Secondary forests are increasingly important components of human‐modified landscapes in
the tropics. Successional pathways, however, can vary enormously across and within …

Contents Summary 366 I. Introduction 366 II. Testing ecological theory: effects of the
environment on lianas 369 III. A unified explanation for liana distribution and the …

Canopy disturbance explains liana abundance and distribution within tropical forests and
thus may also explain the widespread pattern of increasing liana abundance; however, this …

Soil resource partitioning and dispersal limitation have been shown to shape the tree
community structure of mature tropical forests, but are poorly studied in the context of forest …

Lianas are increasing in relative abundance and biomass in many tropical forests. We tested
the hypothesis that lianas conform to the fast and acquisitive end of the continuum of plant …

Lianas are a key component of tropical forests, where they compete intensely with trees,
reducing tree recruitment, growth and survival. One of the most important potential outcomes …

Despite their low contribution to forest carbon stocks, lianas (woody vines) play an important
role in the carbon dynamics of tropical forests. As structural parasites, they hinder tree …

Edaphic factors and initial conditions can regulate the speed of forest succession. Edaphic
factors, which include soil chemistry and topography, determine soil resource availability …

Lianas are a quintessential feature of tropical forests and are often perceived as being
poorly studied. However, liana removal studies may be one of the most common …

Lianas are an important component of tropical forests, where they reduce tree growth,
fecundity, and survival. Competition for light from lianas may be intense; however, the …