CTFS‐ForestGEO: a worldwide network monitoring forests in an era of global change

Global Change Biology, Journal Year: 2014, Volume and Issue: 21(2), P. 528 - 549

Published: Sept. 25, 2014

Global change is impacting forests worldwide, threatening biodiversity and ecosystem services including climate regulation. Understanding how respond critical to forest conservation protection. This review describes an international network of 59 long-term dynamics research sites (CTFS-ForestGEO) useful for characterizing responses global change. Within very large plots (median size 25 ha), all stems ≥ 1 cm diameter are identified species, mapped, regularly recensused according standardized protocols. CTFS-ForestGEO spans °S-61 °N latitude, generally representative the range bioclimatic, edaphic, topographic conditions experienced by only monitoring that applies a protocol each world's major biomes. Supplementary measurements at subsets provide additional information on plants, animals, environmental variables. experiencing multifaceted anthropogenic pressures warming (average 0.61 °C), changes in precipitation (up ± 30% change), atmospheric deposition nitrogen sulfur compounds 3.8 g N m(-2) yr(-1) 3.1 S yr(-1)), fragmentation surrounding landscape 88% reduced tree cover within 5 km). The broad suite made makes it possible investigate complex ways which dynamics. Ongoing across yielding insights into why changing, continued will vital contributions understanding worldwide diversity era

Language: Английский

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Integrating the evidence for a terrestrial carbon sink caused by increasing atmospheric CO₂

New Phytologist, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 229(5), P. 2413 - 2445

Published: Aug. 13, 2020

Atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration ([CO2 ]) is increasing, which increases leaf-scale photosynthesis and intrinsic water-use efficiency. These direct responses have the potential to increase plant growth, vegetation biomass, soil organic matter; transferring from atmosphere into terrestrial ecosystems (a sink). A substantial global sink would slow rate of [CO2 ] thus climate change. However, ecosystem CO2 are complex or confounded by concurrent changes in multiple agents change evidence for a ]-driven can appear contradictory. Here we synthesize theory broad, multidisciplinary effects increasing (iCO2 ) on sink. Evidence suggests since pre-industrial times. Established theory, supported experiments, indicates that iCO2 likely responsible about half increase. Global budgeting, atmospheric data, forest inventories indicate historical sink, these apparent high comparison experiments predictions theory. Plant mortality highly uncertain. In conclusion, range supports positive response , albeit with uncertain magnitude strong suggestion role additional

Language: Английский

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Drivers and mechanisms of tree mortality in moist tropical forests

New Phytologist, Journal Year: 2018, Volume and Issue: 219(3), P. 851 - 869

Published: Feb. 16, 2018

Tree mortality rates appear to be increasing in moist tropical forests (MTFs) with significant carbon cycle consequences. Here, we review the state of knowledge regarding MTF tree mortality, create a conceptual framework testable hypotheses drivers, mechanisms and interactions that may underlie rates, identify next steps for improved understanding reduced prediction. Increasing are associated rising temperature vapor pressure deficit, liana abundance, drought, wind events, fire and, possibly, CO2 fertilization-induced increases stand thinning or acceleration trees reaching larger, more vulnerable heights. The majority these drivers kill part through starvation hydraulic failure. relative importance each driver is unknown. High species diversity buffer MTFs against large-scale but recent expected trends give reason concern within MTFs. Models advancing representation hydraulics, demography, require empirical most common their subsequent mechanisms. We outline critical datasets model developments required test underlying causes improve prediction future under climate change. Contents Summary 852 I. Introduction II. Amazon Basin 854 III. Global regional 855 IV. On coupling 859 V. Mitigating factors promote survival VI. ESM simulations VII. Next 860 VIII. Conclusions 863 Acknowledgements ORCID References

Language: Английский

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Reinforcing loose foundation stones in trait-based plant ecology

Oecologia, Journal Year: 2016, Volume and Issue: 180(4), P. 923 - 931

Published: Jan. 21, 2016

Language: Английский

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The intrinsic dimensionality of plant traits and its relevance to community assembly

Journal of Ecology, Journal Year: 2013, Volume and Issue: 102(1), P. 186 - 193

Published: Nov. 5, 2013

Summary Plants are multifaceted organisms that have evolved numerous solutions to the problem of establishing, growing and reproducing with limited resources. The intrinsic dimensionality plant traits is minimum number independent axes variation adequately describes functional among plants therefore a fundamental quantity in comparative ecology. Given large measured on plants, form function potentially vast. A variety linear nonlinear methods were used estimate three trait data sets. results these analyses indicate while generally larger than we admitted past, it does not exceed six most comprehensive set. blessing, curse. higher dimension an analysis, more easily our models will be able accurately discriminate species space predict distributions abundances. Recent ability community composition increases rapidly additional traits, but reaches plateau after four eight traits. Synthesis . There appears tractable upper limit To optimize research efficiency for advancing understanding trait‐based assembly, ecologists should minimize maximizing dimensions, because including multiple correlated yield dividends leads diminishing returns. It recommended measure from organs whenever possible, especially leaf, stem, root flowering given their consistent performance explaining assembly across different ecosystems.

Language: Английский

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Which is a better predictor of plant traits: temperature or precipitation?

Journal of Vegetation Science, Journal Year: 2014, Volume and Issue: 25(5), P. 1167 - 1180

Published: May 15, 2014

Abstract Question Are plant traits more closely correlated with mean annual temperature, or precipitation? Location Global. Methods We quantified the strength of relationships between temperature and precipitation 21 from 447,961 species‐site combinations worldwide. used meta‐analysis to provide an overall answer our question. Results Mean was significantly strongly than precipitation. Conclusions Our study provides support for some assumptions classical vegetation theory, points many interesting directions future research. The relatively low R 2 values might reflect weak link availability water plants.

Language: Английский

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Does functional trait diversity predict above‐ground biomass and productivity of tropical forests? Testing three alternative hypotheses

Journal of Ecology, Journal Year: 2014, Volume and Issue: 103(1), P. 191 - 201

Published: Dec. 2, 2014

Summary Tropical forests are globally important, but it is not clear whether biodiversity enhances carbon storage and sequestration in them. We tested this relationship focusing on components of functional trait as predictors. Data presented for three rain Bolivia, Brazil Costa Rica. Initial above‐ground biomass increments survivors, recruits survivors + (total) were estimated trees ≥10 cm d.b.h. 62 21 1.0‐ha plots, respectively. determined relationships to initial standing ( AGB i ), biomass‐weighted community mean values CWM ) eight traits four variety indices (functional richness, evenness, diversity dispersion). The forest continuum sampled ranged from ‘slow’ stands dominated by with tough tissues high , ‘fast’ soft, nutrient‐rich leaves, lighter woods lower . related the dominant species system (the ratio hypothesis), niche complementarity or case increments, simply green soup hypothesis). s reasonable bivariate predictors specific leaf area SLA nitrogen content, force tear leaf, maximum adult height H max wood gravity most important. was also a predictor measures increment. In best‐fit multiple regression models, important Only selected best models increment; predictor, expected positive relationship. There no only recruits. Synthesis found support hypothesis have strong hypothesis. driver ecosystem other especially sequestration.

Language: Английский

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Functional trait space and the latitudinal diversity gradient

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Journal Year: 2014, Volume and Issue: 111(38), P. 13745 - 13750

Published: Sept. 15, 2014

Significance We present a conceptual framework for testing theories the latitudinal gradient of species richness in terms variation functional diversity at alpha, beta, and gamma scales. compared ecological community theory with large-scale observational data tree diversity. found that patterns trait are not consistent any one These conflicting results indicate none broad classes biodiversity considered here is alone able to explain space.

Language: Английский

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Successional changes in functional composition contrast for dry and wet tropical forest

Ecology, Journal Year: 2013, Volume and Issue: 94(6), P. 1211 - 1216

Published: Feb. 6, 2013

We tested whether and how functional composition changes with succession in dry deciduous wet evergreen forests of Mexico. hypothesized that compositional during forest were mainly determined by increasing water availability leading to community from conservative acquisitive strategies, decreasing light strategies. Research was carried out 15 secondary plots (5–63 years after abandonment) 17 (<1–25 abandonment). Community‐level traits represented community‐weighted means based on 11 measured 132 species. Successional are more marked than largely characterized different traits. During succession, related drought tolerance avoidance decreased, as predicted. Unexpectedly leaf also whereas seed size dependence biotic dispersal increased. In changed traits, suggesting the main driver changes. Distinct suites shape responding environmental filters.

Language: Английский

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Fitness of multidimensional phenotypes in dynamic adaptive landscapes

Trends in Ecology & Evolution, Journal Year: 2015, Volume and Issue: 30(8), P. 487 - 496

Published: June 30, 2015

Language: Английский

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