Effects of river level
fluctuation on plant species richness, diversity and distribution in a
floodplain in Central Amazon
Oecologia: Abstract Volume 120 Issue 4 (1999) pp 582-587
By Leandro Valle Ferreira, Thomas J. Stohlgren
Summary of points:
·
River levels fluctuate up to 14 m annually
·
Most plant species are well adapted to flooding
·
However, plot species richness and diversity are strongly
negatively correlated with the water level and duration of flooding
·
In the experiment, the drier habitats hosted 54 species of trees
with 6 unique species, while the lake habitats hosted 52 species and 3 unique
species
·
Conclusions: 1. duration of flooding has a strong impact on
species richness, diversity and plant distribution patterns and 2. most species
are adapted to a wide range of habitats