Plant community structure and function in a swamp forest within the Atlantic rain forest complex: a synthesis

• Main Author: Fabio Rubio Scarano
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Instituto de Pesquisas Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro
• Series: Rodriguésia
• Subjects: clonal growth; epiphytes; functional groups; photosynthesis; swamp forest
• Online Access: http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S2175-78602006000300491&lng=en&tlng=en

ABSTRACT This paper synthesises a decade of research on a swamp forest within the Atlantic forest complex in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. I propose that this swamp is a fragile ecosystem, since its diversity and functioning are highly dependent on a specific interaction between two functional groups: shade-providers (locally rare trees) and providers of safe germination sites (terrestrial bromeliads). This conclusion is based on a broad set of data regarding plant ecophysiology, population and community ecology and phytogeography, which I review here. I discuss the implications of these findings for conservation and restoration of swamps at the Atlantic forest complex.