Plant ecology of tropical and subtropical karst ecosystems

• Published in: Biotropica Vol. 51; no. 5; pp. 626 - 640
• Main Authors: Geekiyanage, Nalaka, Goodale, Uromi Manage, Cao, Kunfang, Kitajima, Kaoru
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Wiley 01.09.2019; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Anthropogenic factors; Availability; Biodiversity; Biodiversity hot spots; Carbonate rocks; Carbonates; Comparative analysis; Drought; Drought resistance; drought tolerance; Dry season; ecohydrology; Ecological effects; Ecology; Ecosystems; Fog; Forest management; forest trees; Forests; Groundwater; habitats; Heterogeneity; hills; Human influences; Hydrology; isotope signature; Karst; karsts; Landscape; landscapes; Leaves; limestone; Moisture content; P limitation; Patchiness; phenology; Phosphorus; Plant ecology; Plant species; Ratios; REVIEW; sap; Soil; Soil water; Soil water storage; Spatial analysis; Spatial heterogeneity; spatial variation; topography; Trees; Tropical climate; Tropical forests; Water availability; Water storage; Water use; wood density; Xylem

Substantial areas of tropical forests, including those within nine tropical biodiversity hotspots, contain karst landscapes that have developed on soluble carbonate rocks. Here, we review how the ecology of karst forest trees is influenced by hydrological, edaphic, and topographic factors that exhib...