Strong persistent growth differences govern individual performance and population dynamics in a tropical forest understorey palm
Por:
Jansen M., Zuidema P.A., Anten, NPR, Martínez-Ramos M.
Publicada:
1 sep 2012
Resumen:
Persistent variation in growth rate between individual plants can have strong effects on population dynamics as fast growers reach the reproductive size at an earlier age and thus potentially contribute more to population growth than slow growers. In tropical forests, such persistent growth differences have so far been documented for canopy tree species, where they are primarily associated with forest gap dynamics, but not for forest understorey species which are less responsive to gaps. Here, we study persistent growth differences and their demographic consequences for a tropical forest understorey palm, Chamaedorea elegans. We measured internodes along stems and annual leaf production rates to reconstruct lifetime growth trajectories. Using regression analysis, we determined the relative effect of stem length and past growth rate on vital rates (survival, growth and reproduction). We then simulated population dynamics using integral projection models (IPMs), in which individuals were
Filiaciones:
Jansen M.:
Ecology and Biodiversity group, Institute of Environmental Biology, Utrecht University, PO Box 80084, 3508 TB, Utrecht, Netherlands
Zuidema P.A.:
Forest Ecology and Forest Management group, Wageningen University, PO Box 47 6700 AA, Wageningen, Netherlands
Martínez-Ramos M.:
Univ Nacl Autonoma Mexico, Ctr Invest Ecosistemas, Morelia 58190, Michoacan, Mexico
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