Demographic consequences of heterogeneity in conspecific density dependence among mast-fruiting tropical trees.

ABSTRACT: The role of conspecific density dependence (CDD) in the maintenance of species richness is a central focus of tropical forest ecology. However, tests of CDD often ignore the integrated effects of CDD over multiple life stages and their long-term impacts on population demography. We combined a 10-year time series of seed production, seedling recruitment and sapling and tree demography of three dominant Southeast Asian tree species that adopt a mast-fruiting phenology. We used these data to construct individual-based models that examine the effects of CDD on population growth rates (λ) across life-history stages. Recruitment was driven by positive CDD for all species, supporting the predator satiation hypothesis, while negative CDD affected seedling and sapling growth of two species,

SUBMITTER: O'Brien MJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9198787 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature