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Forest Ecosystems 2018, 5(1): 7 https://doi.org/10.1186/s40663-017-0118-7
Research | Open Access | Issue | Published: 08 January 2018

Tropical forest canopies and their relationships with climate and disturbance: results from a global dataset of consistent field-based measurements

Show Author's Information Marion Pfeifer1 ( ),  Alemu Gonsamo2,  William Woodgate34,  Luis Cayuela5,  Andrew R. Marshall678,  Alicia Ledo9,  Timothy C. E. Paine10,  Rob Marchant11,  Andrew Burt12,  Kim Calders1213,  Colin Courtney-Mustaphi14,  Aida Cuni-Sanchez715,  Nicolas J. Deere15,  Dereje Denu17,  Jose Gonzalez de Tanago18,  Robin Hayward7,  Alvaro Lau1819,  Manuel J. Macía20,  Pieter I. Olivier21,  Petri Pellikka22,  Hamidu Seki23,  Deo Shirima23,  Rebecca Trevithick24,  Beatrice Wedeux25,  Charlotte Wheeler12,  Pantaleo K. T. Munishi26,  Thomas Martin27,  Abdul Mustari28,  Philip J. Platts729
School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Upon Tyne, Newcastle NE1 7RU, UK
Department of Geography and Planning, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
Land and Water, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Yarralumla, ACT, Australia
School of Mathematical and Geospatial Sciences, RMIT University, GPO Box 2476V, Melbourne, VIC 3001, Australia
Department of Biology, Geology, Physics and Inorganic Chemistry, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, E-28933 Móstoles, Madrid, Spain
Tropical Forest and People Research Centre, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, Australia
Environment Department, University of York, York, UK
Flamingo Land Ltd., Malton, UK
The Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Environmental Modelling Group, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA, UK
York Institute for Tropical Ecosystems, Environment Department, University of York, York YO10 5NG, UK
Department of Geography, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK
Earth Observation, Climate and Optical Group, National Physical Laboratory, Hampton Road, Teddington, Middlesex TW11 0LW, UK
Department of Archaeology and Ancient History, Uppsala Universitet, P.O. Box 256, -751 05 Uppsala, SE, Sweden
Center for Macroecology, Evolution and Climate, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, 2100 Copenhagen, DK, Denmark
Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology (DICE), School of Anthropology and Conservation, University of Kent, Canterbury CT2 7NR, UK
Department of Biology, College of Natural Sciences, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia
Wageningen University & Research, Laboratory of Geo-Information Science and Remote Sensing, Droevendaalsesteeg 3, 6708 PB Wageningen, the Netherlands
Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), Situ Gede, Sindang Barang, Bogor 16680, Indonesia
Departamento de Biología, Área de Botánica, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Calle Darwin 2, -28049 Madrid, ES, Spain
Conservation Ecology Research Unit, University of Pretoria, Hatfield, Pretoria, South Africa
Department of Geography, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
Department of Geography, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Mkwawa University College of Education, P.O. Box 2513, Iringa, Tanzania
Department of Science, Information Technology, Innovation and the Arts, Queensland Government, Brisbane, Australia
Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EA, UK
Department of Forestry, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro, Tanzania
Operation Wallacea Ltd, Wallace House, Old Bolingbroke, Lincolnshire PE23 4EX, UK
Department of Conservation of Forest Resources and Ecotourism, Faculty of Forestry, Bogor Agricultural University, Kampus Fahutan, IPB Darmaga, Kotak Pos 168, Bogor 16001, Indonesia
Department of Biology, University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK
Keywords:
Climate change, Protected areas, Leaf area index, Fractional vegetation cover, Fraction of absorbed photosynthetically active radiation, Human population pressure, Drought
Cite this article:
Pfeifer M, Gonsamo A, Woodgate W, et al. Tropical forest canopies and their relationships with climate and disturbance: results from a global dataset of consistent field-based measurements. Forest Ecosystems, 2018, 5(1): 7. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40663-017-0118-7
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Abstract Full text About this article
Background

Canopy structure, defined by leaf area index (LAI), fractional vegetation cover (FCover) and fraction of absorbed photosynthetically active radiation (fAPAR), regulates a wide range of forest functions and ecosystem services. Spatially consistent field-measurements of canopy structure are however lacking, particularly for the tropics.

Methods

Here, we introduce the Global LAI database: a global dataset of field-based canopy structure measurements spanning tropical forests in four continents (Africa, Asia, Australia and the Americas). We use these measurements to test for climate dependencies within and across continents, and to test for the potential of anthropogenic disturbance and forest protection to modulate those dependences.

Results

Using data collected from 887 tropical forest plots, we show that maximum water deficit, defined across the most arid months of the year, is an important predictor of canopy structure, with all three canopy attributes declining significantly with increasing water deficit. Canopy attributes also increase with minimum temperature, and with the protection of forests according to both active (within protected areas) and passive measures (through topography). Once protection and continent effects are accounted for, other anthropogenic measures (e.g. human population) do not improve the model.

Conclusions

We conclude that canopy structure in the tropics is primarily a consequence of forest adaptation to the maximum water deficits historically experienced within a given region. Climate change, and in particular changes in drought regimes may thus affect forest structure and function, but forest protection may offer some resilience against this effect.


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Abstract
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Outline
About this article

Tropical forest canopies and their relationships with climate and disturbance: results from a global dataset of consistent field-based measurements

Show Author's information Marion Pfeifer1 ( ), Alemu Gonsamo2, William Woodgate34, Luis Cayuela5, Andrew R. Marshall678, Alicia Ledo9, Timothy C. E. Paine10, Rob Marchant11, Andrew Burt12, Kim Calders1213, Colin Courtney-Mustaphi14, Aida Cuni-Sanchez715, Nicolas J. Deere15, Dereje Denu17, Jose Gonzalez de Tanago18, Robin Hayward7, Alvaro Lau1819, Manuel J. Macía20, Pieter I. Olivier21, Petri Pellikka22, Hamidu Seki23, Deo Shirima23, Rebecca Trevithick24, Beatrice Wedeux25, Charlotte Wheeler12, Pantaleo K. T. Munishi26, Thomas Martin27, Abdul Mustari28, Philip J. Platts729
School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Upon Tyne, Newcastle NE1 7RU, UK
Department of Geography and Planning, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
Land and Water, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Yarralumla, ACT, Australia
School of Mathematical and Geospatial Sciences, RMIT University, GPO Box 2476V, Melbourne, VIC 3001, Australia
Department of Biology, Geology, Physics and Inorganic Chemistry, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, E-28933 Móstoles, Madrid, Spain
Tropical Forest and People Research Centre, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, Australia
Environment Department, University of York, York, UK
Flamingo Land Ltd., Malton, UK
The Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Environmental Modelling Group, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA, UK
York Institute for Tropical Ecosystems, Environment Department, University of York, York YO10 5NG, UK
Department of Geography, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK
Earth Observation, Climate and Optical Group, National Physical Laboratory, Hampton Road, Teddington, Middlesex TW11 0LW, UK
Department of Archaeology and Ancient History, Uppsala Universitet, P.O. Box 256, -751 05 Uppsala, SE, Sweden
Center for Macroecology, Evolution and Climate, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, 2100 Copenhagen, DK, Denmark
Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology (DICE), School of Anthropology and Conservation, University of Kent, Canterbury CT2 7NR, UK
Department of Biology, College of Natural Sciences, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia
Wageningen University & Research, Laboratory of Geo-Information Science and Remote Sensing, Droevendaalsesteeg 3, 6708 PB Wageningen, the Netherlands
Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), Situ Gede, Sindang Barang, Bogor 16680, Indonesia
Departamento de Biología, Área de Botánica, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Calle Darwin 2, -28049 Madrid, ES, Spain
Conservation Ecology Research Unit, University of Pretoria, Hatfield, Pretoria, South Africa
Department of Geography, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
Department of Geography, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Mkwawa University College of Education, P.O. Box 2513, Iringa, Tanzania
Department of Science, Information Technology, Innovation and the Arts, Queensland Government, Brisbane, Australia
Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EA, UK
Department of Forestry, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro, Tanzania
Operation Wallacea Ltd, Wallace House, Old Bolingbroke, Lincolnshire PE23 4EX, UK
Department of Conservation of Forest Resources and Ecotourism, Faculty of Forestry, Bogor Agricultural University, Kampus Fahutan, IPB Darmaga, Kotak Pos 168, Bogor 16001, Indonesia
Department of Biology, University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK

Abstract

Background

Canopy structure, defined by leaf area index (LAI), fractional vegetation cover (FCover) and fraction of absorbed photosynthetically active radiation (fAPAR), regulates a wide range of forest functions and ecosystem services. Spatially consistent field-measurements of canopy structure are however lacking, particularly for the tropics.

Methods

Here, we introduce the Global LAI database: a global dataset of field-based canopy structure measurements spanning tropical forests in four continents (Africa, Asia, Australia and the Americas). We use these measurements to test for climate dependencies within and across continents, and to test for the potential of anthropogenic disturbance and forest protection to modulate those dependences.

Results

Using data collected from 887 tropical forest plots, we show that maximum water deficit, defined across the most arid months of the year, is an important predictor of canopy structure, with all three canopy attributes declining significantly with increasing water deficit. Canopy attributes also increase with minimum temperature, and with the protection of forests according to both active (within protected areas) and passive measures (through topography). Once protection and continent effects are accounted for, other anthropogenic measures (e.g. human population) do not improve the model.

Conclusions

We conclude that canopy structure in the tropics is primarily a consequence of forest adaptation to the maximum water deficits historically experienced within a given region. Climate change, and in particular changes in drought regimes may thus affect forest structure and function, but forest protection may offer some resilience against this effect.

Keywords: Climate change, Protected areas, Leaf area index, Fractional vegetation cover, Fraction of absorbed photosynthetically active radiation, Human population pressure, Drought

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Publication history
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Acknowledgements
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Publication history

Received: 27 July 2017
Accepted: 10 December 2017
Published: 08 January 2018
Issue date: March 2018

Copyright

© The Author(s) 2018.

Acknowledgements

Acknowledgements

We thank the students and research assistants involved in the various projects for their help in the field during data collection. We acknowledge the British Institute in Eastern Africa for logistic support during fieldwork campaigns in Kenya, Ethiopia and Tanzania. We thank the Stability of Altered Forest Ecosystems project for logistic support in Malaysian Borneo. RH, TM and AHM also thank Kementerian Negara Riset dan Teknologi (RISTEK) for permission to work in Indonesia under research permit number 178/SIP/FRP/SM/V1/2014.

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