Patterns and Mechanisms of Light Gap Regeneration in a Caribbean Mangrove Forest

红树林生境是高生产力的生态系统 具有重要的生态、经济和美学价值。 它们在世界范围内被退化和破坏， 人类活动引起的沿海地区局部和全球变化 环境由于地理分布广泛， 关于红树林的研究却少得惊人 树木再生和树木生活史的相互作用 这个过程这项研究将探讨模式和机制 在加勒比海的红树林， 强调干扰产生的林冠间隙的作用。的 研究将确定控制森林再生的因素 从而阐明重要的基本生态问题 关于生态位划分与 构建植物组合的彩票过程。此外，本发明还提供了一种方法， 本研究中收集的信息对于以下方面至关重要： 预测不同种类的栖息地 变更。特别是，这项研究将调查 树种生活史与种子传播的相互作用， 土壤养分水平、干扰、食草动物和种间 交互. %%% 这项研究是一个重要的贡献， 了解与环境相关的进程和机制， 热带红树林动态尽管广泛 红树林植被的地理分布， 对自然扰动机制和动力学的研究很少 这一重要的沿海植被类型。研究 本提案中描述的协议包含一个最 全面尝试测量模式和实验 热带红树林更新过程中的地址 森林

Mangrove forest habitats are highly productive ecosystems that have significant ecological, economic, and aesthetic value. They are being degraded and destroyed world-wide by human-induced, local and global alterations of the coastal environment. Given the broad geographic distribution of mangroves, there have been surprisingly few studies of canopy tree regeneration and the interplay of tree life histories with this process. This study will investigate patterns and mechanisms of canopy tree regeneration in a Caribbean mangrove forest, with an emphasis on the role of disturbance-generated canopy gaps. The study will identify the factors that control forest regeneration and thereby shed light on important basic ecological questions concerning the relative roles of niche partitioning versus lottery processes in structuring plant assemblages. In addition, the information gathered in this study is essential for predicting the consequences of different kinds of habitat alteration. In particular, this study will investigate the interactions of tree species life histories with seed dispersal, soil nutrient levels, disturbance, herbivory, and interspecific interactions. %%% This study represents an important contribution to the understanding of processes and mechanisms associated with the dynamics of tropical mangrove forests. Despite the broad geographic distribution of mangrove vegetation, there has been a paucity of studies on the natural disturbance regime and dynamics of this important type of coastal vegetation. The research protocol described in this proposal contains one of the most comprehensive attempts to measure pattern and experimentally address processes in the regeneration of tropical mangrove forests.