The forest beyond the trees: woody bamboos in the spotlight of degraded subtropical forest

MONTTI LÍA; GATTI M GENEOVEVA; CAMPANELLO PAULA I.; ZANINOVICH, SILVIA C; VILLAGRA MARIANA; SAHA SONALI; GOLDSTEIN GUILLERMO

Merida

Congreso; Ecological and social dimensions of tropical biodiversity conservasion 54th Anual Meeting of ATBC; 2017

An increasing number of recent publications show that bamboos have the potential to influence the diversity, productivity and dynamics of forest around the world. It is also known that its distinctive life-history traits, allow bamboo to colonize areas affected by natural and anthropogenic disturbance influencing tree community, microclimate and ecosystem processes. Here we synthesize 10 years of observational ad experimental research findings on ecology and ecophysiology of Chusquea ramossisima, the most abundant bamboo in Semideciduous Atlantic Forest (Argentina) to understand its role in forest dynamics. We performed field studies in forest affected by selective logging, with high bamboo abundance. We studied forest regeneration and bamboo growth rates after flowering, conducted some ecophysiological studies evaluating forest dynamic and ecosystem processes. Bamboo shows clonal reproduction allowing it to spread rapidly, and exhibits high plasticity in functional traits and leaf characteristic that enhance its growth in gaps and allow surviving under close canopy. C. ramosissima has similar photosynthetic from other co-occurring bamboo species. But, compared with trees, presented higher photosynthetic capacity per unit dry mass and leaves with relative low C cost. In addition, makes high root pressure and exhibits profuse guttation, at times continuing into mid-afternoon that able to colonize areas of varying water availability, that could influences forest water cycle through its potential to remove vast amounts of water from the vadose zone and affect neighbor plant saplings. Finally, the replace of trees and palms by bamboos affect structure and forest dynamics; generating changes in litterfall, litter decay rates and C cycle. Contrary our expectations the successful of tree regeneration in gaps following bamboo flowering and died, appears to be restricted to a very narrow window of increased light availability before rapid re-colonization of bamboo. Bamboos are important natural component of forest that need more attention, because they can provide refuge and food for animals, promote soil conservation and be important human resources. However, because of their impact on forest structure and positive feedback of some bamboo species with increasing disturbance resulting from forest exploitation and land-use change worldwide, they could emerge as key species, capable of influencing the dynamics of large areas of forest ecosystems