Demography and Ecophysiology of Regeneration of Tropical Rain Forest Trees

本研究的目的是研究热带湿润森林树种的生长和存活模式，并确定对这些模式影响最大的因素。该项目是对哥斯达黎加热带湿润森林(热带研究组织La Selva生物站)树冠和新生树种多样性的长期、多学科研究的继续。这一阶段的研究将集中在植物种群过程、幼树和成虫对环境条件的光合作用和生长反应，以及森林水平的光环境评估。将使用电子光传感器和计算机分析森林树冠的新技术来测量更新期间树木的光可获得性的分布和变化。还将收集有关幼树和成虫的生理特征(光合作用能力)的数据，这些幼树和成虫的生长历史和光环境已知。这种综合信息对于理解和管理热带森林至关重要，只有结合不同领域的专门知识才能获得。

The purpose of this research is to examine patterns of growth and survivorship of tropical wet forest tree species, and to determine the factors which most influence these patterns. This project is a continuation of a long-term, multidisciplinary study of a diverse spectrum of canopy and emergent tree species in a Costa Rican Tropical wet forest (the La Selva Biological Station of the Organization for Tropical Studies). This phase of the research will focus on plant population processes, photosynthetic and growth responses of saplings and adults to environmental conditions, and forest-level evaluation of the light environment. Electronic light sensors and new techniques for computerized analysis of the forest canopy will be used to measure the distribution and variation in light availability to the trees during regeneration. Data will also be gathered on the physiological characteristics (photosynthetic capacity) of saplings and adults with known histories of growth and light environment. Such integrated information is critical for understanding and managing tropical forests, and can be obtained only by combining expertise from different fields.