Floristics and biogeography of vegetation in seasonally dry tropical regions

Citation

Dexter KG, Smart B, Baldauf C, Baker T, Balinga MPB, Brienen RJW, Fauset S, Feldpausch TR, Ferreira-Da Silva L, Muledi JI, Lewis SL, Lopez-Gonzalez G, Marimon-Junior BH, Marimon B, Meerts P, Page N, Parthasarathy N, Philipps O, Sunderland T & Jeffery KJ (2015) Floristics and biogeography of vegetation in seasonally dry tropical regions. International Forestry Review, 17 (Supplement 2), pp. 10-32. https://doi.org/10.1505/146554815815834859

Abstract
To provide an inter-continental overview of the floristics and biogeography of drought-adapted tropical vegetation formations, we compiled a dataset of inventory plots in South America (n=93), Africa (n=84), and Asia (n=92) from savannas (subject to fire), seasonally dry tropical forests (not generally subject to fire), and moist forests (no fire). We analysed floristic similarity across vegetation formations within and between continents. Our dataset strongly suggests that different formations tend to be strongly clustered floristically by continent, and that among continents, superficially similar vegetation formations (e.g. savannas) are floristically highly dissimilar. Neotropical moist forest, savanna and seasonally dry tropical forest are floristically distinct, but elsewhere there is no clear floristic division of savanna and seasonally dry tropical forest, though moist and dry formations are separate. We suggest that because of their propensity to burn, many formations termed “dry forest” in Africa and Asia are best considered as savannas. The floristic differentiation of similar vegetation formations from different continents suggests that cross-continental generalisations of the ecology, biology and conservation of savannas and seasonally dry tropical forests may be difficult.

Keywords
savanna; seasonally dry tropical forest; moist forest; metacommunities; resilience

Notes
Additional co-authors: I. Theilade, J. Weintritt, K. Affum-Baffoe, A. Araujo, L. Arroyo, S.K. Begne, E. Carvalho-Das Neves, M. Collins, A. Cuni-Sanchez, M.N.K. Djuikouo, F. Elias, E.G. Foli, T.J. Killeen, Y. Malhi, L. Maracahipes, C. Mendoza, A. Monteagudo-Mendoza, P. Morandi, C. Oliveira-Dos Santos, A.G. Parada, G. Pardo, K.S.-H. Peh, R.P. Salomão, M. Silveira, H. Sinatora-Miranda, J.W.F. Slik, B. Sonke, H.E. Taedoumg, M. Toledo, R.K. Umetsu, R.G. Villaroel, V.A. Vos, L.J.T. White, and R.T. Pennington.

Journal
International Forestry Review: Volume 17, Issue Supplement 2

People

Ms Kathryn Jeffery

Research Fellow, Biological and Environmental Sciences