1
|
Uriarte M, Tang C, Morton DC, Zimmerman JK, Zheng T. 20th-Century hurricanes leave long-lasting legacies on tropical forest height and the abundance of a dominant wind-resistant palm. Ecol Evol 2023; 13:e10776. [PMID: 38020686 PMCID: PMC10680431 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.10776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2023] [Revised: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Projected increases in hurricane intensity under a warming climate will have profound effects on many forest ecosystems. One key challenge is to disentangle the effects of wind damage from the myriad factors that influence forest structure and species distributions over large spatial scales. Here, we employ a novel machine learning framework with high-resolution aerial photos, and LiDAR collected over 115 km2 of El Yunque National Forest in Puerto Rico to examine the effects of topographic exposure to two hurricanes, Hugo (1989) and Georges (1998), and several landscape-scale environmental factors on the current forest height and abundance of a dominant, wind-resistant species, the palm Prestoea acuminata var. montana. Model predictions show that the average density of the palm was 32% greater while the canopy height was 20% shorter in forests exposed to the two storms relative to unexposed areas. Our results demonstrate that hurricanes have lasting effects on forest canopy height and composition, suggesting the expected increase in hurricane severity with a warming climate will alter coastal forests in the North Atlantic.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- María Uriarte
- Department of Ecology Evolution & Environmental BiologyColumbia UniversityNew YorkNew YorkUSA
| | - Chengliang Tang
- Department of StatisticsColumbia UniversityNew YorkNew YorkUSA
| | - Douglas C. Morton
- Biospheric Sciences LaboratoryNASA Goddard Space Flight CenterGreenbeltMarylandUSA
| | - Jess K. Zimmerman
- Department of Environmental SciencesUniversidad de Puerto RicoSan JuanPuerto RicoUSA
| | - Tian Zheng
- Department of StatisticsColumbia UniversityNew YorkNew YorkUSA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Shaping of topography by topographically-controlled vegetation in tropical montane rainforest. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0281835. [PMID: 36893140 PMCID: PMC9997930 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0281835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2022] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 03/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Topography is commonly viewed as a passive backdrop on which vegetation grows. Yet, in certain circumstances, a bidirectional feedback may develop between the control of topography and the spatial distribution of vegetation and landform development, because vegetation modulates the erosion of the land surface. Therefore, if reinforcing feedbacks are established between erosion and land cover distribution over timescales relevant to landform development, then the interactions between vegetation and topography may create distinctive landforms, shaped by vegetation. We expose here a strong correlation between the spatial distribution of vegetation, erosion rates, and topography at a characteristic length scale of 102-103m (mesoscale topography) in the Luquillo Experimental forest (LEF) of Puerto Rico. We use high-resolution LiDAR topography to characterize landforms, satellite images to classify the vegetation into forest types, and in-situ produced cosmogenic 10Be in the quartz extracted from soils and stream sediments to document spatial variations in soil erosion. The data document a strong correlation between forest type and topographic position (hilltop vs. valleys), and a correlation between topographic position and 10Be-derived erosion rates over 103-104 years. Erosion is faster in valleys, which are mostly covered by monocot Palm Forest, and slower on surrounding hills mostly covered by the dicot Palo Colorado Forest. Transition from one forest type to the next occurs across a break-in-slope that separates shallowly convex hilltops from deeply concave valleys (coves). The break-in-slope is the consequence of a longer-lasting erosional imbalance whereby coves erode faster than hills over landscape-shaping timescales. Such a deepening of the coves is usually spurred by external drivers, but such drivers are here absent. This implies that cove erosion is driven by a process originating within the coves themselves. We propose that vegetation is the primary driver of this imbalance, soil erosion being faster under Palm forest than under Palo Colorado forest. Concentration of the Palm forest in the deepening coves is reinforced by the better adaptation of Palm trees to the erosive processes that take place in the coves, once these develop steep slopes. At the current rate of landscape development, we find that the imbalance started within the past 0.1-1.5 My. The initiation of the process could correspond to time of settlement of these mountain slopes by the Palm and Palo Colorado forests.
Collapse
|
3
|
A Severe Hurricane Increases Carbon Dioxide and Methane Fluxes and Triples Nitrous Oxide Emissions in a Tropical Forest. Ecosystems 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s10021-022-00794-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
|
4
|
Quebbeman A, Davis R, Thompson J, Zimmerman JK, Uriarte M. Percolation threshold analyses can detect community assembly processes in simulated and natural tree communities. Methods Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/2041-210x.13676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Quebbeman
- Department of Ecology Evolution & Environmental Biology Columbia University New York NY USA
| | - Richard Davis
- Department of Statistics Columbia University New York NY USA
| | | | - Jess K. Zimmerman
- Department of Environmental Sciences University of Puerto Rico San Juan PR USA
| | - María Uriarte
- Department of Ecology Evolution & Environmental Biology Columbia University New York NY USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Quebbeman AW, Menge DNL, Zimmerman J, Uriarte M. Topography and Tree Species Improve Estimates of Spatial Variation in Soil Greenhouse Gas Fluxes in a Subtropical Forest. Ecosystems 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s10021-021-00677-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
|
6
|
Muller-Landau HC, Cushman KC, Arroyo EE, Martinez Cano I, Anderson-Teixeira KJ, Backiel B. Patterns and mechanisms of spatial variation in tropical forest productivity, woody residence time, and biomass. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2021; 229:3065-3087. [PMID: 33207007 DOI: 10.1111/nph.17084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2020] [Accepted: 10/12/2020] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Tropical forests vary widely in biomass carbon (C) stocks and fluxes even after controlling for forest age. A mechanistic understanding of this variation is critical to accurately predicting responses to global change. We review empirical studies of spatial variation in tropical forest biomass, productivity and woody residence time, focusing on mature forests. Woody productivity and biomass decrease from wet to dry forests and with elevation. Within lowland forests, productivity and biomass increase with temperature in wet forests, but decrease with temperature where water becomes limiting. Woody productivity increases with soil fertility, whereas residence time decreases, and biomass responses are variable, consistent with an overall unimodal relationship. Areas with higher disturbance rates and intensities have lower woody residence time and biomass. These environmental gradients all involve both direct effects of changing environments on forest C fluxes and shifts in functional composition - including changing abundances of lianas - that substantially mitigate or exacerbate direct effects. Biogeographic realms differ significantly and importantly in productivity and biomass, even after controlling for climate and biogeochemistry, further demonstrating the importance of plant species composition. Capturing these patterns in global vegetation models requires better mechanistic representation of water and nutrient limitation, plant compositional shifts and tree mortality.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Helene C Muller-Landau
- Center for Tropical Forest Science-Forest Global Earth Observatory, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, PO Box 0843-03092, Balboa, Ancón, Panama
| | - K C Cushman
- Center for Tropical Forest Science-Forest Global Earth Observatory, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, PO Box 0843-03092, Balboa, Ancón, Panama
| | - Eva E Arroyo
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology, Columbia University, 1200 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, NY, 10027, USA
| | - Isabel Martinez Cano
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, 08544, USA
| | - Kristina J Anderson-Teixeira
- Center for Tropical Forest Science-Forest Global Earth Observatory, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, PO Box 0843-03092, Balboa, Ancón, Panama
- Conservation Ecology Center, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute and National Zoological Park, 1500 Remount Rd, Front Royal, VA, 22630, USA
| | - Bogumila Backiel
- Center for Tropical Forest Science-Forest Global Earth Observatory, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, PO Box 0843-03092, Balboa, Ancón, Panama
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Zimmerman JK, Willig MR, Hernández‐Delgado EA. Resistance, resilience, and vulnerability of social‐ecological systems to hurricanes in Puerto Rico. Ecosphere 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.3159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Jess K. Zimmerman
- Department of Environmental Sciences University of Puerto Rico San Juan Puerto Rico 00925 USA
| | - Michael R. Willig
- Institute of the Environment Center for Environmental Sciences & Engineering and Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology University of Connecticut Storrs Connecticut 06269 USA
| | - Edwin A. Hernández‐Delgado
- Department of Environmental Sciences University of Puerto Rico San Juan Puerto Rico 00925 USA
- Center for Applied Tropical Ecology and Conservation University of Puerto Rico San Juan Puerto Rico 00925 USA
- Sociedad Ambiente Marino San Juan Puerto Rico 00931 USA
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Chadwick KD, Asner GP. Geomorphic transience moderates topographic controls on tropical canopy foliar traits. Ecol Lett 2020; 23:1276-1286. [PMID: 32452136 DOI: 10.1111/ele.13531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2019] [Revised: 12/18/2019] [Accepted: 04/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Tropical ecosystems that exist on mountainous terrain harbour enormous species and functional diversity. In addition, the morphology of these complex landscapes is dynamic. Stream channels respond to mountain uplift by eroding into rising rock bodies. Many local factors determine whether channels are actively downcutting, in relative steady-state, or aggrading. It is possible to assess the trajectory of catchment-level landscape evolution utilising lidar-based models, but the effect of these trajectories on biogeochemical gradients and organisation of canopy traits across climatic and geochemical conditions remain uncertain. We use canopy trait maps to assess how variable erosion rate within catchments influence hillslope controls on canopy traits across Mt. Kinabalu, Borneo. While foliar nutrient content generally increased along hillslopes, these relationships were moderated by catchment responses to changing erosion pressure, with active downcutting associated with greater turnover in canopy traits along hillslopes. These results provide an understanding of geomorphic process controls on forest functional diversity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- K Dana Chadwick
- Department of Earth System Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.,Earth and Environmental Sciences Area, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Gregory P Asner
- Center for Global Discovery and Conservation Science, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Bedrock geochemistry influences vegetation growth by regulating the regolith water holding capacity. Nat Commun 2020; 11:2392. [PMID: 32404911 PMCID: PMC7220924 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-16156-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2019] [Accepted: 04/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Although low vegetation productivity has been observed in karst regions, whether and how bedrock geochemistry contributes to the low karstic vegetation productivity remain unclear. In this study, we address this knowledge gap by exploring the importance of bedrock geochemistry on vegetation productivity based on a critical zone investigation across a typical karst region in Southwest China. We show silicon and calcium concentrations in bedrock are strongly correlated with the regolith water loss rate (RWLR), while RWLR can predict vegetation productivity more effectively than previous models. Furthermore, the analysis based on 12 selected karst regions worldwide further suggest that lithological regulation has the potential to obscure and distort the influence of climate change. Our study implies that bedrock geochemistry could exert effects on vegetation growth in karst regions and highlights that the critical role of bedrock geochemistry for the karst region should not be ignored in the earth system model.
Collapse
|
10
|
Gross A, Lin Y, Weber PK, Pett‐Ridge J, Silver WL. The role of soil redox conditions in microbial phosphorus cycling in humid tropical forests. Ecology 2019; 101:e02928. [DOI: 10.1002/ecy.2928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2018] [Revised: 07/16/2019] [Accepted: 09/25/2019] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Avner Gross
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy, & Management University of California Berkeley Berkeley California 94720 USA
- Department of Geography and Environmental Development Ben Gurion University of the Negev Beer Sheva Israel
| | - Yang Lin
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy, & Management University of California Berkeley Berkeley California 94720 USA
| | - Peter K. Weber
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Physical and Life Science Directorate Livermore California 94550 USA
| | - Jennifer Pett‐Ridge
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Physical and Life Science Directorate Livermore California 94550 USA
| | - Whendee L. Silver
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy, & Management University of California Berkeley Berkeley California 94720 USA
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Hogan JA, McMahon SM, Buzzard V, Michaletz ST, Enquist BJ, Thompson J, Swenson NG, Zimmerman JK. Drought and the interannual variability of stem growth in an aseasonal, everwet forest. Biotropica 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/btp.12624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- J. Aaron Hogan
- Department of Biological Sciences Department of Biological Sciences International Center for Tropical Botany Florida International University Miami Florida
- Department of Environmental Sciences University of Puerto Rico – Río Piedras San Juan Puerto Rico
| | - Sean M. McMahon
- Smithsonian Environmental Research Center Edgewater Maryland
| | - Vanessa Buzzard
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology University of Arizona Tucson Arizona
| | - Sean T. Michaletz
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology University of Arizona Tucson Arizona
- Biosphere 2 University of Arizona Tucson Arizona
- Department of Botany and Biodiversity Research Centre University of British Columbia Vancouver British Columbia Canada
| | - Brian J. Enquist
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology University of Arizona Tucson Arizona
| | - Jill Thompson
- Centre for Ecology & Hydrology Penicuik Midlothian UK
| | - Nathan G. Swenson
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology University of Maryland College Park Maryland
| | - Jess K. Zimmerman
- Department of Environmental Sciences University of Puerto Rico – Río Piedras San Juan Puerto Rico
| |
Collapse
|