Growth Dynamics of Trees in Tropical Mountain Ecosystems

Bräuning A, Homeier J, Cueva E, Beck E, Günter S (2008)

Publication Language: English

Publication Type: Book chapter / Article in edited volumes

Publication year: 2008

Publisher: Springer-Verlag

Edited Volumes: Gradients in a Tropical Mountain Ecosystem of Ecuador

Series: Ecological Studies. Analysis and Synthesis.

City/Town: Berlin Heidelberg

Book Volume: 198

Pages Range: 291-302

Journal Issue: 198

ISBN: 978-3-540-73525-0

URI: http://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007%2F978-3-540-73526-7_28

DOI: 10.1007/978-3-540-73526-7_28

Abstract

Tropical mountain rainforests are commonly regarded as a stable ecosystem in which life processes face almost invariable environmental conditions. However, as discussed for the eastern Cordillera of Ecuador in Chapter 8, even the perhumid tropics experience a more or less pronounced seasonality of precipitation patterns. Intra annual fluctuations of temperature are small and usually do not depart more than 1–3 K from the annual mean. In contrast, diurnal temperature variations of 5.1 K and 11.1 K were recorded at elevations of 2670m a.s.l. and 1950m a.s.l., respectively. Short-term climate irregularities, e.g. during periods with prevailing westerly winds, can alter the normal climate conditions considerably and thus are of great significance for plant life. Furthermore, tremendous short-distance variations of the climate are caused by effects of altitude and topography (Richter 2003).

Authors with CRIS profile

Achim Bräuning Lehrstuhl für Geographie (Physische Geographie)

Involved external institutions

Georg-August-Universität Göttingen DE Germany (DE) Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen DE Germany (DE) Technische Universität München (TUM) DE Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Bräuning, A., Homeier, J., Cueva, E., Beck, E., & Günter, S. (2008). Growth Dynamics of Trees in Tropical Mountain Ecosystems. In Beck E., Bendix J., Kottke I., Makeschin F., Mosandl R. (Eds.), Gradients in a Tropical Mountain Ecosystem of Ecuador. (pp. 291-302). Berlin Heidelberg: Springer-Verlag.

MLA:

Bräuning, Achim, et al. "Growth Dynamics of Trees in Tropical Mountain Ecosystems." Gradients in a Tropical Mountain Ecosystem of Ecuador. Ed. Beck E., Bendix J., Kottke I., Makeschin F., Mosandl R., Berlin Heidelberg: Springer-Verlag, 2008. 291-302.

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