Successional convergence, stochastic assembly and the future of tropical forests

In this issue of the Journal of Vegetation Science, Dent et al. take advantage of a century-long chronosequence of forest succession in central Panama, and highlight a lack of convergence to the tree composition of old-growth stands. Does this suggest tropical forests assemble randomly, or is this an expected consequence of high diversity and patchy recruitment? In this issue of the Journal of Vegetation Science, Dent et al. take advantage of a century-long chronosequence of forest succession in central Panama, and highlight a lack of convergence to the tree composition of old growth stands. Does this suggest tropical forests assemble randomly, or is this an expected consequence of high diversity and patchy recruitment?.