A protocol for measuring abundance and size of a neotropical liana, Desmoncus polyacanthos (Palmae), in relation to forest structure

• Published in: Economic botany 1997-10, Vol.51 (4), p.339-346
• Main Authors: Troy, A.R, Ashton, P.M.S, Larson, B.C
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Abundance; ALTURA; Animal behavior; ARECACEAE; BIODIVERSIDAD; BIODIVERSITE; BIODIVERSITY; Biological and medical sciences; Canopies; CANOPY; CARACTERISTICAS DEL RODAL; CARACTERISTIQUE DU PEUPLEMENT; COPA; CORTE; COUVERT; Coverage; CROWN; CUBIERTA DE COPAS; CUTTING; DECOUPAGE; DIMENSION; DIMENSIONS; ECOLOGIA FORESTAL; ECOLOGIE FORESTIERE; Estuaries; FEUILLE; FOLIAGE; Forest canopy; FOREST ECOLOGY; Forest restoration; Forest stands; Forestry; Forests; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General forest ecology; Generalities. Production, biomass. Quality of wood and forest products. General forest ecology; HAUTEUR; HEIGHT; Herbivores; HOJAS; HOUPPIER; LEAVES; Lianas; NATURAL REGENERATION; PALMAE; PARA; REGENERACION NATURAL; REGENERATION NATURELLE; SILVICULTURA; SILVICULTURE; SOTOBOSQUE; SOUS BOIS; SPECIES DIVERSITY; STAND CHARACTERISTICS; STAND STRUCTURE; Statistical variance; STEMS; Sustainable forest management; SYLVICULTURE; TALLO; TIGE; Tree crowns; Trees; Tropical rain forests; UNDERGROWTH; UNDERSTORY; Woody vines
• ISSN: 0013-0001; 1874-9364
• DOI: 10.1007/BF02861044

This study investigated the relationship between the abundance and size of D. polyacanthos and measures of forest canopy structure. Várzea and terra firme forest were selected for study at the mouth of the Amazon estuary, Pará, Brazil. The forest canopy characteristics investigated included individual tree height and height to base of the live portion of the crown, forest canopy depth (the distance from the lowest foliage in the understory to the top of the canopy including all free space between top and bottom), forest canopy thickness (the portion of the forest canopy depth occupied only by foliage) and forest canopy density (the sum of lengths of each of the individual crowns that make up forest canopy depth) (see Fig. 2b). The attributes of D. polyacanthos measured included leaf number, stem height and percent coverage within the stands. Results from this study suggest that D. polyacanthos can be encouraged to grow through selective cutting of canopy trees and promotion of regenerating forest stands on terra firme fallow. The protocol used to relate D. polyacanthos abundance and size to kind of forest canopy structure can be used for evaluation of other climbing palms. /// Botânica Econômica. Esses estudo investigou a relação entre a abundância e tamanho de D. polyacanthos e medidas da estrutura do dossel da floresta. Florestas de várzea e terra firme foram selecionadas para o estudo no estuario Amazônico, Pará, Brasil. As características do dossel florestal investigadas incluíram a altura das árvores e a medida da altura entre o topo da copa e a base da copa viva profundidade do dossel florestal (a distância entre a folhagem mais baixa no sub-bosque e o topo do dossel incluindo todo espaço livre entre o topo e a base da folhagem), espessura do dossel (a porção da profundidade do dossel da floresta ocupado somente por folhagem) e densidade do dossel da floresta (a soma do comprimento de todas as copas que compõe a profundidade do dossel) (veja Fig. 2b). Os atributos de D. polyacanthos meridos incluíram número de folhas, altura do tronco e percentual de cobertura dentro do povoamento. Os resultados desse estudo sugerem que D. polyacantos pode ser estimulado a crescer através do corte seletivo de árvores que ocupam o dossel da floresta e da promoção da regeneração florestal em áreas de pousio (resultante de uso agrícola) na terra firme. O protocolo usado para relacionar a abundância e tamanho de D. polyacanthos ao tipo de dossel florestal pode ser usado