Architectural differences associated to functional traits among 45 coexisting tree species in central Africa

Loubota Panzou, Grâce Jopaul; Ligot, Gauthier; Gourlet-Fleury, Sylvie; Doucet, Jean-Louis; Forni, Eric; Loumeto, Jean-Joël; Fayolle, Adeline

doi:10.1111/1365-2435.13198

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Architectural differences associated to functional traits among 45 coexisting tree species in central Africa

Loubota Panzou, Grâce Jopaul; Ligot, Gauthier; Gourlet-Fleury, Sylvie et al.

2018 • In Functional Ecology

Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi

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https://hdl.handle.net/2268/227130

DOI
10.1111/1365-2435.13198

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Keywords :

architectural traits; central Africa; coexisting tree species; functional traits; life-history strategy; moist tropical forest; tree allometry

Abstract :

[en] 1. Architectural traits that determine the light captured in a given environment are an important aspect of the life-history strategies of tropical tree species. In this study, we examined how interspecific variation in architectural traits is related to the functional traits of 45 coexisting tree species in central Africa. 2. At the tree level, we measured tree diameter, total height and crown dimensions for an average of 30 trees per species (range 14–72, total 968 trees) distributed over a large range of diameters (up to 162 cm). Using log-log models, we fitted species-specific allometric relationships between tree diameter, height and crown dimensions. At the species level, we derived architectural traits (height and crown dimensions) at 15 cm and maximum diameters from species-specific allometries. The architectural traits were then related to functional traits, including light requirements, wood density, leaf habit, and dispersal mode. 3. Among the 45 coexisting tree species, we identified strong variations in height and crown allometries, along with architectural traits derived from these species-specific allometries. There was a positive correlation among architectural traits, suggesting that large-statured canopy species were taller and had larger and deeper crowns than small-statured understory species at all ontogenic stages. The relationships between architectural and functional traits highlighted a continuum of species between the large-statured canopy species and the smallstatured understory species. In this moist and seasonal forest, large-statured canopy species tended to be light-demanding, wind-dispersed, deciduous and large contributors to forest biomass (high basal area), while small-statured understory species tended to be shadetolerant, animal-dispersed, evergreen and most abundant in terms of stem density. 4. Our results highlighted strong architectural differences among coexisting tropical tree species in central Africa. The relationships between architectural and functional traits provided insights into the life-history strategy of tropical tree species.

Disciplines :

Environmental sciences & ecology
Phytobiology (plant sciences, forestry, mycology...)

Author, co-author :

Loubota Panzou, Grâce Jopaul ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Doct. sc. agro. & ingé. biol. (Paysage)

Ligot, Gauthier ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Ingénierie des biosystèmes (Biose) > Laboratoire de Foresterie des régions trop. et subtropicales

Gourlet-Fleury, Sylvie; CIRAD

Doucet, Jean-Louis ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Ingénierie des biosystèmes (Biose) > Laboratoire de Foresterie des régions trop. et subtropicales

Forni, Eric; CIRAD

Loumeto, Jean-Joël; Université Marien Ngouabi > Faculté des Sciences et Techniques > Laboratoire de Botanique et d'Ecologie

Fayolle, Adeline ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Ingénierie des biosystèmes (Biose) > Gestion des ressources forestières et des milieux naturels

Language :

English

Title :

Architectural differences associated to functional traits among 45 coexisting tree species in central Africa

Publication date :

2018

Journal title :

Functional Ecology

ISSN :

0269-8463

eISSN :

1365-2435

Publisher :

Wiley, Oxford, United Kingdom

Peer reviewed :

Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi

Funders :

OGES‐Congo - Office de Gestion des Etudiants et Stagiaires congolais
IFS - International Foundation for Science
Nature+

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