The effect of elevation on species richness in tropical forests depends on the considered lifeform: results from an East African mountain forest

摘要: Elevation gradients in tropical forests have been studied but the analysis of patterns displayed by species richness and elevation received little attention. We examined whether effect on varies according to forest lifeforms main plant families Kahuzi-Biega National Park, within Albertine Rift. established 20 1-ha plots from 810 2760 m asl. Inside each plot, inventories were carried out three nested sub-plots: tree lifeform (i.e. with a dbh ≥ 10 cm), shrub (dbh < 10 cm) herbaceous lifeform. For trees shrubs (woody lifeforms) abundance data number individuals per species) taken into account whereas was surveyed using presence–absence data. plotted counts vs for ten richest resorted Poisson regression models assess statistical meanings results. Hurdle (truncated regression) used overdispersion woody lifeforms, we observed monotonic decrease richness, while appeared be increasing Woody various vegetation considered families, therefore, contrasting general pattern These findings suggest existence specific eco-physiological properties pertaining family-specific richness.