Paciorek, C.J., R. Condit, S.P. Hubbell, and R.B. Foster. 2000. The demographics of resprouting in tree and shrub species of a moist tropical forest. Journal of Ecology 88(5):765-777.

Copyright 2000 British Ecological Society.

Abstract

1. Resprouting by woody plants has been studied in forests subject to serious disturbance such as hurricanes, tornadoes, fire, and logging, but has received little attention in relatively undisturbed tropical forest.

2. To assess the importance of resprouting for forest dynamics, we estimated resprouting rates and mortality rates of resprouted individuals for the forest as a whole and at the species level in a 50-ha permanent plot in tropical moist forest on Barro Colorado Island, Panama. We tested for differences between species and asked whether the differences were related to phylogeny, growth form (shrub, understory, midstory, or canopy species), and shade tolerance.

3. Among individuals not known to have resprouted previously, we estimate that 1.6% of individuals in both small and large size classes (10-99 mm dbh and >=100 mm dbh) are damaged and resprout in a year, while 2.1% of individuals 10-99 mm dbh and 1.4% of individuals >=100 mm dbh die in a year. Annual mortality of resprouted individuals was 9.2% among individuals 10-99 mm dbh and 9.8% among individuals >=100 mm dbh. This resulted in the survival of 61-63% of resprouted individuals over five years, lower than the 89-92% survival among individuals not known to have resprouted recently.

4. Resprouting rates varied by species and family, but little between growth forms. Species in the families Lauraceae and Piperaceae had high rates of resprouting. Resprouting was common across the spectrum of shade tolerance.

5. We present a picture of frequent damage to woody forest plants on Barro Colorado Island and a common ability to respond by resprouting. In forests with high levels of resprouting, life as a woody plant involves both increases and decreases in size. Resprouting ability may be an important life history characteristic of woody species in moist tropical forest.