Functional Traits and Local Environmental Conditions Determine Tropical Rain Forest Types at Microscale Level in Southern Ecuador
The main objective of this study was to determine the heterogeneity of tropical mountain rain forests along a micro-altitudinal gradient scale, integrating species functional traits in the separation of communities. To achieve this, a forest area of 13 ha in the Biological Reserve of San Francisco w...
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MDPI AG
2023-03-01
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| Series: | Diversity |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/15/3/420 |
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| author | Omar Cabrera Pablo Ramón Bernd Stimm Sven Gunter Reinhard Mosandl |
| author_facet | Omar Cabrera Pablo Ramón Bernd Stimm Sven Gunter Reinhard Mosandl |
| author_sort | Omar Cabrera |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The main objective of this study was to determine the heterogeneity of tropical mountain rain forests along a micro-altitudinal gradient scale, integrating species functional traits in the separation of communities. To achieve this, a forest area of 13 ha in the Biological Reserve of San Francisco was monitored. First, we performed non-metric multidimensional analyses, and afterwards, we looked for correlations between plot altitude and characteristics of the forest (basal area, the number of species, the number of trees ≥20 cm diameter at breast height, per hectare, the forest canopy opening) were associated. To determine which characteristics significantly influence the separation of forest “communities”, we used a multivariate canonical correspondence analysis (CCA). Finally, we carried out the “Four Corners” analysis, combining abundance matrices, traits and environmental variables. We confirmed that the altitude and some associated characteristics are the key factors for the formation of two forest types. In addition, we determined that the inclusion of species functional traits confirms the separation of forest communities, and that elevation and its associated environmental variables function over relatively small areas and scales. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T06:40:47Z |
| format | Article |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1424-2818 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T06:40:47Z |
| publishDate | 2023-03-01 |
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| spelling | doaj.art-5b19ac2bb6af4737bd84a21b801f2e512023-11-17T10:38:23ZengMDPI AGDiversity1424-28182023-03-0115342010.3390/d15030420Functional Traits and Local Environmental Conditions Determine Tropical Rain Forest Types at Microscale Level in Southern EcuadorOmar Cabrera0Pablo Ramón1Bernd Stimm2Sven Gunter3Reinhard Mosandl4Department of Biological and Natural Sciences, Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja, San Cayetano Alto s/n, Loja 1101608, EcuadorDepartment of Life Science Systems, Technical University of Munich, Hans-Carl-von- Carlowitz-Platz 2, 85354 Freising, GermanyDepartment of Life Science Systems, Technical University of Munich, Hans-Carl-von- Carlowitz-Platz 2, 85354 Freising, GermanyInstitut für Internationale Waldwirtschaft und Forstökonomie, Leuschnerstraße 91, 21031 Hamburg-Bergedorf, GermanyDepartment of Life Science Systems, Technical University of Munich, Hans-Carl-von- Carlowitz-Platz 2, 85354 Freising, GermanyThe main objective of this study was to determine the heterogeneity of tropical mountain rain forests along a micro-altitudinal gradient scale, integrating species functional traits in the separation of communities. To achieve this, a forest area of 13 ha in the Biological Reserve of San Francisco was monitored. First, we performed non-metric multidimensional analyses, and afterwards, we looked for correlations between plot altitude and characteristics of the forest (basal area, the number of species, the number of trees ≥20 cm diameter at breast height, per hectare, the forest canopy opening) were associated. To determine which characteristics significantly influence the separation of forest “communities”, we used a multivariate canonical correspondence analysis (CCA). Finally, we carried out the “Four Corners” analysis, combining abundance matrices, traits and environmental variables. We confirmed that the altitude and some associated characteristics are the key factors for the formation of two forest types. In addition, we determined that the inclusion of species functional traits confirms the separation of forest communities, and that elevation and its associated environmental variables function over relatively small areas and scales.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/15/3/420diversityfour cornermicroscale elevationcorrelationelevation effects |
| spellingShingle | Omar Cabrera Pablo Ramón Bernd Stimm Sven Gunter Reinhard Mosandl Functional Traits and Local Environmental Conditions Determine Tropical Rain Forest Types at Microscale Level in Southern Ecuador Diversity diversity four corner microscale elevation correlation elevation effects |
| title | Functional Traits and Local Environmental Conditions Determine Tropical Rain Forest Types at Microscale Level in Southern Ecuador |
| title_full | Functional Traits and Local Environmental Conditions Determine Tropical Rain Forest Types at Microscale Level in Southern Ecuador |
| title_fullStr | Functional Traits and Local Environmental Conditions Determine Tropical Rain Forest Types at Microscale Level in Southern Ecuador |
| title_full_unstemmed | Functional Traits and Local Environmental Conditions Determine Tropical Rain Forest Types at Microscale Level in Southern Ecuador |
| title_short | Functional Traits and Local Environmental Conditions Determine Tropical Rain Forest Types at Microscale Level in Southern Ecuador |
| title_sort | functional traits and local environmental conditions determine tropical rain forest types at microscale level in southern ecuador |
| topic | diversity four corner microscale elevation correlation elevation effects |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/15/3/420 |
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