Interactions between plant size and canopy openness influence vital rates and life-history tradeoffs in two neotropical understory herbs.
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OBJECTIVE
For tropical forest understory plants, the ability to grow, survive, and reproduce is limited by the availability of light. The extent to which reproduction incurs a survival or growth cost may change with light availability, plant size, and adaptation to shade, and may vary among similar species.•


METHODS
We estimated size-specific rates of growth, survival, and reproduction (vital rates), for two neotropical understory herbs (order Zingiberales) in a premontane tropical rainforest in Costa Rica. During three annual censuses we monitored 1278 plants, measuring leaf area, number of inflorescences, and canopy openness. We fit regression models of all vital rates and evaluated them over a range of light levels. The best fitting models were selected using Akaike's Information Criterion.•


RESULTS
All vital rates were significantly influenced by size in both species, but not always by light. Increasing light resulted in higher growth and a higher probability of reproduction in both species, but lower survival in one species. Both species grew at small sizes but shrank at larger sizes. The size at which shrinkage began differed among species and light environments. Vital rates of large individuals were more sensitive to changes in light than small individuals.•


CONCLUSIONS
Increasing light does not always positively influence vital rates; the extent to which light affects vital rates depends on plant size. Differences among species in their abilities to thrive under different light conditions and thus occupy distinct niches may contribute to the maintenance of species diversity.
University of Miami, Department of Biology, Cox Science Center, 1301 Memorial Drive, Coral Gables, FL 33124-0421 USA.
Andrea C
AC
Westerband
University of Miami, Department of Biology, Cox Science Center, 1301 Memorial Drive, Coral Gables, FL 33124-0421 USA.
Carol C
CC
Horvitz
D003364:Costa Rica; D017753:Ecosystem; D032427:Heliconiaceae / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D056626:Inflorescence / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D032426:Marantaceae / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D065947:Rainforest; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012098:Reproduction; D014329:Tropical Climate
Calathea; Heliconia; canopy openness; life history tradeoffs; shade tolerance