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Pioneer species distribution in treefall gaps in Neotropical rain forest; a gap definition and its consequences

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 July 2009

Jean Popma ,
Frans Bongers ,
Miguel Martínez-Ramos  and
Erik Veneklaas
Jean Popma
Affiliation:
Permanent address: Department of Plant Ecology, Utrecht University, Lange Nieuwstraat 106, 3512 PN Utrecht, The Netherlands Laboratorio de Ecología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 04510 México DF, México
Frans Bongers
Affiliation:
Permanent address: Department of Plant Ecology, Utrecht University, Lange Nieuwstraat 106, 3512 PN Utrecht, The Netherlands Laboratorio de Ecología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 04510 México DF, México
Miguel Martínez-Ramos
Affiliation:
Departamento de Ecología, Institute de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, ap. postal 70233 04510 México DF, México
Erik Veneklaas
Affiliation:
Permanent address: Department of Plant Ecology, Utrecht University, Lange Nieuwstraat 106, 3512 PN Utrecht, The Netherlands Laboratorio de Ecología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 04510 México DF, México
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Abstract

An attempt was made to evaluate the consequences of applying a strict definition (Brokaw 1982a) to the delimitation of forest gaps in the field. The northernmost Neotropical rain forest, at Los Tuxtlas, Mexico, was searched for young (1–2 years old) single-event gaps that would meet the criteria of the definition. In 60 ha of rain forest, only 12 such gaps containing pioneer species could be found. Thirty-three pioneer species (shrubs and trees) were used as indicator species for gap conditions. Gap size, measured as projected canopy opening (sensu Brokaw 1982a), underestimated from 44 to 515% the size of the area colonized by pioneer species. On average the size of the colonized area was 3.4 times larger than the size of the projected canopy opening. The majority of the pioneer species showed a relative preference for gap borders, an area generally not included in the projected canopy opening. Pioneer plant abundance and density, and species richness and density, did not differ significantly between gap centres and gap borders. Floristical variation was not related to gap size or location in the gap. These findings can be explained if gap environment (to which pioneer plants respond) is seen as the result of many interacting factors, of which size of the canopy opening is only one. It is concluded that the definition for delimiting gaps in the field as proposed by Brokaw (1982a) cannot be regarded a generally applicable definition, and that its value as a comparative standard is doubtful.

Keywords

gap definitionNeotropicspioneer communitypioneer species distributiontreefall gapstropical rain forest
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Tropical Ecology , Volume 4 , Issue 1 , February 1988 , pp. 77 - 88
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1988

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