Direction:
	Forest dynamics, forest regeneration; rejuvenation; forest and tree development; forest and tree architecture; light; seed dispersalecophysiology of tropical trees; lianas; secondary forest; restoration ecology

Achievements:

Article:

Cai, Z.Q.; Schnitzer, S.A.; Bongers, F. (2009) Seasonal differences in leaf-level physiology give lianas a competitive advantage over trees in a tropical seasonal forest. Oecologia 161 (1). - p. 25 - 33. Cai, Z.Q.; Schnitzer, S.A.; Wen, B.; Chen, Y.J.; Bongers, F. (2009) Liana communities in three tropical forest types in Xishuangbanna, south-west China. Journal of Tropical Forest Science 21 (3). - p. 252 - 264. Bongers, F.; Poorter, L.; Hawthorne, W.D.; Sheil, D. (2009) The intermediate disturbance hypothesis applies to tropical forests, but disturbance contributes little to tree diversity. Ecology Letters 12 . - p. 798 - 805. Brienen, R.J.W.; Lebrija Trejos, E.E.; Breugel, M. van; Bongers, F.; Meave, J.; Martinez-Ramos, M. (2009) The Potential of Tree Rings for the Study of Forest Succession in Southern Mexico. Biotropica 41 (2). - p. 186 - 195 Martinez-Sanchez, J.L.; Meave, J.; Bongers, F. (2008) Light-related variation in sapling architecture of three shade-tolerant tree species of the Mexican rain forest. Revista Chilena de Historia Natural 81 (3). - p. 361 - 371. Wassie Eshete, A.; Sterck, F.J.; Teketay, D.; Bongers, F. (2008). Tree regeneration in Church forest in Ethiopia: effects of microclimate and management. Biotropica.(in press). Wassie Eshete, A.; Sterck, F.J.; Teketay, D.; Bongers, F. (2008). Effects of life stock exclusion on tree regeneration in Church forests of Ethiopie. Forest Ecology and Management (in press) Jansen, P.A.; Meer, P.J. van der; Bongers, F. (2008) Spatial contagiousness of canopy disturbance in tropical rain forest: An individual - tree-based test. Ecology 89 (12). - p. 3490 - 3502. Chen, J-Y.; Bongers, F.; Cao, K.F.; Cai, Z.Q. (2008) Above- and below-ground competition in high and low irradiance: tree seedling responses to a competing liana Byttneria grandifolia Journal of Tropical Ecology 24 (5). - p. 517 - 524. Chave, J.; Olivier, J.; Bongers, F.J.J.M.; Chatelet, P.; Forget, P.M.; Meer, P.J. van der; Norden, N.; Riera, B.; Charles-Dominique, P. (2008) Above-ground biomass and productivity in a rain forest of eastern South America. Journal of Tropical Ecology 24 . - p. 355 - 366 Cai, Z.Q.; Poorter, L.; Han, Q.; Bongers, F.J.J.M. (2008). Effects of light and nutrients on seedlings of tropical Bauhinia lianas and trees. Tree Physiology 28 (8). - p. 1277 - 1285. Cai Z-Q.; Chen, Y.J.; Bongers F. (2007). Seasonal changes in photosynthesis and growth of Zizyphus attopensis seedlings in three contrasting microhabitats in a tropical seasonal rain forest. Tree Physiology 27: 827 - 836. Cai, Z.Q.; Poorter, L.; Cao, K.F.; Bongers, F.J.J.M. (2007). Seedling growth strategies in Bauhinia species: comparing lianas and trees. Annals of Botany 100(4) :831-838. Chazdon, R.L.; Letcher, S.G.; Breugel, M. van; Martínez-Ramos, M.; Bongers, F.J.J.M.; Finegan, B. (2007) Rates of change in tree communities of secondary Neotropical forests following major disturbances. Royal Society of London. Philosophical Transactions. Biological Sciences 362 (1478). - p. 273 - 289.   Parmentier, I; Malhi, Y.; Senterre, B.; Whittaker, R.J.; Alonso, A.; Balinga, M.P.B.; Bakayoko, A.; Bongers, F.J.J.M.; Chatelain, C.; Comiskey, J.; Cortay, R.; Djuikouo Kamdem, M.N.; Doucet, J.L.; Gauier, L.; Hawthorne, W.D.; Issembe, Y.A.; Kouamé, F.N.; Kouka, L.; Leal, M.E.; Lejoly, J.; Lewis, S.L.; Newbery, D.; Nusbaumer, L.; Parren, M.P.E.; Peh, K.S.-H.; Phillips, O.L.; Sheil, D.; Sonké, B.; Sosef, M.S.M.; Sunderland, T.; Stropp, J.; Steege, H. ter; Swaine, M.; Tchouto, P.; Gemerden, B.S. van; Valkenburg, J.; Wöll, H. (2007) The odd man out? Might climate explain the lower tree a-diversity of African rain forests relative to Amazonian rain forests? Journal of Ecology 95 (5). - p. 1058 - 1071. Cai, Z-Q.; Bongers, F.J.J.M. (2007) Contrasting nitrogen and phosphorus resorption efficiencies in trees and lianas from a tropical montane rain forest in Xishuangbanna, south-west China. Journal of Tropical Ecology 23 (2007)1. - ISSN 0266-4674 - p. 115 - 118. Rijkers, A.J.M.; Ogbazghi, W; Wessel, M.; Bongers, F.J.J.M. (2006) The effect of tapping for frankincense on sexual reproduction in Boswellia papyrifera. Journal of Applied Ecology 43 (2006)6. - ISSN 0021-8901 - p. 1188 - 1195. Breugel, M. van; Martinez-Ramos, M.; Bongers, F.J.J.M. (2006) Community dynamics during early secondary succession in Mexican tropical rain forests. Journal of Tropical Ecology 22 (2006)6. - ISSN 0266-4674 - p. 663 - 674. Abebe, T.; Wiersum, K.F.; Bongers, F.J.J.M.; Sterck, F.J. (2006) Diversity and dynamics in homegardens of Southern Ethiopia In: Tropical Homegardens: A time-Tested Example of Sustainable Agroforestry / Kumar, B.M., Nair, P.K.R., . - Springer, 2006 (Advances in agroforestry 3) - ISBN 1402049471 - p. 123 - 142. Bongers, F.J.J.M.; Sterck, F.J. (2006) Ecological restoration and church forests in northern Ethiopia. Journal of the Drylands 1 (2006)1. - ISSN 1817-3322 - p. 35 - 44. Jansen, P.A.; Bongers, F.J.J.M.; Prins, H.H.T. (2006) Tropical rodents change rapidly germinating seeds into long-term food supplies. Oikos 113 (2006)3. - ISSN 0030-1299 - p. 449 - 458. Jeffrey, G.J.; Schnitzer, S.A.; Burnham, R.J.; Bongers, F.J.J.M.; Chave, J.; DeWalt, S.J.; Ewango, C.E.N.; Foster, R.; Kenfack, D.; Martinez-Ramos, M.; Parren, M.P.E.; Parthasarathy, N.; Pérez-Salicrup, D.R.; Putz, F.E.; Thomas, D.W. (2006) A standard protocol for liana censuses. Biotropica 38 (2006)2. - ISSN 0006-3606 - p. 256 - 261. Nangendo, G.; Steege, H. ter; Bongers, F.J.J.M. (2006) Composition of woody species in a dynamic forest-woodland-savannah mosaic in Uganda: implications for conservation and management. Biodiversity and Conservation 15 (2006)4. - ISSN 0960-3115 - p. 1467 - 1495. Ogbazghi, W; Rijkers, A.J.M.; Wessel, M.; Bongers, F.J.J.M. (2006) The distribution of the frankincense tree Boswellia papyrifera in Eritrea: the role of environment and land use. Journal of Biogeography 33 (2006)3. - ISSN 0305-0270 - p. 524 - 535.Blackwell Publishing Ltd, 2006 - p. 524 - 535. Ogbazghi, W; Bongers, F.J.J.M.; Rijkers, A.J.M.; Wessel, M. (2006) Population structure and morphology of the frankincense tree Boswellia papyrifera along an altitude gradient in Eritrea. Journal of the Drylands 1 (2006)1. - ISSN 1817-3322 - p. 85 - 94. Peyre, A.; Guidal, A.; Wiersum, K.F.; Bongers, F.J.J.M. (2006) Dynamics of homegarden structure and function in Kerala, India. Agroforestry Systems 66 (2006)2. - ISSN 0167-4366 - p. 101 - 115. Peyre, A.; Guidal, A.; Wiersum, K.F.; Bongers, F.J.J.M. (2006) Homegarden Dynamics in Kerala, India. In: Tropical Homegardens: A time-Tested Example of Sustainable Agroforestry / Kumar, B.M., Nair, P.K.R., . - Springer, 2006 (Advances in agroforestry 3) - ISBN 1402049471 - p. 87 - 103. Poorter, L.; Bongers, L; Bongers, F.J.J.M. (2006) Architecture of 54 moist forest species: traits, trade-offs, and functional groups. Ecology 87 (2006)5. - ISSN 0012-9658 - p. 1289 - 1301. Poorter, L.; Bongers, F.J.J.M. (2006) Leaf traits are good predictors of plant performance across 53 rain forest species. Ecology 87 (2006)7. - ISSN 0012-9658 - p. 1733 - 1743. Review by Reich Nangendo, G.; Stein, A.; Steege, H. ter; Bongers, F.J.J.M. (2005) Changes in woody plant composition of three vegetation types exposed to a similar fire regime for over 46 years. Forest Ecology and Management 217 (2005). - ISSN 0378-1127 - p. 351 - 364. Cai Zhiquan, --; Rijkers, A.J.M.; Bongers, F.J.J.M. (2005) Photosynthetic acclimation to light changes in tropical monsoon forest woody species differing in adult stature. Tree Physiology 25 (2005)8. - ISSN 0829-318X - p. 1023 - 1031. Poorter, L.; Bongers, F.J.J.M.; Sterck, F.J.; Wöll, H-J. (2005) Beyond the regeneration phase: differentiation of height-light trajectories among tropical species. Journal of Ecology 93 (2005). - ISSN 0022-0477 - p. 256 - 267. Schnitzer, S.A.; Kuzee, M.E.; Bongers, F.J.J.M. (2005) Disentangling above- and below-ground competition between lianas and trees in a tropical forest. Journal of Ecology 93 (2005). - ISSN 0022-0477 - p. 1115 - 1125.

Community service:

Commitment to research the situation:

Lianas diversity, distribution patterns and functional ecology in a Central African tropical rain forest, Ituri, Democratic Republic of Congo (PhD Corneille Ewango) Forests and people interactions in South East Lowveld, Zimbabwe: Who is at risk? (PhD Edward Mufandaedza) Ecophysiological plasticity of Boswellia papyrifera (Del.) Hochst. in dry woodlands of Ethiopia under multiple stresses (PhD Mengistu Woldie) Population dynamics of resin trees in dry woodlands in Ethiopia: the impact of environmental versus human induced factors (PhD Eshete Wassie) FRAnkincense, Myrrh and gum arabic: sustainable use of dry woodland resources in Ethiopia (FRAME) Restoration and sustainable management of forests in East Africa (I-TOO) ECOSYN: a research project on biodiversity and management of West African forests . The role of lianas in disturbed forests in West Africa. (PhD Mirjam Kuzee) Spatial patterns in species composition, forest structure and dynamics along environmental gradients in lowland forests of Bolivia (PhD Marisol Toledo) Species-specific responses to climatic change in dry and wet tropical forests: is drought tolerance the clue? (PhD Lars Markesteijn)