1
|
Jucker T, Bongalov B, Burslem DFRP, Nilus R, Dalponte M, Lewis SL, Phillips OL, Qie L, Coomes DA. Topography shapes the structure, composition and function of tropical forest landscapes. Ecol Lett 2018; 21:989-1000. [PMID: 29659115 PMCID: PMC6849614 DOI: 10.1111/ele.12964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2017] [Revised: 12/17/2017] [Accepted: 03/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Topography is a key driver of tropical forest structure and composition, as it constrains local nutrient and hydraulic conditions within which trees grow. Yet, we do not fully understand how changes in forest physiognomy driven by topography impact other emergent properties of forests, such as their aboveground carbon density (ACD). Working in Borneo – at a site where 70‐m‐tall forests in alluvial valleys rapidly transition to stunted heath forests on nutrient‐depleted dip slopes – we combined field data with airborne laser scanning and hyperspectral imaging to characterise how topography shapes the vertical structure, wood density, diversity and ACD of nearly 15 km2 of old‐growth forest. We found that subtle differences in elevation – which control soil chemistry and hydrology – profoundly influenced the structure, composition and diversity of the canopy. Capturing these processes was critical to explaining landscape‐scale heterogeneity in ACD, highlighting how emerging remote sensing technologies can provide new insights into long‐standing ecological questions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tommaso Jucker
- Department of Plant Sciences, Forest Ecology and Conservation group, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.,CSIRO Land and Water, 147 Underwood Avenue, Floreat, 6014, WA, Australia
| | - Boris Bongalov
- Department of Plant Sciences, Forest Ecology and Conservation group, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - David F R P Burslem
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Cruickshank Building, St Machar Drive, Aberdeen, UK
| | - Reuben Nilus
- Sabah Forestry Department, Forest Research Centre, P.O. Box 1407, 90715, Sandakan, Sabah, Malaysia
| | - Michele Dalponte
- Department of Sustainable Agro-ecosystems and Bioresources, Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione E. Mach, Via E. Mach 1, 38010, San Michele all'Adige, Italy
| | - Simon L Lewis
- School of Geography, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK
| | | | - Lan Qie
- School of Geography, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK.,Imperial College London, Silwood Park Campus, Buckhusrt Road, Ascot, SL5 7PY, UK
| | - David A Coomes
- Department of Plant Sciences, Forest Ecology and Conservation group, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| |
Collapse
|