differences between treatments diminished significantly 2 yr after liana cutting and, after 4 yr, trees had fully compensated for liana removal. Ground‐based Li DAR revealed that lianas attenuated light in the upper‐ and middle‐forest canopy layers, and not only in the upper canopy as was previously suspected. Thus, lianas compete with trees by intercepting light in the upper‐ and mid‐canopy of this forest.
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- Grant/Contract Number:
- 7096915
- OSTI ID:
- 1401018
- Journal Information:
- Ecology, Journal Name: Ecology Vol. 97 Journal Issue: 12; ISSN 0012-9658
- Publisher:
- Wiley Blackwell (John Wiley & Sons)Copyright Statement
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Web of Science
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