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The influence of biogeographic and ecological heterogeneity on Amazonian pollen spectra

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 November 2001

MARK B. BUSH
Affiliation:
Department of Biological Sciences, Florida Institute of Technology, 150 W. University Blvd, Melbourne, FL 32901, USA
ENRIQUE MORENO
Affiliation:
Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Balboa, Panama
PAULO E. DE OLIVEIRA
Affiliation:
Field Museum, Roosevelt Road at Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, Il 60605, USA
EDUARDO ASANZA
Affiliation:
Institute of Ecology, University of Georgia, GA 30602, USA
PAUL A. COLINVAUX
Affiliation:
Marine Biological Laboratories, Woods Hole, MA 02543, USA

Abstract

The influence of gamma- (γ) and beta- (β) diversity on modern pollen rain is assessed using data from three Amazonian forests. Pollen rain of 79 forest locations was collected in modified Oldfield pollen traps between 1991 and 1993. Pollen diversity in the traps was high with > 280 palynomorph types recognized. Gamma diversity was assessed by comparing lowland terra firme forests in Cuyabeno, Ecuador, with two terra firme forests near Manaus, Brazil. The influence of β-diversity on local pollen rain was investigated using samples collected from neighbouring terra firme forests, seasonally flooded forests, and Mauritia-rich forests at Cuyabeno, Ecuador. Multivariate analyses revealed that γ-diversity produces a stronger signal in the pollen rain than β-diversity. However, β-diversity is accurately reflected in the pollen rain when the diversity is an expression of strong environmental gradients.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© 2001 Cambridge University Press

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