“Fate, luck or destiny? Succession in tropical rainforests in Singapore”
Introduction by Miriam Tsalyuk
Secondary succession in tropical rainforests is dependent on a myriad of stochastic (dispersal events) as well as deterministic factors (environmental filtering). In this talk, drawing on intensive fieldwork in recovering forests in Singapore, we determine the relative influence of stochastic and deterministic factors on forest recovery. Secondary forests in Singapore are a result of intensive cash crop plantations and subsistence farming, which started in the 1800s and gradually came to a halt in 1950s. We surveyed seedlings to adult trees in nine secondary forest and three primary forests plots; we also measured light, air temperature, relative humidity, soil nutrients, fern cover and leaf litter depth on site. Distance to nearest potential seed sources was approximated using a map. We found that the secondary forests today are surprisingly varied and recovery is occurring at different rates. We found that the structure of the seedling communities was most highly correlated with that of adult trees, which in turn had strong linkages with the above and below ground environmental factors. Using a maximum likelihood approach, our models suggest that the fern Dicranopteris spp. has the strongest overall influence on seedling recruitment in the secondary forests. In addition, functional groups of primary species, short-lived and long-lived pioneers displayed different associations with the above- and belowground resources, which indicated the importance of environmental filtering. Finally, distance to potential seed sources also affected abundance of secondary forest species, seedling density and species richness. An understanding of these interlinking factors facilitates better management decisions to hasten forest recovery.
My favorite memory as a PhD student is digging holes and escaping from elephant in Malaysia.
I wouldn’t be here without my advisor Matthew Potts and the support of my family and friends, both in Berkeley and back home!