Short and Long-Term Soil Moisture Effects of Liana Removal in a Seasonally Moist Tropical Forest.

ABSTRACT: Lianas (woody vines) are particularly abundant in tropical forests, and their abundance is increasing in the neotropics. Lianas can compete intensely with trees for above- and belowground resources, including water. As tropical forests experience longer and more intense dry seasons, competition for water is likely to intensify. However, we lack an understanding of how liana abundance affects soil moisture and hence competition with trees for water in tropical forests. To address this critical knowledge gap, we conducted a large-scale liana removal experiment in a seasonal tropical moist forest in central Panama. We monitored shallow and deep soil moisture over the course of three years to assess the effects of lianas in eight 0.64 ha removal plots and eight control plots. Liana removal cau

SUBMITTER: Reid JP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4636185 | biostudies-literature | 2015

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature