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Fire survival of lowland tropical rain forest trees in relation to stem diameter and topographic position

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Abstract

The objective of this study was to relate patterns in forest structure, tree species diversity, and tree species composition to stem diameters and topography in unburned, once burned and twice burned lowland dipterocarp rain forests in East Kalimantan, Indonesia. To do this four unburned old growth forests were compared with three forests that burned once (1997/1998) and three forests that burned twice (1982/1983 and 1997/1998). Fire resulted in a strong reduction of climax tree density which was negatively related to tree diameter. However, a disproportionate reduction in small diameter understorey climax tree species occurred only after repeated fires. Climax tree species in both burned forest types were most common in swamps, river valleys and on lower slopes, while their density was much lower on places higher along hillsides. In unburned forest the opposite was observed, with climax tree density increasing steadily from swamp and river valleys to upper slopes and ridges. In contrast to climax trees, pioneer trees were abundant throughout the burned forest, with highest numbers on hill sides and ridges. Our results indicate that both diameter and topographic position of trees strongly affect their fire survival chances in tropical lowland forests.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Dr. Kade Sidiyasa and his herbarium crew Arifin Zainal and Adriansyah for the excellent help in the field and for the accurate identification of the collected plant material. Sumi Yuami and Mahadi proved to be very helpful and good field assistants. We are also grateful to Bas van Helvoort and Tropenbos International for the good logistical support of our fieldwork. INHUTANI I and PT-ITCI are acknowledged for granting us permission to work in their concession areas. We thank LIPI for providing us with the necessary research permits. This research was made possible thanks to financial support by the Dutch Foundation for the Advancement of Tropical Research (WOTRO), priority program 'Biodiversity of Disturbed Ecosystems', grand number: 895.100.026.

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  1. Leiden University Branch, Nationaal Herbarium Nederland, Einsteinweg 2, P.O. Box 9514, 2300 RA, Leiden, The Netherlands

    J. W. F. Slik & K. A. O. Eichhorn

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  1. J. W. F. Slik
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Correspondence to J. W. F. Slik.

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Slik, J.W.F., Eichhorn, K.A.O. Fire survival of lowland tropical rain forest trees in relation to stem diameter and topographic position. Oecologia 137, 446–455 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-003-1359-4

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