Mortality and diameter growth of lianas in a semideciduous forest fragment in Southeastern Brazil

This is a 30-month study of mortality rates and diameter growth rates of lianas in a semideciduous forest fragment in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais State, Brazil. Results are presented for 484 specimens of lianas, of which 103 experienced individual mortality (21.3% of the sampled population). Mortality varied according to class of stem diameter, but did not vary throughout the months of year, or between seasons or years. Mortality rates were higher than those recorded in other studies, perhaps due to the age of this secondary forest. Stem diameter growth rates were measured for 385 lianas, the survivors after 30 months plus four plants that died just before the final census, and averaged 1.2mm/year, ranging from 0mm/year (Chioccoca alba) to 4.8mm/year (Acacia sp.), significantly slower than the known growth rates in tropical trees in other areas.