Dissertation Research: Relative Effects of Differential Seed and Seedling Predation by Crabs on Tropical Forest Composition and Structure

论文研究：蟹类捕食差异种子和幼苗对热带森林组成和结构的相关影响

• 批准号: 0104791
• 负责人: C. Ronald Carroll
• 金额: $ 0.77万
• 依托单位: University of Georgia Research Foundation Inc
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2001
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2001-06-15 至 2003-05-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0104791&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Dissertation; Research; Relative; Effects; Differential

DOCTORAL DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Relative Effects of Differential Seed and Seedling Predation by Crabs on Tropical Forest Composition and Structure0104791- Carroll. Ecologists have debated for more than a century in the theoretical literature over the predominant mechanisms that structure plant communities over a heterogeneous landscape. Proposed mechanisms include plant response to variable environmental conditions, differential seed dispersal, differential competitive abilities among plant species, and differential seed predation. There have been few empirical comparative studies that investigate the relative importance of these proposed hypotheses. Recently, several studies have debated the significance of differential herbivory versus plant response to environmental conditions on observed mangrove community shifts, yet no comparable investigations have been conducted in terrestrial forests. Preliminary data from a secondary coastal forest in Costa Rica suggests that herbivorous land crabs and terrestrial hermit crabs have the ability to induce the shifts in forest community structure observed in tropical coastal forests. Through the use of vegetation analyses, seed traps, crab exclosures and controls, and manipulations of environmental conditions, this dissertation research will determine the relative effect of seed and seedling predation pressure by crabs on the patterns of coastal forest regeneration. The results of this study will be of practical management use in coastal forest conservation efforts throughout the tropics. Researcher collaborations with faculty and students of the Universidad Nacional Autonoma of Costa Rica fosters an essential working relationship among native Costa Ricans and the Cabo Blanco Absolute Reserve that is viewed as the model of conservation by their Park Service.

博士论文研究：蟹类对种子和幼苗的不同捕食对热带森林组成和结构的相对影响。 生态学家在理论文献中争论了世纪多，争论的焦点是异质景观中植物群落结构的主要机制。 提出的机制包括植物对不同环境条件的反应，差异种子传播，植物物种之间的差异竞争能力，以及差异种子捕食。 有一些实证比较研究，调查这些提出的假设的相对重要性。 最近，一些研究已经讨论了差异的草食动物与植物对环境条件的反应观察到的红树林群落变化的意义，但没有类似的调查已经在陆地森林进行。 从哥斯达黎加沿海次生林的初步数据表明，草食性陆蟹和陆地寄居蟹有能力引起在热带沿海森林中观察到的森林群落结构的变化。本论文的研究将透过植被分析、种子陷阱、蟹类围封与控制、环境条件的操控，来确定蟹类对种子与幼苗的捕食压力对海岸森林更新模式的相对影响。 这项研究的结果将在整个热带地区的沿海森林保护工作的实际管理使用。 研究人员与哥斯达黎加国立自治大学的教师和学生的合作促进了当地哥斯达黎加人和卡波布兰科绝对保护区之间的重要工作关系，该保护区被视为公园管理局的保护模式。