Facilitation influences patterns of perennial species abundance and richness in a subtropical dune system.

ABSTRACT: Positive interactions in plant communities are under-reported in subtropical systems most likely because they are not identified as stressful environments. However, environmental factors or disturbance can limit plant growth in any system and lead to stressful conditions. For instance, salinity and low nutrient and water availability generate a gradient of stressful conditions in coastal systems depending on distance to shore. In a tropical coastal system in SE Brazil, we aimed to assess whether Guapira opposita, a shrub common in restinga environments, acted as nurse involved in ecological succession and which factors influenced its facilitation process. We sampled perennial species above 10 cm in height under the canopy of 35 G. opposita individuals and in neighbouri

SUBMITTER: Dalotto CES 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5888537 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature