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Structure, Function, and Dynamics of Tropical Floodplain Forests

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A special issue of Forests (ISSN 1999-4907). This special issue belongs to the section "Forest Ecology and Management".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 September 2021) | Viewed by 27192

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Dr. Joseph Hawes

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Guest Editor

Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway
Interests: tropical forests; fruit; frugivores; phenology; seed dispersal

Prof. Dr. Torbjørn Haugaasen

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Guest Editor

Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, As, Norway
Interests: plant-animal interactions; animal movements; ecology and seasonality of floodplain forests; impacts of land-use change on biodiversity; ecology and management of non-timber forest resources

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Tropical floodplain forests is an encompassing term that describes a variety of unique habitats worldwide, united by their existence at the dynamic interface between terrestrial and aquatic systems. Complex spatial and temporal relationships with the flood regimes of river and lake systems drive the lateral exchange of water and nutrients to surrounding forests in time with a seasonal ‘flood pulse’. The resulting variations and fluctuations in environmental conditions across floodplain forests are reflected in the adaptations of plant and animal communities, which in turn yield ecological interactions and processes that can differ markedly in character from other tropical forests. Such conditions are often challenging for researchers too, contributing to the relative lack of understanding about these key systems across multiple scientific disciplines. Tropical floodplain forests are amongst the habitats most criticial for the ecosystem services upon which human populations depend and yet are also some of the most severly pressured by human activities.

This Special Issue aims to take a broad perspective on the structural and functional dynamics of these understudied forests. Articles are welcome that explore links between areas such as hydrology and geomorphology with patterns and processes in plant and animal communities, as well as with resulting ecosystem services, including carbon storage and the potential effects of anthropogenic threats and conservation practices.

Dr. Joseph Hawes
Prof. Dr. Torbjørn Haugaasen
Guest Editors

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Keywords

Forest structure and composition
Ecological communities and interactions
Ecosystem services
Seasonal dynamics
Geomorphology
Hydrology
Litterfall, decomposition, and soil nutrient cycling
Remote sensing
Conservation/threats
Sustainable management

Published Papers (9 papers)

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Research

26 pages, 11515 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Floodplain Forests of the Mamberamo Basin, Papua, Indonesia (Western New Guinea): Vegetation, Soils, and Local Use

by Douglas Sheil, Manuel Boissière, Miriam van Heist, Ismail Rachman, Imam Basuki, Meilinda Wan and Yoseph Watopa

Forests 2021, 12(12), 1790; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/f12121790 - 16 Dec 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3535

Abstract

New Guinea is the world’s largest, most speciose, and most culturally rich tropical island, and the little-studied Mamberamo Basin of Papua (Indonesian New Guinea) is recognised among the region’s most-important areas for biological diversity. Here, we examined the floodplain forests in the indigenous territory of Papasena, within the Mamberamo-Foja Wildlife Reserve in the Mamberamo Basin. As part of a training activity with local researchers, students, and civil servants, and with the permission and assistance of the local people, we employed various methods including the field surveys detailed here. We used variable-area tree plots, transects for non-trees and soil sampling, and local informants to document 17 plots: four in old-growth dryland forest, five in old-growth swamp forests (two seasonally flooded and three permanently wet including one dominated by sago, Metroxylon sagu Rottb.), five in secondary forest (fallows), and three in gardens (two in swamps and one on dryland). In total, we measured 475 trees over 10 cm in diameter at 1.3 m (dbh). The swamp forests had high local basal areas (highest value 45.1 m² ha⁻¹) but relatively low statures (20 m but with emergent trees over 40 m). In total, 422 morphospecies from 247 genera and 89 different families were distinguished. These included 138 tree species and 284 non-tree plant species. A quarter (105) of the morphospecies lacked species-level identifications. The woody families Rubiaceae, Araceae, Moraceae, and Euphorbiaceae were especially diverse, with 20 or more morphospecies each. Tree richness was highest in dryland forest (plot 7 having 28 species in 40 stems over 10 cm dbh) with more variation in the flooded forests. Non-tree vegetation showed similar patterns ranging from 65 species in one 40-by-5 m primary forest plot to just 5 in one seasonally flooded forest plot. The local people identified many plants as useful. Among trees, at least 59 species were useful for construction (the most common use), while, for non-trees, medicinal uses were most frequent. Inceptisols dominated (12 plots), followed by Ultisols and Entisols (3 and 2 plots, respectively). Drainage appeared poor and nutrient availability low, while land-suitability criteria implied little potential for crops aside from sago. We discuss the implication of local practises and more recent developments that may threaten the conservation of these floodplain systems. We underline the key role of local people in the oversight and protection of these ecosystems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Structure, Function, and Dynamics of Tropical Floodplain Forests)

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16 pages, 2352 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Forest Structure, Diversity and Dynamics in Terra Firme and Igapó Gallery Forests in the Colombian Orinoco Basin

by Juan S. González-Abella, Ana M. Aldana, Diego F. Correa, Luisa Fernanda Casas and Pablo R. Stevenson

Forests 2021, 12(11), 1568; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/f12111568 - 15 Nov 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2527

Abstract

Studies of dynamics and biomass accumulation are essential for understanding forest functioning and productivity. They are also valuable when planning strategies for the conservation and sustainable use of natural resources. This study was conducted in five one-hectare plots of gallery forest in the Orinoco basin (three in terra firme and two in igapó floodplains), located in the Tomogrande Reserve, Santa Rosalía municipality, Vichada, Colombia. The differences between these forest types were determined and quantified considering diversity, floristic composition, aboveground biomass, forest dynamics and the influence of soils’ physicochemical composition. Terra firme forests were more diverse (Fisher’s α = 30.4) and had higher mortality and recruitment rates than igapó forests but there were no significant differences in stem turnover rates between forest types. Relative tree growth rate was also higher in terra firme than in igapó, but the opposite was found for biomass change (1.47 t/ha/year in igapó), resulting in an average carbon accumulation rate of 0.33 t/ha/year in terra firme and 0.66 t/ha/year in igapó. Igapó forest has high carbon accumulation potential given the high wood density of certain dominant species. Igapó soils contained a higher concentration of sand, silt, phosphorus and potassium ions, while terra firme soils had a higher clay content with lower pH. In general, the demographic and growth rates were consistent with those described for Amazonian forests. This study highlights the potential of igapó forest in the Orinoco basin as important carbon sinks, which should be included in the management and conservation strategies for this region. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Structure, Function, and Dynamics of Tropical Floodplain Forests)

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12 pages, 2507 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Response of Understory Avifauna to Annual Flooding of Amazonian Floodplain Forests

by Anaís Rebeca Prestes Rowedder, Thiago Orsi Laranjeiras, Torbjørn Haugaasen, Benjamin Gilmore and Mario Cohn-Haft

Forests 2021, 12(8), 1004; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/f12081004 - 29 Jul 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2002

Abstract

The annual flooding in the Amazon basin transforms the understory of floodplain forests into an aquatic environment. However, a great number of non-aquatic bird species occupy the understory and midstory of these forests. In general, these birds are thought to be sedentary and territorial, but the way they adapt to this dramatic seasonal transformation has never been described in detail. In this study, we describe avifaunal strategies to cope with seasonal flooding in the lower Purus region, central Amazonia, Brazil. We conducted focal observations of five insectivorous species occupying the lowest forest strata in two types of floodplain forest (black- and whitewater) during the low- and high-water seasons. For each observation, the height of the bird above the substrate (ground or water), its vertical position in the forest, and vegetation density around the bird were noted. All species remained present in the floodplain forests during the two seasons and were not recorded in adjacent unflooded (terra firme) forest. In general, birds migrated vertically to higher forest strata and most species (three of the five) occupied similar vegetation densities independent of water level. Despite the tendency of all species to rise in relative vertical position at high water, there was a reduction in height above substrate for four of the five species, suggesting that their position relative to water was not an important microhabitat element for them. Responses were similar in the two floodplain forest types. It is likely that the decrease in available space during the flood, combined with similar vertical displacement in arthropods, leads to increased prey density for understory insectivorous birds and permits year-round territoriality without major habitat shifts. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Structure, Function, and Dynamics of Tropical Floodplain Forests)

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12 pages, 1901 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Marked Differences in Butterfly Assemblage Composition between Forest Types in Central Amazonia, Brazil

by Isabela Freitas Oliveira, Fabricio Beggiato Baccaro, Fernanda P. Werneck, Thamara Zacca and Torbjørn Haugaasen

Forests 2021, 12(7), 942; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/f12070942 - 17 Jul 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2292

Abstract

Amazonia comprises a mosaic of contrasting habitats, with wide environmental heterogeneity at local and regional scales. In central Amazonia, upland forest (terra firme) is the predominant forest type and seasonally flooded forests inundated by white- and black-water rivers (várzea and igapó, respectively) represent around 20% of the forested areas. In this work, we took advantage of a natural spatial arrangement of the main vegetation types in central Amazonia to investigate butterfly assemblage structure in terra firme, várzea and igapó forests at the local scale. We sampled in the low- and high-water seasons, combining active and passive sampling with traps placed in both the understory and canopy. Terra firme supported the highest number of butterfly species, whereas várzea forest provided the highest number of butterfly captures. The high species richness in terra firme may reflect that this forest type is floristically richer than várzea and igapó. Várzea is a very productive environment and may thus support a higher number of butterfly individuals than terra firme and igapó. Most butterfly species (80.2%) were unique to a single forest type and 17 can be considered forest type indicator species in this landscape. Floodplain forest environments are therefore an important complement to terra firme in terms of butterfly species richness and conservation in Amazonia. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Structure, Function, and Dynamics of Tropical Floodplain Forests)

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20 pages, 2616 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Structure and Composition of Terra Firme and Seasonally Flooded Várzea Forests in the Western Brazilian Amazon

by Yennie K. Bredin, Joseph E. Hawes, Carlos A. Peres and Torbjørn Haugaasen

Forests 2020, 11(12), 1361; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/f11121361 - 18 Dec 2020

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 3268

Abstract

Research Highlights: Rare, or sparsely distributed, species drive the floristic diversity of upland, terra firme and seasonally flooded forests in the central Juruá—a remote and hitherto floristically poorly known area in the Brazilian Amazon. Background and Objectives: Floristic inventories are critical for modelling and understanding the role of Amazonian forests in climate regulation, for sustainable management of forest resources and efficient conservation planning. Yet, detailed information about the often complex spatial distributions of many Amazonian woody plants is limited. Here, we provide information about forest structure and species composition from a remote terra firme forest and an adjacent floodplain forest in the western Brazilian Amazon. More specifically, we ask (1) how floristically different are the terra firme and floodplain forests? and (2) how variable is species composition within the same forest type? Materials and Methods: Between September 2016 and October 2017, we inventoried 97 plots (each 0.1 ha; 100 × 10 m) placed at least 800 m apart, with 46 plots in terra firme forest and 51 in seasonally flooded forest. We included all trees, hemi-epiphytes and palms with diameter at breast height (dbh) > 10 cm and woody lianas > 5 cm dbh. We examine forest structure, family- and species-level floristic composition and species diversity within and between forest types using family and species importance values, rarefaction curves and dissimilarity matrices. Results: Terra firme forest and seasonally flooded forest woody plant communities differ both in structure and species composition, which was highly variable within forest types. Many species were shared between terra firme and seasonally flooded forests, but most species were forest type-specific. Whereas species richness was greatest in the terra firme forest, floodplain species richness was among the highest regionally. Conclusions: Floodplain forests are a crucial complement to terra firme forests in terms of Amazonian woody plant diversity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Structure, Function, and Dynamics of Tropical Floodplain Forests)

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13 pages, 2224 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Seasonal Rains and Floods on Seedling Recruitment and Compositional Similarity in Two Lowland Tropical Forests

by Brayan S. Polanía, Ana M. Aldana, Marius Bottin, Diana M. Cruz, Francisco Castro-Lima, Pablo R. Stevenson and Adriana Sanchez

Forests 2020, 11(12), 1297; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/f11121297 - 02 Dec 2020

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2977

Abstract

Research Highlights: Seasonally flooded and terra firme forests are characteristic ecosystems of the Colombian Orinoco Basin and of great importance in the maintenance of regional biodiversity and ecosystem function. These forests have a unimodal precipitation regime that can cause a temporal effect on the seedling regeneration niche. This could partly explain the high diversity and coexistence of plant species in these forests, as well as the similarity in composition of seedlings and trees. Background and Objectives: Seedlings are a key factor in the assembly of plant communities. We evaluated the effect of flooding and rains on the dissimilarity and compositional affinity between trees and seedlings of seasonally flooded and terra firme forests. Materials and Methods: the tree community of these forests in San Martín (Meta, Colombia) was characterized and compared with their respective seedling communities before (June) and after (December) rain and flooding (during the rainy season). We evaluated plant species diversity and abundance (Shannon diversity and Pielou eveness index), as well as the compositional dissimilarities of each tree community with their corresponding seedling community sampled at the beginning and end of rains and flooding (Bray–Curtis dissimilarity). We also compared sampling site composition using a NMDS analysis. Results: We found that the terra firme forest had higher diversity compared to the flooded forest. Seedling density in the seasonally flooded forest decreased significantly after the flood but not in the terra firme forest at the end of the rainy season. The compositional dissimilarity between trees and seedlings in the seasonally inundated forest also decreased after the flood. However, this pattern was not evident in the terra firme forest. Conclusions: These results indicate that seasonal flooding generates a strong ecological filter that affects the realized niche of plants in these forests. Our results can contribute valuable information for the effective development of assisted restoration and conservation programs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Structure, Function, and Dynamics of Tropical Floodplain Forests)

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28 pages, 8911 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Buds, Bugs and Bienniality: The Floral Biology of Eschweilera tenuifolia (O. Berg) Miers in a Black-Water Flooded Forest, Central Amazonia

by Adrian A. Barnett, Sarah A. Boyle, Natalia M. Kinap, Tereza Cristina dos Santos-Barnett, Thiago Tuma Camilo, Pia Parolin, Maria Teresa Fernandez Piedade and Bruna M. Bezerra

Forests 2020, 11(12), 1251; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/f11121251 - 25 Nov 2020

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2579

Abstract

Research Highlights: Our study establishes the biennial nature of flowering intensity as a life-time energy-conserving strategy; we show unexpectedly high flower:fruit ratios despite extensive predation of buds and flowers by insect larvae; ‘selective’ bud abortion may be a key annual energy-saving strategy. Background and Objectives: We aim to explain the strongly biennial flowering pattern of Eschweilera tenuifolia, an ecologically key tree species of Amazon blackwater-flooded forest, inundated for up to nine months annually, and with large flowers (6 cm in width). Materials and Methods: We quantified the insect infestation of central Amazonian Eschweilera tenuifolia buds and flowers; we measured nectar production from flower opening onwards, examined flower duration and monitored pollen theft. We tested the role of infestation in bud abortion, nectar production and fruit production initiation. Results: Our study shows extensive predation of buds and flowers by insect larvae, as well as selective abortion of heavily infested buds, and limited loss to pollen thieves which fed largely on infertile fodder pollen. Nectar production peaked in the morning, with no nocturnal nectar production recorded. Sucrose levels were similar to congeneric values (mean 37.4%), and near-constant during production. Flower duration (4–5 days) was longer than reported for other congenerics. Conclusions: Insect infestation of buds can play an important role in regulating flower:fruit ratios, thus setting limits on individual total seed set. Individual Eschweilera tenuifolia appear to invest highly in reproduction every second year. Extended flower duration may be a strategy to enhance pollination success, but increases overall reproductive investment. Abortion of heavily infested buds may minimize allocation of energy to malformed flowers, which have a lower chance of attracting pollinators, thus functioning as a short-term energy-saving strategy. Additionally, biennial flowering in E. tenuifolia is likely to be an energy-conserving response in a highly physiologically-challenging environment. Thus, E. tenuifolia exhibits energy-conservation strategies at two divergent temporal scales. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Structure, Function, and Dynamics of Tropical Floodplain Forests)

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17 pages, 2681 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Functional Divergence between Várzea and Igapó Forests: A Study of Functional Trait Diversity in the Colombian Orinoco Basin

by Diana Bonilla, Ana M. Aldana, Sasha Cárdenas and Adriana Sanchez

Forests 2020, 11(11), 1172; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/f11111172 - 03 Nov 2020

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3448

Abstract

Research Highlights: Functional diversity studies help to better understand how organisms respond to different environmental conditions. Conditions in tropical flooded forests are highly variable, including levels of nutrient availability, pH, and flood depth, but few studies have explored the impact of variation in these factors on plant functional diversity. Background and Objectives: In the Orinoco basin, as in the Amazon, floodplain forests have been classified into várzea (white-water rivers, with nutrient-rich soils) and igapó (black-water rivers, associated with nutrient-poor soils). We evaluated the functional diversity of plant species in várzea and igapó, as well as the influence of external and internal filters on the plant community assembly of each forest type, and compared our results with studies in the Amazon basin. Materials and Methods: Six functional traits were recorded in the várzea and igapó forests of the Colombian Orinoco basin (one-hectare plot for each forest type, with no replicates). We evaluated plant species diversity (richness, Fisher’s α, Shannon and Simpson indices), as well as functional diversity (functional richness, functional evenness, functional divergence, and functional dispersion) and the influence of external and internal filters, based on a comparison of variance at different organizational levels. Results: A high functional differentiation between várzea and igapó was found, as well as a high functional divergence within each forest type. We also observed a greater influence of internal filters on the community assembly of both forest types, compared to external filters. Functional traits such as wood density and leaf dry matter content, showed the same patterns as the várzea and igapó forests in the Amazon. Conclusions: Despite the low taxonomic and functional richness, there is high functional divergence within flooded forests. We also show that in forests under stress (e.g., from flooding), internal filters can be key in assembling communities and promote high functional divergence. Given that the functional diversity of the várzea and igapó in the Orinoco is largely unexplored, we highlight the need for more research for the effective conservation of these flooded forests. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Structure, Function, and Dynamics of Tropical Floodplain Forests)

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12 pages, 2209 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Potential Pollution Sources from Agricultural Activities on Tropical Forested Floodplain Wetlands Revealed by Soil eDNA

by Maria Fernanda Adame and Ruth Reef

Forests 2020, 11(8), 892; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/f11080892 - 17 Aug 2020

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3346

Abstract

Tropical floodplain wetlands are found in low-lying areas that are periodically inundated. During wet periods, these wetlands can receive large amounts of suspended and dissolved material from the catchment, including many potential pollutants. In this study, we use traditional isotope tracers (δ¹⁵N and δ¹³C) along with soil eDNA to investigate the sources of transported materials and potential contaminants in seven forested floodplain wetlands in tropical Australia. We hypothesised that eDNA and isotope tracers in the soil would reflect the land use of the catchment. Our goal was to test whether eDNA could be used as a potential tool to identify and monitor pollutants in floodplain wetlands. The sampling sites were located within catchments that have a mosaic of land types, from well-conserved rainforests to intensive agricultural land uses, such as grazing, sugar cane, wood production, and horticulture. The soil eDNA was comprised of a mix of plant species consistent with the land use of the catchments. Most of the eDNA pool was derived from native trees, accounting for 46.2 ± 6.5% of the total; while cultivated species associated with agricultural activities contributed to 1–24% of the total. From the cultivated species, highest contributions (>5%) were from Sorghum sp. used for grazing, banana (Musa ornata), melons (Cucumis melo), and Pinus radiata and Juniperus sp. grown for wood production. Interestingly, tropical wetlands on sites 15 km offshore had soil eDNA from agricultural activities of the mainland, highlighting the connectivity of these wetlands, probably during extensive floods. Overall, soil eDNA, more than isotopic tracers, showed promising results for tracing and monitoring potential pollutants in tropical floodplain wetlands that are highly connected and susceptible to environmental degradation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Structure, Function, and Dynamics of Tropical Floodplain Forests)

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