Are functional traits good predictors of species performance in restoration plantings in tropical abandoned pastures?

• Published in: Forest ecology and management Vol. 303; pp. 35 - 45
• Main Authors: Martínez-Garza, Cristina, Bongers, Frans, Poorter, Lourens
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier B.V 01.09.2013; Elsevier
• Subjects: allocation patterns; Animal and plant ecology; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Artificial regeneration. Forest nurseries. Planting; Biological and medical sciences; central amazonia; costa-rica; crown architecture; Crown length; Early successional environments; environmental factors; forest restoration; forest trees; Forestry; Functional trait; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Leaf dry matter content; leaves; light gradient; Los Tuxtlas; lowland rain-forest; Mexico; neotropical forest; pasture plants; pioneer species; relative importance; reproduction; seeds; shade tolerance; Sowing and planting; survival rate; Synecology; Terrestrial ecosystems; trade-offs; tree growth; tropical pastures; tropics; Central America; Mexico; America; Early successional environments; Mexico; Crown length; Leaf dry matter content; Los Tuxtlas; Functional trait; Predictor; Tropical zone; Forest ecology; Dimension; Abandoned land; Crown; Functionality; Restoration; Length; Pasture; Vegetative apparatus; Environment; Early; Chemical composition; Performance; Species; Planting

•We evaluated the performance of 24 tree species in the wet tropics in Mexico.•We relate performance to 13 functional leaf, reproductive and architectural traits.•Screening after 1y may suffice to select the best performing species after 3.5y.•Species with small seeds and large crowns are good candi...