Ecology and management of a neotropical rainforest: lessons drawn from Paracou, a long-term experimental research site in French Guiana

Abstract

The spatial patterns of the most abundant tree species on the Paracou experimental plots were all characterised using the same standard method based on the point process theory. Due to the local heterogeneity of environmental conditions, we analysed each species-plot combination independently. They were classified into three types of process (random, regular or aggregated) at different spatial scales. Most species exhibited aggregated patterns and the others showed various spatial structures, depending on the plot. In some cases, this variability could be explained by soil conditions, and in others cases the structures are so complex that we could only suggest possible explanations. These results are then discussed in the light of results previously obtained in other studies conducted on the same species using different methods. We conclude with some methodological proposals.