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Research article2011Peer reviewed

Stand structure of Monocotyledons and Dicotyledons in different successional stages in Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica

Björkman, Christer; Bylund, Helena; Vega, Andres; Oden, Per Christer; Orians, Colin M.

Abstract

The two major groups of angiosperms, monocotyledons and dicotyledons, differ in several of their life history traits. Despite the obvious differences between the two groups, there are few studies elaborating on how these may relate to their ecological succession. The study compares the relative densities of these two fundamental groups of plants with different evolutionary histories in forests in two different successional stages at the Sirena station in Costa Rica's Corcovado National Park, in Central America. The hypothesis was that the monocotyledons/dicotyledons ratio would decrease in later successional stages. A total of 40 right-angled triangular plots ((5 x 5 m)/2) were sampled and the plants were divided into four crown size classes, as well as into monocotyledons and dicotyledons. Plant densities and crown size class distribution were analysed using ANOVA with the general linear model (GLM) procedure. The mean overall plant density in the secondary forest was significantly greater than in the primary forest (P < 0.001). The structure of the crown size class distribution, however, was similar for both monocotyledons and dicotyledons, and for the primary and secondary forest types. There was no significant difference between the two forests in the monocotyledons to dicotyledons ratio (P = 0.99). The crown size class distribution results indicate that there is a similar distribution trend in monocotyledon and dicotyledon succession, although there are always more dicotyledons than monocotyledons. These results led to conclude that a larger difference between successional stages is necessary to perceive the difference anticipated in this study.

Keywords

rain forest; primary forest; secondary forest; plant evolution; humid tropics; Central America

Published in

Bois Et Forets Des Tropiques
2011, number: 307, pages: 33-40
Publisher: CIRAD-CENTRE COOPERATION INT RECHERCHE AGRONOMIQUE POUR