Implications for management
In this landscape, decline in larger-seeded species in fragments
compared to contiguous forest was attributed to dispersal limitation
(Osuri and Sankaran, 2016b). Results here show that larger-seeded
species primarily declined at lower elevations in fragments, likely
driven by warmer conditions. At warmer, low elevation fragments however,
larger seeded species had taller stature than at cooler, high elevation
sites, suggesting the need to restore low elevation fragments with the
shorter-statured larger-seeded species, i.e., mid-canopy shade-tolerant
species. More seasonal sites (negative CWD) supported phenotypes of
taller stature and larger seeds in both contiguous forest and fragments.
Since larger-seeded species stored more carbon due to their taller
stature here (Osuri and Sankaran, 2016b), to increase above-ground
biomass, restore taller, larger-seeded species at fragments located in
more seasonal climate. Although this study showed which phenotypes are
lost from fragments situated in different climatic conditions, planning
for restoration will require identifying the main impediments faced by
different phenotypes to persist in fragments (e.g., dispersal or
unsuitable environments).