Microsite Preferences and Determinants for Recruitment of Keystone Tree Species in a Tropical Montane Forest of Myanmar

Successful plant recruitment is crucial for maintaining forest ecosystems, but knowledge of the responses of early life stages of tropical montane tree species to complex environmental factors is still limited across the Himalayas. Vegetation was surveyed along an altitudinal gradient (2450-3070 m)...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published inJournal of sustainable forestry Vol. 40; no. 8; pp. 846 - 861
Main Authors Thang, Tluang Hmung, Thu, Aye Myat
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Philadelphia Taylor & Francis 17.11.2021
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Subjects
Altitudinal gradient
climate change
Dominant species
Environmental factors
Forest conservation
Forest ecosystems
Forest management
Forestry
Forests
Keystone species
Microclimate
microsite
Montane environments
Mountain forests
Myanmar
Plant species
Recruitment
Seedlings
soil
Soil conditions
Soil properties
Soils
Sustainability
Sustainable forestry
Terrestrial ecosystems
Tropical forests
tropical montane forest
Myanmar (Burma)
Online AccessGet full text

Cover

More Information
Summary:Successful plant recruitment is crucial for maintaining forest ecosystems, but knowledge of the responses of early life stages of tropical montane tree species to complex environmental factors is still limited across the Himalayas. Vegetation was surveyed along an altitudinal gradient (2450-3070 m) in six altitudinal bands in a tropical montane forest of Myanmar. We examined the effects of microclimate, soil, and microsite conditions on seedling and sapling recruitment in three dominant tree species (Quercus semecarpifolia, Rhododendron arboreum, and Symplocos lucida). We found that densities of R. arboreum and Q. semecarpifolia were higher in high and mid-altitudinal bands (2800-3000 m), whereas density of S. lucida was higher in lower altitudinal bands (2600-2700 m). Seedlings showed better recruitment in humid conditions and more sensitive to soil properties than saplings. R. arboreum and S. lucida preferred debris microsites, followed by shrub and grass microsites, whereas Q. semecarpifolia showed no significant microsite preference. Seedling recruitment mainly depended on soils and microsites, whereas sapling recruitment depended on microclimate and altitude. The study provides information on species-specific preferences and responses of montane tree species to complex environmental factors, which may contribute to restoration and sustainable forest conservation.
ISSN:1054-9811
1540-756X
DOI:10.1080/10549811.2020.1841005