Data from: Changes in tree and liana communities along a successional gradient in a tropical dry forest in south-eastern Brazil

We investigated changes in species composition and structure of tree and
liana communities along a successional gradient in a seasonally dry
tropical forest. There was a progressive increase in tree richness and all
tree structural traits from early to late stages, as well as marked
changes in tree species composition and dominance. This pattern is
probably related to pasture management practices such as ploughing, which
remove tree roots and preclude regeneration by resprouting. On the other
hand, liana density decreased from intermediate to late stages, showing a
negative correlation with tree density. The higher liana abundance in
intermediate stage is probably due to a balanced availability of support
and light availability, since these variables may show opposite trends
during forest growth. Predicted succession models may represent extremes
in a continuum of possible successional pathways strongly influenced by
land use history, climate, soil type, and by the outcomes of tree–liana
interactions.