Convergence and divergence in alternative successional pathways in Central Amazonia

Background: Plant succession and community assembly following different land-use histories in the Amazon Basin are poorly understood. Aims: Changes in woody vegetation were monitored across chronosequences of abandoned pastures and abandoned clearcuts in order to compare their successional patterns. Methods: In chronosequences, initially 5–19 years old in abandoned clearcuts and 2–11 years old in abandoned pastures, trees (≥ 3 cm dbh) were...