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Liana Habitat Associations And Community Structure In A Bornean Lowland Tropical Forest, Saara J. Dewalt, Kalan Ickes, Reuben Nilus, Kyle E. Harms, David F.R.P. Burslem

Faculty Publications

Lianas (woody vines) contribute substantially to the diversity and structure of most tropical forests, yet little is known about the importance of habitat specialization in maintaining tropical liana diversity and the causes of variation among forests in liana abundance and species composition. We examined habitat associations, species diversity, species composition, and community structure of lianas at Sepilok Forest Reserve, Sabah, Malaysia in northeastern Borneo among three soil types that give rise to three distinct forest types of lowland tropical rain forest: alluvial, sandstone hill, and kerangas (heath) forest. Alluvial soils are more nutrient rich and have higher soil moisture than …