Geological control of floristic composition in Amazonian forests

: Higgins MA, Ruokolainen K, Tuomisto H, Llerena N, Cardenas G, Phillips OL, Vasquez R, Rasanen M

Publisher: WILEY-BLACKWELL

: 2011

: Journal of Biogeography

: JOURNAL OF BIOGEOGRAPHY

: J BIOGEOGR

: 11

: 38

: 11

: 2136

: 2149

: 14

: 0305-0270

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2699.2011.02585.x

Main conclusions Our findings suggest that Amazonian forests are partitioned into large-area units on the basis of geological formations and their edaphic properties. The evolution of these units through geological time may provide a general mechanism for biotic diversification in Amazonia. These compositional units, moreover, may correspond to broad-scale functional units. The existence of large-area compositional and functional units would suggest that protected-area, carbon sequestration, and other land-use strategies in Amazonia be implemented on a region-by-region basis. The methods described here can be used to map these patterns, and thus enable effective conservation and management of Amazonian forests.