Contract Number ERBTS3*CT940328
STRUCTURE AND DYNAMICS OF LOWLAND DIPTEROCARP
RAIN FOREST IN SABAH, BORNEO : ROLE OF UNDERSTOREY
AND DROUGHT IN PRIMARY AND LOGGED FOREST
Objectives
The main objectives are as follows :
- To estimate mortality, recruitment and growth in primary forest.
- To extend sampling to logged forests.
- To relate spatial dynamics and patterning of species to local topographic factors.
- To gain an understanding of the role of understorey species in natural and logged forest growth and regeneration.
- To investigate the interactions between understorey species trees and small trees of overstorey species.
- To model dynamics and change in time and predict effects of disturbance on regrowth.
Activities
The key activities envisaged are :
- To remeasure (second enumeration) two permanent 4 ha plots after 8-9 years at Danum.
- To set up and measure 16 new 0.2 ha plots to examine 'ridge /drought' factors, six in primary and ten in logged forests.
- To measure smaller trees and saplings with large and new plots for Euphorbiaceae (understorey species) especially.
- To model growth and neighbour effects in the 10-50 cm gbh class.
Expected Outcome
The aim is to achieve an enhanced understanding of tropical forest dynamics which involves the understorey tree species. These appear to be indicators of past history of drought and the selected species in the primary forest, and in the logged forest where drought effects are more pronounced, provide a 'nurse-stand' for the saplings of the overstorey species. It is predicted that recovery of the Bornean forest overstorey after logging is critically dependent on the dynamics of the understorey. This has important implications for forestry practice in the tropics and may call for an evaluation of the role of the understorey species.
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