Spatial Heterogeneity Patterns — a Comparison Between Gorges and Ridges in the Upper Part of an Evergreen Lower Montane Forest

Abstract

In the RBSF, as in many tropical mountain regions, the topographyconsists of a complex system of crests, ridges, steep slopes, valleysand gorges. These different physical features have an influence onthe vegetation composition, stand structure and further processes,which also change with increasing elevation (Lieberman et al. 1996;see Part III 1 in this volume) as well as at the same elevation inline with the topography along a horizontal gradient (Takyu et al.2002; Tanner 1977). ‘The topography, including the elevation, isa major physical factor, which affects the composition, growth, anddistribution of tropical forests’ (cf. Basnet 1992). Climate parameterssuch as wind speed and light condition or transpiration (see Chapter16 in this volume) may be different at ridges and gorges. Becauseof erosion of soils, soil contents are expected to accumulate onlower slopes and in valleys and gorges (Kubota et al. 2004). Therefore,the hypothesis for the study was that changes in abiotic parametersalter the vegetation structure and composition along the verticalgradient as well as along the horizontal gradient formed by the topographicalstructure in the lower part of the RBSF (see Chapter 10.3 in thisvolume).