Neighborhood diversity of large trees shows independent species patterns in a mixed dipterocarp forest in Sri Lanka

• DOI: 10.1890/14-1477.1
• Publication Date: 2015-03-30T16:13:13Z
• Authors: Ruwan Punchi-Manage; Thorsten Wiegand; Kerstin Wiegand; Stephan Getzin; Andreas Huth; C. V. Savitri Gun...; I. A. U. Nimal Gu...
• Keywords: Sri lanka

Interactions among neighboring individuals influence plant performance and should create spatial patterns in local community structure. In order to assess the role of large trees generating species richness, we used individual species–area relationship (ISAR) evaluate richness different size classes (and dead trees) circular neighborhoods with varying radius around focal species. To reveal signals interactions, compared ISAR function that randomly selected nearby locations. We expected strongly affect structure smaller their neighborhood, but these effects fade away increasing class. Unexpectedly, found only few showed interactions this was less likely for abundant However, relatively weak departures from independence were consistent expectations effect competition space dispersal syndrome on patterns. A noisy signal built up gradually life stage; it not yet present saplings detectable intermediates. Additionally, animal‐dispersed seeds higher neighborhood than those gravity‐ gyration‐dispersed seeds. Our analysis across entire ontogeny recruits supports hypothesis stochastic dilute deterministic highly diverse communities. Stochastic dilution is a consequence geometry biodiversity species‐rich communities where identities nearest neighbors given are largely unpredictable. While outcome governed each by fitness niche differences, variability competitors causes also outcomes does allow strong directed responses at level. Collectively, our results highlight critical structuring tropical forest diversity.