Patterns of liana diversity and host interaction networks in selectively-logged and unlogged forests of Uppangala, Western Ghats, India
Data files
Dec 05, 2023 version files 45.77 KB
Abstract
Lianas shape tropical forest species composition, structure, and dynamics. Increasing climate fluctuation and anthropogenic disturbances increase liana abundance. Despite the increasing number of liana studies in India, only a few have examined the distribution and association of hosts with lianas, or liana-host interaction networks to determine their functional significance and conservational value. Therefore, our objective was to fill the knowledge gap about the diversity, abundance, and network structure of liana-host interactions in response to logging disturbance in a wet evergreen forest of Uppangala in central Western Ghats, India. We sampled lianas ≥1 cm in diameter at 1.3 m from the base and their host trees in thirty 20m x 20m plots in selectively-logged and unlogged forest management regimes. We evaluated liana-host tree interactions in logged and unlogged forests and retrieved community-level measures (nestedness, connectance, modularity, and network specialization index) and species-level indicators (species specialization index). Diversity and abundance of liana species were considerably greater in the selectively logged forest site. The logged forest site had compartmentalization, anti-nestedness, and network specialization, while unlogged forests were not showing any significant network structure. Most species of lianas and hosts were peripherals, but others were structurally important (connectors, module hubs, and network hubs) in the two forest sites. Forest management regimes had distinct structurally significant species.
README: Patterns of liana diversity and host interaction networks in selectively-logged and unlogged forests of Uppangala, Western Ghats, India
https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.905qftts9
Description of the data and file structure
The dataset comprises liana species and their associated host tree species found in the six 1-hectare plots inside the Uppangala forest.
Out of the six plots, four (LP1, LP2, LP3, LP4) have undergone selective logging for dipterocarp trees in the past, while the remaining two (UP1, UP2) have not been logged and are in their natural state.
(1) Liana species are matched with the corresponding tree species they hosted.
(2) If a host tree species corresponding to any liana species is marked as NA, it indicates that the liana species was either free-standing or on the ground vegetation.
(3) Liana species found on the ground vegetation or free-standing lianas are omitted in the analysis.