Latin America and Caribbean
Especies para reforestación en Nicaragua (Species for Reforestation in Nicaragua)BackgroundThis manual provides information about multipurpose trees in Nicaragua. Available with subscription or purchase |
Understory Development in Young Cordia alliodora PlantationsbackgroundThis article presents the findings of a study evaluating the biomass and composition of understory plants in 1- and 5- year old plantations at the La Selva Biological Station in Costa Rica. Reserach Goals & MethodsThis study sampled plantations of Cordia alliodora in monoculture plots and in polyculture plots with trees interplanted with monocots (Euterpe macrospadix, Euterpe oleracea, and Heliconia imbricata). Available with subscription or purchase |
Tropical Forest Restoration: Tree Islands As Recruitment Foci In Degraded Lands Of HondurasBackgroundMethods to accelerate forest recovery must address a number of impediments including limits on seed dispersal and microclimactic extremes. This study evaluates the ability of tree islands to serve as recruitment foci for additional seeds in a two-year study in northern Honduras. Available with subscription or purchase |
Effects of Artificial Roosts for Frugivorous Bats on Seed Dispersal in a Neotropical Forest Pasture MosaicbackgroundThis article evaluates whether the installation of bat roosts into abandoned pasture sites can attract frigivorous bats into pasture areas and encourage seed rain of early-successional plant species. Available with subscription or purchase |
Barriers to Forest Regeneration of Deforested and Abandoned Land in PanamaBackgroundThis article presents research findings on the effect of four limiting factors on tree regeneration: competition with the exotic grass Saccharum spontanaeum, seed dispersal limitation, fire, and soil nutrient deficiency. Research Goals & MethodsTreatments included prescribed grass cutting and burning, as well as the placement of plots at different distances from adjacent forest. Open access copy available |
Postdispersal Seed Fate of Tropical Montane Trees in an Agricultural Landscape, Southern Costa RicabackgroundThis study seeks to understand postdispersal seed fate in Montane Costa Rica in order to better identify factors driving forest regeneration. Available with subscription or purchase |
Seed germination of Loxopterygium guasango, a threatened tree of coastal Northwestern South AmericabackgroundLoxopterygium guasango is a tree native to Ecuador with threatened status as of 1993, despite its durable wood, history of timber use, and potential use in reforestation. This study reports on seed germination, a potential cause of its low regeneration rates. Open access copy available |
Natural History, Seed Predation, and Germination of Prosopis juliflora Relative to a Reforestation Project in Southwestern EcuadorbackgroundThis article provides information on the natural history of Prosopis juliflora in Ecuador and describes the efforts to use this native species in reforestation of tropical dry forest in the Proyecto Eduardo Aspiazu Estrata project. Research Goals & MethodsOver 200 sacks of pods (around 15-20 kg) of seeds were collected in March-May 1994 and examined at the seed bank. Open access copy available |
Seed rain and seed limitation in a planted gallery forest in BrazilBackgroundSeed dispersal by wind (anemochorous) and animals, usually birds and bats (zoochorous), is an important driver of succession. This study examines seed rain in a planted gallery forest (riparian corridor) in Brazil. Available with subscription or purchase |
Direct Seeding to Restore Tropical Mature-Forest Species in Areas of Slash-and-Burn AgriculturebackgroundDirect seeding of three mature-forest species into areas of slash-and-burn agriculture was conducted to evaluate the germination and establishment of these species. Research Goals & MethodsDifferent fallow times were evaluated, less than 5 years, 8-15 years, and greater than 50 years. Germination, survival, and growth for 1-2 years was evaluated for 1800 seeds planted per species (200 on each of three replicate sites per forest age). Open access copy available |
