Journal article
Large trees drive forest aboveground biomass variation in moist lowland forests across the tropics
Global Ecology and Biogeography, Vol.22(12), pp.1261-1271
2013
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Abstract
<p><h4>Aim</h4></p>
<p>Large trees (d.b.h. ≥ 70 cm) store large amounts of biomass. Several studies suggest that large trees may be vulnerable to changing climate, potentially leading to declining forest biomass storage. Here we determine the importance of large trees for tropical forest biomass storage and explore which intrinsic (species trait) and extrinsic (environment) variables are associated with the density of large trees and forest biomass at continental and pan-tropical scales. <h4>Location</h4></p>
<p>Pan-tropical. <h4>Methods</h4></p>
<p>Aboveground biomass (AGB) was calculated for 120 intact lowland moist forest locations. Linear regression was used to calculate variation in AGB explained by the density of large trees. Akaike information criterion weights (AICc-wi) were used to calculate averaged correlation coefficients for all possible multiple regression models between AGB/density of large trees and environmental and species trait variables correcting for spatial autocorrelation. <h4>Results</h4></p>
<p>Density of large trees explained <em>c</em>. 70% of the variation in pan-tropical AGB and was also responsible for significantly lower AGB in Neotropical [287.8 (mean) ± 105.0 (SD) Mg ha<sup>−1</sup>] versus Palaeotropical forests (Africa 418.3 ± 91.8 Mg ha<sup>−1</sup>; Asia 393.3 ± 109.3 Mg ha<sup>−1</sup>). Pan-tropical variation in density of large trees and AGB was associated with soil coarseness (negative), soil fertility (positive), community wood density (positive) and dominance of wind dispersed species (positive), temperature in the coldest month (negative), temperature in the warmest month (negative) and rainfall in the wettest month (positive), but results were not always consistent among continents. <h4>Main conclusions</h4></p>
<p>Density of large trees and AGB were significantly associated with climatic variables, indicating that climate change will affect tropical forest biomass storage. Species trait composition will interact with these future biomass changes as they are also affected by a warmer climate. Given the importance of large trees for variation in AGB across the tropics, and their sensitivity to climate change, we emphasize the need for in-depth analyses of the community dynamics of large trees.</p>
Details
- Title
- Large trees drive forest aboveground biomass variation in moist lowland forests across the tropics
- Creators
- JW Ferry Slik - Chinese Academy of SciencesGary Paoli - Daemeter Consulting, BogorKrista McGuire - Barnard College of Columbia UniversityIeda Amaral - Tropical Ecology Assessment Monitoring (TEAM) Network, BrazilJorcely Barroso - Universidade Federal do AcreMeredith Bastian - Philadelphia ZooLilian Blanc - CIRAD, Embrapa-Belém, BrazilFrans Bongers - Wageningen UniversityPatrick Boundja - Tropical Ecology Assessment Monitoring (TEAM) Network, Republic of CongoConnie Clark - Duke UniversityMurray Collins - Zoological Society of LondonGilles Dauby - Universite Libre de BruxellesYi Ding - State Forestry Administration, BeijingJean-Louis Doucet - Université de LiègeEduardo Eler - Tropical Ecology Assessment Monitoring (TEAM) Network, BrazilLeandro Ferreira - Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi, Belem, BrazilOlle Forshed - World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Solna, SwedenGabriella Fredriksson - University of Amsterdamean-Francois Gillet - Université de LiègeDavid Harris - Royal Botanic Garden EdinburghMiguel Leal - Wildlife Conservation Society, Kabale, UgandaYves Laumonier - Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), BogorYadvinder Malhi - University of OxfordAsyraf Mansor - Universiti Sains MalaysiaEmanuel Martin - Udzungwa Mountains National ParkKazuki Miyamoto - Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute (FFPRI), Kochi, JapanAlejandro Araujo-Murakami - Universidad Autónoma Gabriel Rene MorenoHidetoshi Nagamasu - Kyoto UniversityReuben Nilus - Forest Research Center, SandakanEddy Nurtjahya - Universitas Bangka BelitungÁtila Oliveira - Tropical Ecology Assessment Monitoring (TEAM) Network, BrazilOnrizal Onrizal - Universitas Sumatera UtaraAlexander Parada-Gutierrez - Universidad Autónoma Gabriel Rene MorenoAndrea Permana - Universitat ZürichLourens Poorter - Wageningen UniversityJohn Poulsen - Duke UniversityHirma Ramirez-Angulo - Universidad de Los Andes - VenezuelaJan Reitsma - Bureau Waardenburg bvFrancesco Rovero - Tropical Biodiversity Section, Museo delle Scienze, ItalyAndes Rozak - Indonesian Institute of SciencesDouglas Sheil - Southern Cross UniversityJavier Silva-Espejo - Universidad de San Abad del CuscoMarcos Silveira - Universidade Federal do AcreWilson Spironelo - Tropical Ecology Assessment Monitoring (TEAM) Network, BrazilHans ter Steege - Naturalis Biodiversity Center, LeidenTariq Stevart - Missouri Botanical Garden, AfricaGilberto Enrique Navarro-Aguilar - Universidad Nacional de la Amazonia PeruanaTerry Sunderland - Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), BogorEizi Suzuki - Kagoshima UniversityJianwei Tang - Chinese Academy of SciencesIda Theilade - University of CopenhagenGeertje van der Heijden - University of Wisconsin - MilwaukeeJohan van Valkenburg - Wageningen UniversityTran Van Do - Kyoto UniversityEmilio Vilanova - Universidad de los AndesVincent Vos - Universidad Autonoma de BeniSerge Wich - Liverpool John Moores UniversityHannsjoerg Wöll - Conservation and Natural Resources Management, Bad AusseeTsuyoshi Yoneda - Kagoshima UniversityRunguo Zang - Chinese Academy of ForestryMing-Gang Zhang - Chinese Academy of SciencesNicole Zweifel - University of Zurich
- Publication Details
- Global Ecology and Biogeography, Vol.22(12), pp.1261-1271
- Identifiers
- 2905; 991012821139202368
- Academic Unit
- Faculty of Science and Engineering; School of Environment, Science and Engineering; Forest Research Centre
- Resource Type
- Journal article