A Review of the Ecological and Biogeographic Differences of Amazonian Floodplain Forests
Amazonian floodplain forests along large rivers consist of two distinct floras that are traced to their differentiated sediment- and nutrient-rich (várzea) or sediment- and nutrient-poor (igapó) environments. While tree species in both ecosystems have adapted to seasonal floods that may last up to 2...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-10-01
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| Series: | Water |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/14/21/3360 |
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| author | Florian Wittmann John Ethan Householder Maria Teresa Fernandez Piedade Jochen Schöngart Layon Oreste Demarchi Adriano Costa Quaresma Wolfgang J. Junk |
| author_facet | Florian Wittmann John Ethan Householder Maria Teresa Fernandez Piedade Jochen Schöngart Layon Oreste Demarchi Adriano Costa Quaresma Wolfgang J. Junk |
| author_sort | Florian Wittmann |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Amazonian floodplain forests along large rivers consist of two distinct floras that are traced to their differentiated sediment- and nutrient-rich (várzea) or sediment- and nutrient-poor (igapó) environments. While tree species in both ecosystems have adapted to seasonal floods that may last up to 270–300 days year<sup>−1</sup>, ecosystem fertility, hydrogeomorphic disturbance regimes, water shortage and drought, fire, and even specific microclimates are distinct between both ecosystems and largely explain the differences in forest productivity and taxonomic composition and diversity. Here, we review existing knowledge about the influence of these environmental factors on the tree flora of both ecosystems, compare species composition and diversity between central Amazonian várzeas and igapós, and show that both ecosystems track distinct species life-history traits. The ecosystem-level and taxonomic differences also largely explain the biogeographic connections of várzeas and igapós to other Amazonian and extra-Amazonian ecosystems. We highlight the major evolutionary force of large-river wetlands for Amazonian tree diversity and explore the scenarios by which the large number of Amazonian floodplain specialist tree species might even contribute to the gamma diversity of the Amazon by generating new species. Finally, we call attention to the urgent need of an improved conservation of Amazonian várzea and igapó ecosystems and their tree species. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T18:33:50Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0d08f9ae1f484eb6901d33bc1d7df165 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4441 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T18:33:50Z |
| publishDate | 2022-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Water |
| spelling | doaj.art-0d08f9ae1f484eb6901d33bc1d7df1652023-11-24T07:18:11ZengMDPI AGWater2073-44412022-10-011421336010.3390/w14213360A Review of the Ecological and Biogeographic Differences of Amazonian Floodplain ForestsFlorian Wittmann0John Ethan Householder1Maria Teresa Fernandez Piedade2Jochen Schöngart3Layon Oreste Demarchi4Adriano Costa Quaresma5Wolfgang J. Junk6Department of Wetland Ecology, Institute of Geography and Geoecology, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, 76131 Karlsruhe, GermanyDepartment of Wetland Ecology, Institute of Geography and Geoecology, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, 76131 Karlsruhe, GermanyMAUA Working Group, National Institute of Amazonian Research (INPA), Manaus 69067-375, BrazilMAUA Working Group, National Institute of Amazonian Research (INPA), Manaus 69067-375, BrazilMAUA Working Group, National Institute of Amazonian Research (INPA), Manaus 69067-375, BrazilDepartment of Wetland Ecology, Institute of Geography and Geoecology, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, 76131 Karlsruhe, GermanyBrazilian National Institute for Wetlands (INAU), Federal University of Mato Grosso, Cuiaba 78060-900, BrazilAmazonian floodplain forests along large rivers consist of two distinct floras that are traced to their differentiated sediment- and nutrient-rich (várzea) or sediment- and nutrient-poor (igapó) environments. While tree species in both ecosystems have adapted to seasonal floods that may last up to 270–300 days year<sup>−1</sup>, ecosystem fertility, hydrogeomorphic disturbance regimes, water shortage and drought, fire, and even specific microclimates are distinct between both ecosystems and largely explain the differences in forest productivity and taxonomic composition and diversity. Here, we review existing knowledge about the influence of these environmental factors on the tree flora of both ecosystems, compare species composition and diversity between central Amazonian várzeas and igapós, and show that both ecosystems track distinct species life-history traits. The ecosystem-level and taxonomic differences also largely explain the biogeographic connections of várzeas and igapós to other Amazonian and extra-Amazonian ecosystems. We highlight the major evolutionary force of large-river wetlands for Amazonian tree diversity and explore the scenarios by which the large number of Amazonian floodplain specialist tree species might even contribute to the gamma diversity of the Amazon by generating new species. Finally, we call attention to the urgent need of an improved conservation of Amazonian várzea and igapó ecosystems and their tree species.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/14/21/3360anoxiaseed dispersallife-history traitsforest successionbeta diversityrefugia |
| spellingShingle | Florian Wittmann John Ethan Householder Maria Teresa Fernandez Piedade Jochen Schöngart Layon Oreste Demarchi Adriano Costa Quaresma Wolfgang J. Junk A Review of the Ecological and Biogeographic Differences of Amazonian Floodplain Forests Water anoxia seed dispersal life-history traits forest succession beta diversity refugia |
| title | A Review of the Ecological and Biogeographic Differences of Amazonian Floodplain Forests |
| title_full | A Review of the Ecological and Biogeographic Differences of Amazonian Floodplain Forests |
| title_fullStr | A Review of the Ecological and Biogeographic Differences of Amazonian Floodplain Forests |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Review of the Ecological and Biogeographic Differences of Amazonian Floodplain Forests |
| title_short | A Review of the Ecological and Biogeographic Differences of Amazonian Floodplain Forests |
| title_sort | review of the ecological and biogeographic differences of amazonian floodplain forests |
| topic | anoxia seed dispersal life-history traits forest succession beta diversity refugia |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/14/21/3360 |
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