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An evaluation of the Janzen-Connell hypothesis for a dry tropical forest in Guinea-Bissau

Kirjazow, Petya Petrowa LU (2023) In Student thesis series INES NGEK01 20231
Dept of Physical Geography and Ecosystem Science
Abstract (Swedish)
The Janzen–Connell hypothesis states that seedling survival increases with distance from the
parent tree, which promotes regular spacing of species within a forest and thus biodiversity.
Very few studies have tested this hypothesis in tropical Africa. This paper evaluates the
occurrence of Janzen-Connell effects for seedlings and adult trees of the species Cola cordifolia
in a dry tropical forest in Guinea-Bissau, West Africa. This was done by field observations of
naturally occurring seedlings and adult trees. Seedlings further away from the parent tree were
found to be significantly larger in size, but less numerous, which is in accordance with the
Janzen-Connell hypothesis. For the evaluation of the adult trees, a comparison was... (More)
The Janzen–Connell hypothesis states that seedling survival increases with distance from the
parent tree, which promotes regular spacing of species within a forest and thus biodiversity.
Very few studies have tested this hypothesis in tropical Africa. This paper evaluates the
occurrence of Janzen-Connell effects for seedlings and adult trees of the species Cola cordifolia
in a dry tropical forest in Guinea-Bissau, West Africa. This was done by field observations of
naturally occurring seedlings and adult trees. Seedlings further away from the parent tree were
found to be significantly larger in size, but less numerous, which is in accordance with the
Janzen-Connell hypothesis. For the evaluation of the adult trees, a comparison was made with
two other species that are commonly found in the area. All adult trees showed strongly clustered
patterns, which is not in accordance with the Janzen-Connell hypothesis. The mixed results
show a need to further study the drivers of biodiversity in tropical Africa. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Kirjazow, Petya Petrowa LU
supervisor
organization
course
NGEK01 20231
year
type
M2 - Bachelor Degree
subject
publication/series
Student thesis series INES
report number
598
language
English
id
9125038
date added to LUP
2023-06-14 14:12:06
date last changed
2023-06-14 14:12:06
@misc{9125038,
  abstract     = {{The Janzen–Connell hypothesis states that seedling survival increases with distance from the
parent tree, which promotes regular spacing of species within a forest and thus biodiversity.
Very few studies have tested this hypothesis in tropical Africa. This paper evaluates the
occurrence of Janzen-Connell effects for seedlings and adult trees of the species Cola cordifolia
in a dry tropical forest in Guinea-Bissau, West Africa. This was done by field observations of
naturally occurring seedlings and adult trees. Seedlings further away from the parent tree were
found to be significantly larger in size, but less numerous, which is in accordance with the
Janzen-Connell hypothesis. For the evaluation of the adult trees, a comparison was made with
two other species that are commonly found in the area. All adult trees showed strongly clustered
patterns, which is not in accordance with the Janzen-Connell hypothesis. The mixed results
show a need to further study the drivers of biodiversity in tropical Africa.}},
  author       = {{Kirjazow, Petya Petrowa}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  series       = {{Student thesis series INES}},
  title        = {{An evaluation of the Janzen-Connell hypothesis for a dry tropical forest in Guinea-Bissau}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}