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Dominica Forest Dynamics Plots

Dominica Forest Dynamics Plots. Saara J. DeWalt and Kalan Ickes Arlington James and Ronald Charles. Dominica Forestry and Wildlife Division. Interest in Dominica. Clemson’s field station at Springfield Run by the Archbold Tropical Research and Education Center. Ecological Questions I.

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Dominica Forest Dynamics Plots

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  1. Dominica Forest Dynamics Plots Saara J. DeWalt and Kalan Ickes Arlington James and Ronald Charles Dominica Forestry and Wildlife Division

  2. Interest in Dominica Clemson’s field station at Springfield Run by the Archbold Tropical Research and Education Center

  3. Ecological Questions I • What are the patterns of relative abundance of rain forest tree and liana species across Dominica? • How do hurricanes affect diversity, species composition, and forest structure? • What factors affect seedling and adult survival and growth of different tree and liana species?

  4. Ecological Questions II • How are rainforests in Dominica changing over time? • How is forest structure and composition related to use by the Sisserou parrot? • How similar is the composition, diversity, and structure of Dominicanforests to other Caribbean islands?

  5. Dominica Plot Methods NE 17 plots in old-growth 3 regions: NE (6 plots) NW (4 plots) SW (7 plots) 220-750 m elevation NW S

  6. Followed methods of Center for Tropical Forest Science • Plot set-up • Measuring trees and lianas

  7. Dominica Forest Plot Methods Each plot: • 50 m x 50 m = 0.25 ha • Used surveyor’s compass to install plots • Gridded into 25, 10 x 10 m subplots

  8. Topographic maps

  9. Tagged, measured, identified • All trees ≥ 1.0 cm dbh (2006/2007 and 2008) • All lianas ≥ 0.5 cm diameter (2006/2007 and 2008) • Multistemmedindividuals • Frank Axelrod at UPR-RP

  10. Tagged, measured, identified • All seedlings ≥ 10 cm height and < 1 cm dbh in 25, 1 x 1 m quadrats per plot (2008 and 2009) • Related to height, conspecific basal area, light, slope, etc. Dacryodesexcelsa

  11. Other measurements • Measured heights of trees • Quantified coarse woody debris • Quantified light levels in understory (hemispherical photos, PAR sensors for 1 year)

  12. Results from Dominican plots 137 species overall 102 dicot trees, 3 palms, 3 tree ferns, 2 hemi-epiphytes 9 shrub species, 18 liana species Most common tree ≥ 1 cm dbh: …Farameaoccidentalis (6.7%) - Café marron Three most common tree species ≥ 10 cm dbh are… …Tapuralatifolia (9%) – Bois cote …Amanoacaribaea(9%) – Carapite …Dacryodesexcelsa(9%) – Gommier

  13. Results from Dominican plots Most common liana species ≥ 0.5 cm: …Heteropterysplatyptera (23%) – Ti cacao …Paulliniavespertilio(18%) …Sarcorhachisincurva(16%) Most common seedling species: …Amanoacaribaea(12%) …Licaniaternatensis(12%) …Psychotriaurbaniana(9%)

  14. Trees ≥ 1 cm dbh are more diverse in NW and S Number of species Fisher’s α

  15. Lianas ≥ 0.5 cm are more diverse in S and NE Number of species Fisher’s α

  16. Many thanks to… • Clemson University • Bay and Paul Foundation • SeaWorld and Busch Gardens Conservation Fund • Nancy Osler, ATREC • Dominica Division of Forestry and Wildlife • Publications stemming from this work…forthcoming

  17. Liana ecology working group – Global Liana Database We have examined global patterns of liana density, basal area, and now species diversity

  18. Genetic reconstruction of the introduction history of the invasive plant Clidemiahirta Saara J. DeWalt – saarad@clemson.edu

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