TY  - JOUR
AU  - Baraloto, C.
AU  - Couteron, P.
PY  - 2010//
TI  - Fine-scale Microhabitat Heterogeneity in a French Guianan Forest
T2  - Biotropica
JO  - Biotropica
SP  - 420
EP  - 428
VL  - 42
IS  - 4
PB  - WILEY-BLACKWELL PUBLISHING, INC
KW  - canopy gap
KW  - geostatistics
KW  - light availability
KW  - microclimate
KW  - soil moisture
KW  - soil nutrients
KW  - topography
N2  - We examined fine-scale heterogeneity of environmental conditions in a primary rain forest in French Guiana to describe variation in microhabitats that plants may experience during establishment. We characterized both the range as well as the spatial structuring of 11 environmental factors important for seedling establishment in six hexagonal sampling grids, one each in gap and understory sites at three points representing the predominant geomorphic units in this primary forest. Each grid contained 37 sampling points separated by 31 cm-20 m. Monte-Carlo tests of semivariograms against complete spatial randomness indicated that for many variables in all six sampling grids, spatial dependence did not exceed 1 m. A principal component analysis of all sampling points revealed a lack of spatial microhabitat structure, rather than homogeneous patches associated with canopy structure or geomorphology. Our results suggest that ample fine-scale spatial heterogeneity exists to support the coexistence of plant species with differential abiotic requirements for regeneration.
SN  - 0006-3606
N1  - ISI:000279438900005
ID  - Baraloto+Couteron2010
ER  -