title: Dynamics and species richness of tropical rain forests.
abstract: We present a worldwide analysis of humid tropical forest dynamics and tree species richness. New tree mortality, recruitment, and species richness data include the most dynamic and diverse mature tropical forests known. Twenty-five sites show a strong tendency for the most species-rich forests to be dynamic and aseasonal. Mean annual tree mortality and recruitment-turnover-is the most predictive factor of species richness, implying that small-scale disturbance helps regulate tropical forest diversity. Turnover rates are also closely related to the amount of basal area turnover in mature tropical forests. Therefore the contribution of small-scale disturbance to maintaining tropical forest diversity may ultimately be driven by ecosystem productivity.
authors.affiliation: Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO 63166, USA.
authors.forename: O L
authors.initials: OL
authors.lastname: Phillips
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.forename: A H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Gentry
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Sawyer
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vásquez