Tropical Forest Community Ecology

Increased wind disturbance

Elevated tree mortality

Invasion of disturbance-adapted butterflies

Altered spp. composition of leaf-litter antsInvasion of disturbance-adapted beetlesAltered spp. composition of leaf-litter invertebrates

Altered abundance and diversity of leaf-litter invertebratesAltered height of greatest foliage density

Lower relative humidity

Faster recruitment of disturbance-adapted trees

Reduced canopy height

Reduced soil moisture

Lower canopy-foliage densityIncreased

13 C in understory leaves

Increased air temperatureIncreased temperature and vapor pressure deficitReduced understory-bird abundance

Elevated litterfallIncreased photosynthetically active radiation in understory

Lower relative humidityIncreased number of treefall gapsIncreased

13 C in understory air

Higher understory-foliage density

Increased seedling growthInvasion of disturbance-adapted plantsLower leaf relative-water contentsLower soil-moisture contentHigher vapor pressure deficit

Higher leaf conductanceIncreased phosphorus content of falling leavesInvasion of disturbance-adapted plantsIncreased recruitment of

Cecropia

spp.

Reduced density of fungal fruiting bodies

Edge parameter

0

100

200

300

400

500

Ed

ge penetration distance (m)

Figure 27.4

When fragmented, Amazonian forests are altered by a

great diversity of edge effects that penetrate to varying distances

into forest interiors (after

Laurance

et al.

2002b).