Dissertation Research: Tropical Monodominance: A Test of Mechanisms Which Promote and Maintain the Dominance of Gilbertiodendron dewevrei

9717116科利单优势森林是不寻常的社区在低地热带地区，但他们的起源和维护是不是很清楚。本研究测试了一些机制，可能会让Gilbertiodendron dewevrei在扎伊尔东部形成单优势森林。第一个假设是，外生真菌（真菌植物根共生）是重要的起源和维护这些广泛的，单优势的森林。第二，为了验证这一假设，即Gilbertiodendron通过创造一个不适宜居住的环境来竞争性地排斥其他物种。这项研究将确定混合林物种是否无法建立在Gilbertiodendron森林，因为他们没有遇到合适的，囊状丛枝菌根真菌。此外，一些其他的机制将进行测试（如深落叶，遮荫和低养分供应），Gilbertiodendron可以排除混合森林物种的单优势森林。这项研究将最终测试一些单显性的机制，并提供其他潜在的机制的初步测试。这项研究是重要的，因为了解单优势的森林是必不可少的，我们的理解控制低地热带树木多样性的过程。最后，似乎没有一个单一的性状可以解释单显性。拟议的多方面分析应提供第一个有经验支持的框架，以了解热带单一优势森林的起源和维持。

9717116 Coley Monodominant forests are unusual communities in the lowland tropics, but their origin and maintenance is not well understood. This study tests a number of mechanisms that may allow Gilbertiodendron dewevrei to form monodominant forests in eastern Zaire. The first hypothesis is that ectomycorrhizae (fungal-plant root symbioses) are important to the origin and maintenance of these extensive, monodominant forests. Secondly, to test the hypothesis that Gilbertiodendron competitively excludes other species by creating an inhospitable environment. This study will determine if mixed-forest species are unable to establish in the Gilbertiodendron forest because they do not encounter their appropriate, vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. Furthermore, a number of other mechanisms will be tested (e.g. deep leaf litter, shade and low nutrient availability) by which Gilbertiodendron could exclude mixed-forest species from the monodominant forest. This study will conclusively test a number of mechanisms for monodominance and provide preliminary tests of other potential mechanisms. This study is important because an understanding of monodominant forests is essential to our understanding of the processes controlling lowland tropical tree diversity. Finally, it appears likely that no single character will explain monodominance. The proposed multifaceted analysis should provide the first empirically supported framework for understanding the origin and maintenance of tropical monodominant forests.