Ecología de los robledales de altura (bosque de Quercus) maduros y en recuperación en la Cordillera de Talamanca, Costa Rica
In order to understand changes in woody species richness along an altitudinal gradient in Talamancan montane Quercus forests (Costa Rica) we conducted a general floristic inventory as well as a detailed altitudinal transect analysis. Woody species richness was compared for forests at 2000 and 2300 m (lower montane) and 2600, 2900 and 3200 m (upper montane). In total we recorded 477 woody species (92 percent dicots) in 223 genera and 90 families. Best-represented families were Rubiaceae, Lauraceae, Melastomataceae and Myrsinaceae in lower montane forests, and Ericaceae, Rosaceae, Poaceae and Asteraceae in upper montane forests. Species-rich genera were Chusquea (16 spp.), Miconia (13), Ocotea (12), Palicourea (10), Oreopanax (9), Piper (9) Rubus (9) and Solanum (9). Numbers of woody species decline continuously with increasing altitude. A comparison between Talamancan montane Quercus forests and montane forests of the northern Andes shows the great phytogeographical affinity between both neotropical montane forest regions.
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | biblioteca |
| Published: |
Amsterdam (Países Bajos)
1995
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| Subjects: | QUERCUS, ALTITUD, BIODIVERSIDAD, COMPOSICION BOTANICA, COSTA RICA, |
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| Summary: | In order to understand changes in woody species richness along an altitudinal gradient in Talamancan montane Quercus forests (Costa Rica) we conducted a general floristic inventory as well as a detailed altitudinal transect analysis. Woody species richness was compared for forests at 2000 and 2300 m (lower montane) and 2600, 2900 and 3200 m (upper montane). In total we recorded 477 woody species (92 percent dicots) in 223 genera and 90 families. Best-represented families were Rubiaceae, Lauraceae, Melastomataceae and Myrsinaceae in lower montane forests, and Ericaceae, Rosaceae, Poaceae and Asteraceae in upper montane forests. Species-rich genera were Chusquea (16 spp.), Miconia (13), Ocotea (12), Palicourea (10), Oreopanax (9), Piper (9) Rubus (9) and Solanum (9). Numbers of woody species decline continuously with increasing altitude. A comparison between Talamancan montane Quercus forests and montane forests of the northern Andes shows the great phytogeographical affinity between both neotropical montane forest regions. |
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