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The effect of water-level fluctuations on swamp forest colonization by seedlings of <i>Tabebuia cassinoides</i> DC. (Bignoniaceae)
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Open Journal of Ecology·Volume 01 (2011)·Pages 63–64·Published 25 November 2011·DOI10.4236/oje.2011.13008
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Abstract
Establishment of Tabebuia cassinoides seedlings is related to water-level fluctuations in southeastern Brazil swamp forests. Nine years of annual monitoring of 48 individuals established during a drought in November 1997, when the swamp was unflooded, suggested that their establishment depends on this unpredictable event. This conclusion is further sustained by the wide variability of the seedling cohort size structure, and the fascicular root conformation that holds the shoots erect.
KeywordsTropical Rain ForestWetlandSeedling EstablishmentSafe SiteRoot Morphology
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