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How liana loads alter tree allometry in tropical forests

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Abstract

Intense competition with lianas (wood climbers) can limit tree growth, reproduction, and survival. However, the negative effects of liana loads on tree allometry have not yet been addressed. We investigated the hypothesis that liana loading on tree crown alters tree’s allometry, expressed through slenderness (height–diameter ratio). The relationship between trunk slenderness and percentage of tree crown covered by lianas was investigated for 12 tree species from 10 fragments of the Semideciduous Seasonal Forest in Southeastern Brazil. We also tested whether the relationship between slenderness and wood density differ between trees without lianas and trees heavily infested. Liana loads significantly altered tree allometry by decreasing slenderness, even when lianas covered less than 25% of tree crown. Heavy-wood species decreased their trunk slenderness in a greater ratio than light-wood species. Our findings indicate that liana infestation shifts tree allometry, and these effects are stronger on heavy-wood tree species.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to two anonymous reviewers who improved the manuscript with their comments. A. S. Dias was supported by Grants from São Paulo Research Foundation FAPESP (2010/11459) and the Brazilian National Council of Technological and Scientific Development CNPq (233206/2014-0). F. A. M. Santos and F. R. Martins were supported by Grants from CNPq (Grants 304937/2007-0 and 308853/2010-5, respectively).

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  1. Arildo S. Dias

    Present address: Forest Ecology and Forest Management Group, Wageningen University, PO Box 6708, Wageningen, The Netherlands

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Plant Biology Graduate Program, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas – UNICAMP, P.O. Box 6109, Campinas, SP, 13083-970, Brazil

    Arildo S. Dias

  2. Department of Botany, Swedish Museum of Natural History, P.O. Box 50007, 10405, Stockholm, Sweden

    Karin dos Santos

  3. Department of Plant Biology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas – UNICAMP, P.O. Box 6109, Campinas, SP, 13083-970, Brazil

    Flavio Antonio Maës dos Santos & Fernando R. Martins

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  1. Arildo S. Dias
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Correspondence to Arildo S. Dias.

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Communicated by Martin Nunez.

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Dias, A.S., dos Santos, K., dos Santos, F.A.M. et al. How liana loads alter tree allometry in tropical forests. Plant Ecol 218, 119–125 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11258-016-0671-0

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