LFDP phenology plot seedlings-16 ha plot

These data on temporal and spatial patterns of seedling recruitment in conjunction with data on flower and seed rain production allow tests of hypotheses concerning causes of inter-annual variation and roles of different mechanisms in facilitating species coexistence. The data are being used to, among other things 1) quantify seasonal and inter-annual variation in reproductive output in tropical plant populations and communities; 2) analyze relationships between reproduction and a variety of hypothesized local and regional climate drivers; 3) evaluate evidence for long-term directional trends which could reflect responses to anthropogenic global change; 4) quantify spatiotemporal variation in seed arrival and seedling recruitment of individual species; 5) analyze associated evidence of recruitment limitation, life history trade-offs, density dependent recruitment and regeneration niche partitioning; and 6) evaluate how these processes interact with inter-annual variation in climate and plant reproduction.

Support for this work was provided by grants BSR-8811902, DEB-9411973, DEB-9705814 , DEB-0080538, DEB-0218039 , DEB-0620910 , DEB-1239764, DEB-1546686, and DEB-1831952 from the National Science Foundation to the University of Puerto Rico as part of the Luquillo Long-Term Ecological Research Program. Additional support provided by the University of Puerto Rico and the International Institute of Tropical Forestry, USDA Forest Service.