Publications des scientifiques de l'IRD

Kahn Francis. (1986). Life forms of Amazonian palms in relation to forest structure and dynamics. Biotropica, 18 (3), p. 214-218.

Titre du document
Life forms of Amazonian palms in relation to forest structure and dynamics
Année de publication
1986
Type de document
Article
Auteurs
Kahn Francis
Source
Biotropica, 1986, 18 (3), p. 214-218
Two Amazonian terra firme forests present contrasting structures and palm compositions : one is characterized by tall and broadtrunked trees up to 50 m in height and 2.5 m in DBH, and by tall arborescent palms ; the other by more modest-sized trees up to 40 m in height and 1.3 m in DBH, and by abundant acaulescent and smaller arborescent palms. This comparison strongly suggests that forest structure and dynamics influence life forms, palms size, and species diversity. Gap size, which mainly depends on the size of upper-canopy trees, determines the intensity of light reaching the understory and thus influences the development of arborescent palms. In this analysis, acaulescent forms are regarded as an adaptation to forests with small trees and resultant small gaps. (Résumé d'auteur)
Plan de classement
Végétation [082VEGET]
Descripteurs
FORET DENSE ; DYNAMIQUE DE VEGETATION ; FORMATION VEGETALE ; INVENTAIRE ; ARCHITECTURE DE LA VEGETATION ; DEVELOPPEMENT ; FEUILLE ; ARBRE ; ARBRE PIONNIER ; CANOPEE ; RAMIFICATION ; PALMIER ; LUMIERE JOUR
Description Géographique
AMAZONAS BRESIL
Localisation
Fonds IRD [F B24058] ; Montpellier (Centre IRD) ; Quito
Identifiant IRD
fdi:24058
Contact