Resistance of African tropical forests to an extreme climate anomaly

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2021-05Language
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Bennett, A.C., Dargie, G.C., Cuni-Sanchez, A., Tshibamba Mukendi, J., Hubau, W., Mukinzi, J.M., Phillips, O.L., Malhi, Y., Sullivan, M.J.P., Cooper, D.L.M., Adu-Bredu, S., Affum-Baffoe, K., Amani, C.A., Banin, L.F., Beeckman, H., Begne, S.K., Bocko, Y.E., Boeckx, P., Bogaert, J., Brncic, T., Chezeaux, E., Clark, C.J., Daniels, A.K., de Haulleville, T., Djuikouo Kamdem, M.-N., Doucet, J.-L., Evouna Ondo, F., Ewango, C.E.N., Feldpausch, T.R., Foli, E.G., Gonmadje, C., Hall, J.S., Hardy, O.J., Harris, D.J., Ifo, S.A., Jeffery, K.J., Kearsley, E., Leal, M., Levesley, A., Makana, J.-R., Mbayu Lukasu, F., Medjibe, V.P., Mihindu, V., Moore, S., Nssi Begone, N., Pickavance, G.C., Poulsen, J.R., Reitsma, J., Sonké, B., Sunderland, T.C.H., Taedoumg, H., Talbot, J., Tuagben, D.S., Umunay, P.M., Verbeeck, H., Vleminckx, J., White, L.J.T., Woell, H., Woods, J.T., Zemagho, L. and Lewis, S.L. 2021. Resistance of African tropical forests to an extreme climate anomaly. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 118(21): e2003169118. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2003169118
Permanent link to cite or share this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10568/114048
External link to download this item: https://www.cifor.org/library/8043
Abstract/Description
The responses of tropical forests to environmental change are critical uncertainties in predicting the future impacts of climate change. The positive phase of the 2015–2016 El Niño Southern Oscillation resulted in unprecedented heat and low precipitation in the tropics with substantial impacts on the global carbon cycle. The role of African tropical forests is uncertain as their responses to short-term drought and temperature anomalies have yet to be determined using on-the-ground measurements. African tropical forests may be particularly sensitive because they exist in relatively dry conditions compared with Amazonian or Asian forests, or they may be more resistant because of an abundance of drought-adapted species. Here, we report responses of structurally intact old-growth lowland tropical forests inventoried within the African Tropical Rainforest Observatory Network (AfriTRON). We use 100 long-term inventory plots from six countries each measured at least twice prior to and once following the 2015–2016 El Niño event. These plots experienced the highest temperatures and driest conditions on record. The record temperature did not significantly reduce carbon gains from tree growth or significantly increase carbon losses from tree mortality, but the record drought did significantly decrease net carbon uptake. Overall, the long-term biomass increase of these forests was reduced due to the El Niño event, but these plots remained a live biomass carbon sink (0.51 ± 0.40 Mg C ha−1 y−1) despite extreme environmental conditions. Our analyses, while limited to African tropical forests, suggest they may be more resistant to climatic extremes than Amazonian and Asian forests.
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Organizations Affiliated to the Authors
Center for International Forestry Research; University of Leeds; University of York; University College, London; Royal Museum for Central Africa, Belgium; Université de Kisangani; Université de Mbujimayi; Ghent University; Wildlife Conservation Society; Salonga National Park; World Wide Fund for Nature; Oxford University; Manchester Metropolitan University; Forestry Research Institute of Ghana; Forestry Commission of Ghana; Université Officielle de Bukavu; Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, United Kingdom; Université de Yaoundé I; Université Marien Ngouabi; Université de Liège; Rougier-Gabon; Duke University; Forestry Development Authority, Liberia; University of Buea; Agence Nationale des Parcs Nationaux; Centre de Formation et de Recherche en Conservation Forestiere; University of Exeter; National Herbarium; Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute; Université Libre de Bruxelles; Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh; Université Marien Ngouabi; University of Stirling; Commission of Central African Forests; Ministry of Forests, Seas, Environment and Climate, Gabon; Bureau Waardenburg; University of British Columbia; Bioversity International; Yale University; Florida International University; Institut de Recherche en Écologie Tropicale, Gabon; Sommersbergseestrasse; University of LiberiaCollections
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