| Lianas (woody vines) are an important but often neglected component of many types of forest. This study was designed to document the species of lianas in Carolina mixed mesophytic forest (Rich Gap and Conley Creek), Carolina xeric white-oak dominated forest (Cliffside), and Costa Rican seasonally dry tropical forest (Palo Verde). Another aim of this study was to investigate the liana-host relationship in each of these forests. I identified and measured the diameter at breast height (dbh) of every tree within 20 x 20 m plots. I identified and measured the diameter of lianas at 10 cm above the ground, and I recorded the primary host tree that each liana was utilizing. No lianas were observed within plots at Clifftop Vista. Palo Verde had the highest species richness in terms of lianas (15 species) and trees (33 species), and the highest percentage of trees hosting lianas (55%), compared to 0% at Clifftop Vista, 37% at Rich Gap and 29% at Conley Creek. The number of lianas per tree was greatest at Palo Verde (mean of 1.68 lianas per tree) and lower at the two temperate mesic forest sites (0.49 lianas per tree at Rich Gap and 0.48 lianas per tree at Conley Creek). Host tree species was important in explaining liana distribution at Rich Gap and Conley Creek. Host-tree size was influential at Rich Gap, Conley Creek and Palo Verde. At Rich Gap, lianas were found in proportion to the host surface area available to climb (e.g., Vitis), whereas at Conley Creek and Palo Verde, lianas were restricted to particular sizes of hosts (e.g., Aristolochia at Conley Creek). This study suggests that lianas are restricted by host tree species and host size. Thus, it seems that each species of liana may utilize a particular suite of tree species and sizes as hosts. |
