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 (AICcwi) 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.
Density of large trees explained c. 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-1] versus Palaeotropical forests (Africa 418.3 " 91.8Mg ha-1; Asia 393.3 " 109.3 Mg ha-1). 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.
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.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1111/geb.12092Altmetric score:
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Publication year
2013
Authors
Silk, J.W.F; Paoli, G.; McGuire, K.; Amaral, I.; Barroso, J.; Bastian, M; Blanc, L.; Bongers, F.; Boundja, P.; Clark, C.; Collins, M.; Dauby, G.; Yi Ding; Doucet, J.L.; Eler, E.; Ferreira, L.; Forshed, O.; Fredriksson, G.M.; Gillet, J.F.; Harris, D.; Leal, M.E.; Laumonier, Y.; Malhi, Y.; Mansor, A.; Martin, E.; Miyamoto, K.; Araujo-Murakami, A.; Nagamasu, H.; Nilus, R.; Nurtjahya, E.; Oliveira, A.; Onrizal, O.; Parada-Gutierrez, A.; Permana, A.; Poorter, L.; Poulsen, J.; Ramirez-Angulo, H.; Reitsma, J.M.; Rovero, F.; Rozak, A.; Sheil, D.; Silva-Espejo, J.; Silveira, M.; Spironello, W.; Ter Steege, H.; Stevart, T.; Navarro-Aguilar, G. E.; Sunderland, T.C.H.; Suzuki, E.; Tang, J.; Theilade, I.; Van Der Heijden, G.; van Valkenburg, J.; Van Do, T.; Vilanova, E.; Vos, V.; Wich, S.; Woll, H.; Yoneda, T.; Zang, R.; Zhang, M.G.; Zweifel, N.
Language
English
Keywords
above-ground biomass, climate change, biomass production, lowland areas, wood density, ectomycorrhizae, tropical forests
