Extreme sites: definition and diversity
Main Article Content
Abstract
We propose a definition of the term ‚extreme site’ basing on the biological stress concept: extreme sites are environments in which one or more factors are over- or underrepresented in a manner that the organisms can live there only if they possess special adaptations.
Extreme sites may exhibit a very high diversity of species and adaptations despite their unfavourable growth conditions. A good example can be found in Amazonian floodplains where the world’s highest diversity of flood tolerant trees occurs despite uninterrupted flood durations of eight months with high amplitudes. Since there is a very regular flooding periodicity, a large variety of adaptations could evolve. On these extreme sites, species and functional diversity therefore can be manifold.
Article Details
Copyright
Authors will be required to fill out the below copyright transfer form during the peer-review process and attach it along with their submission. In return, Knowledge Enterprises Journals grants authors the right to publish and reproduce the unrevised contribution in whole or in part at any time and in any form for any scholarly non-commercial purpose with the condition that all publications of the contribution include a full citation to the journal as published by Knowledge Enterprises Journals.
References
Assis R.L., Haugaasen T., Shcöngart J., Montero J.C., Piedade M.T.F. & Wittman F. (2015a): Patterns of tree diversity and composition in Amazonian floodplain paleo-varzea forest. Journal of Vegetation Science 26:312–322.
Assis R.L., Wittmann F., Piedade M.T.F. & Haugaasen T. (2015b): Effects of hydroperiod and substrate properties on tree Alpha diversity and composition in Amazonian floodplain forests. Plant Ecology 216:41-54.
Balée W. (1989): The culture of Amazonian forests. Adv. Economic Botany 7:1-21.
Courtright E.M., Wall D.H. & Virginia R.A. (2001): Determining habitat suitability for soil invertebrates in an extreme environment: The McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica. Antarctic Science 13:9-17.
Delgado P., Hensel P.F., Jiménez J.A. & Day J.W. (2001): The importance of propagule establishment and physical factors in mangrove distributional patterns in a Costa Rican estuary. Aq. Bot. 71:157-178.
Ferreira L.V., Cunha D.A. & Parolin P. (2014): Effects of logging on Virola surinamensis in an Amazonian floodplain forest. Environment Conservation Journal 15(3):1-8
Frahm J.-P. (1996): Diversity, life strategies, origins and distribution of tropical inselberg bryophytes. Anales del Instituto de Biologia Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Serie Botanica 67:73-86.
Goodland R.J.A. & Irwin H.S. (1975): History of the development of Amazonia. In: Amazon jungle: green hell to red desert? Goodland R.J.A. & Irwin H.S. (eds.) Elsevier Scient. Publ. Comp. Pp. 14-22.
Günster A. (1994): Variability in life history parameters of four serotinous plants in the Namib Desert. Vegetatio 114(2):149-160.
Junk W.J., Bayley P.B. & Sparks R.E. (1989): The flood pulse concept in river-floodplain systems. In: Proceedings of the International Large River Symposium. Dodge D.P. (ed.). Can. Publ. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 106:110-127.
Knoop W.T. & Walker B.H. (1985): Interactions of woody and herbaceous vegetation in a Southern African savanna. J. Ecol. 73:235-253.
Larcher W. (1987): Stress bei Pflanzen. Naturwissenschaften 74:158-167.
Maurenza D., Marenco R.A., Parolin P. & Piedade M.T.F. (2012): Physiological and morphological responses to changing flooding and light regimes in two tree species from Central Amazonian floodplains. Aquatic Botany 96:7-13.
Meyer S.E., Allen P.S. & Beckstead J. (1997): Seed germination regulation in Bromus tectorum (Poaceae) and its ecological significance. Oikos 78:475-485.
Ohly J.J. (1986): Water-buffalo husbandry in the Central Amazon region in view of recent developments. Anim. Res. Developm. 24:23-40.
Oksanen L. & Oksanen T. (2000): The logic and realism of the hypothesis of exploitation ecosystems. American Naturalist 155(6):703-723.
Parolin P. (1998): Central Amazonian Floodplain Forests: Actual and Potential Use. The Botanica 48: 20-24.
Parolin P. (2009): Submerged in darkness: adaptations to prolonged submergence by woody species of the Amazonian Floodplains. Annals of Botany 103:359-376.
Parolin P., Lucas C., Piedade M.T.F. & Wittmann F. (2010b): Drought responses of extremely flood-tolerant trees of Amazonian floodplains. Annals of Botany 105(1):129-139.
Parolin P., Waldhoff D. & Zerm M. (2010a): Photochemical capacity after submersion in darkness: How Amazonian floodplain trees cope with extreme flooding. Aquatic Botany 93:83-88.
Parsons P.A. (1995): Evolutionary response to drought stress: Conservation implications. Biological Conservation 74(1):21-27.
Porembski S., Seine R. & Barthlott W. (2000): Factors controlling species richness of inselbergs. In: Inselbergs: Biotic diversity of isolated rock outcrops in tropical and temperate regions. Porembski S. & Barthlott W. (eds.). Ecological Studies Analysis & Synthesis. Ecological Studies 146:451-481.
Wittmann F., Householder E., Piedade M.T.F., Assis R.L., Schöngart J., Parolin P. & Junk W.J. (2013): Habitat specifity, endemism and the neotropical distribution of Amazonian white-water floodplain trees. Ecography 36:690-707.
Worbes M., Klinge H., Revilla J.D. & Martius C. (1992): On the dynamics, floristic subdivision and geographical distribution of Várzea forests in Central Amazonia. Journal of Vegetation Science 3:553-564.