Censusing and Measuring Lianas: A Quantitative Comparison of the Common Methods

Authors

Stefan A. Schnitzer, Marquette UniversityFollow
Saara J. DeWalt, Clemson UniversityFollow
Jérôme Chave, CNRS and Université Paul SabatierFollow

Document Type

Article

Language

eng

Publication Date

9-2006

Publisher

Wiley

Source Publication

Biotropica

Source ISSN

0006-3606

Abstract

Lianas contribute to many aspects of tropical forest diversity and dynamics, and interest in liana ecology has grown substantially in recent years. Methods to census lianas and estimate biomass, however, differ among studies, possibly hindering attempts to compare liana communities. At Nouragues Research Station (French Guiana), we tested the extent to which liana abundance, basal area, and estimated biomass differed depending on stem diameter measurement location, inclusion of ramets, inclusion of lianas rooted within versus passing through the plot, and plot shape. We found that the mean per plot abundance and basal area of lianas were significantly greater when lianas were measured low on the stem, when ramets were included, and when lianas were sampled in transects (2 × 50 m) than in square plots (10 × 10 m). Mean per plot liana abundance and basal area were 21 percent and 58 percent greater, when stems were measured at the largest spot on the stem compared to 130 cm from the ground, respectively. Including liana ramets increased average per plot liana abundance, basal area, and estimated biomass by 19, 17, and 16 percent, respectively. To facilitate cross‐study comparisons, we developed conversion equations that equate liana abundance, diameter, and basal area based on the measurements taken at four different stem locations. We tested these equations at Lambir Hills National Park, Malaysia and found that they did not differ significantly between the two sites, suggesting that the equations may be broadly applicable. Finally, we present a new allometric equation relating diameter and biomass developed from 424 lianas from five independent data sets collected in four countries.

Comments

Accepted version. Biotropica, Vol. 38, No. 5 (September 2006): 581-591. DOI. © 2006 Wiley. Used with permission.

Stefan A, Schnitzer was affiliated with University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee at the time of publication.

Recommended Citation

Schnitzer, Stefan A.; DeWalt, Saara J.; and Chave, Jérôme, "Censusing and Measuring Lianas: A Quantitative Comparison of the Common Methods" (2006). Biological Sciences Faculty Research and Publications. 792.
https://epublications.marquette.edu/bio_fac/792