Geographical, taxonomical and ecological aspects of lianas in subtropical forests of Argentina

MALIZIA A.; CAMPANELLO P.I.; VILLAGRA M.; CEBALLOS S.

Biodiversity of lianas

Springer-Verlag

Año: 2015; p. 17 - 42

Lianas are more diverse and typically more abundant in tropical than temperate forests, with subtropical forests in between. In this chapter, we revised geographical, taxonomical and ecological patterns of woody lianas in subtropical forests of Northern Argentina, including Mountain Forests (MF), Atlantic Forests (AF); and Dry and Humid Chaco Forests (DCh and HCh, repectively). A total of 184 woody species of climbing habit were registered for all four subtropical forests, being 35 species exclusive of MF, 38 exclusive of AF, while DCh and HCh had 2 and 8 exclusive species, respectively. In MF most liana species belonged to Sapindaceae and Bignoniaceae (16% each), followed by Malpighiaceae (11%) and Apocynaceae (10%). In AF most liana species belonged to Bignoniaceae (21%) followed by Apocynaceae (12%), Fabaceae (11%), Malpighiaceae (11%) and Sapindaceae (10%). Considering all liana species together, the most common climbing mechanisms used were tendrils and twiners. The highest liana density was observed in the semideciduous Atlantic Forest, followed by the deciduous Humid Chaco Forest and the semideciduous Montane Forest. The semideciduous Atlantic Forest has also relatively high liana richness and diversity compared to other subtropical forests, but in this case, followed by semideciduous Montane Forest. Disturbances may be the factor driven the observed pattern, besides the confluence of two phytogeographical domains in the semideciduous Atlantic Forest. Other than disturbance, little is known about how lianas respond to environmental and other factors that drive liana density and diversity patterns in these subtropical forests.