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2021-10-09Zeitschriftenartikel
A 40-year evaluation of drivers of African rainforest change
dc.contributor.authorChapman, Colin A.
dc.contributor.authorGalán-Acedo, Carmen
dc.contributor.authorGogarten, Jan F.
dc.contributor.authorHou, Rong
dc.contributor.authorLawes, Micheal J.
dc.contributor.authorOmeja, Patrick A.
dc.contributor.authorSarkar, Dipto
dc.contributor.authorSugiyama, Anna
dc.contributor.authorKalbitzer, Urs
dc.date.accessioned2024-08-12T14:12:47Z
dc.date.available2024-08-12T14:12:47Z
dc.date.issued2021-10-09none
dc.identifier.other10.1186/s40663-021-00343-7
dc.identifier.urihttp://edoc.rki.de/176904/11891
dc.description.abstractBackground: Tropical forests are repositories of much of the world’s biodiversity and are critical for mitigation of climate change. Yet, the drivers of forest dynamics are poorly understood. This is in large part due to the lack of long-term data on forest change and changes in drivers. Methodology: We quantify changes in tree abundance, diversity, and stand structure along transects first enumerated in 1978 and resampled 2019 in Kibale National Park, Uganda. We tested five predictions. First, based on the purported role of seed dispersal and herbivory and our quantification of changes in the abundance of frugivores and herbivores, we tested two predictions of how faunal change could have influenced forest composition. Second, based on an evaluation of life history strategies, we tested two predictions concerning how the forest could have changed following disturbance that happened prior to written history. Finally, based on a 50-year climate record, we evaluate the possible influence of climate change on forest dynamics. Results: More trees were present on the assessed transects in 2019 (508) than in 1978 (436), species richness remained similar, but diversity declined as the number of dominant species increased. Rainfall increased by only 3 mm over the 50 years but this had not significant effect on forest changes measured here. Annual average monthly maximum temperature increased significantly by 1.05 °C over 50 years. The abundance of frugivorous and folivorous primates and elephants increased over the 50 years of monitoring. Neither the prediction that an increase in abundance of seed dispersing frugivores increases the abundance of their preferred fruiting tree species, nor that as an increase in folivore abundance causes a decline in their preferred species were supported. As predicted, light-demanding species decreased in abundance while shade-tolerant species increased as expected from Kibale being disturbed prior to historical records. Finally, while temperature increased over the 50 years, we found no means to predict a priori how individual species would respond. Conclusions: Our study revealed subtle changes in the tree community over 40 years, sizable increases in primate numbers, a substantial increase in the elephant population and an increase in local temperature. Yet, a clear picture of what set of interactions impact the change in the tree community remains elusive. Our data on tree life-history strategies and frugivore/herbivore foraging preferences suggest that trees species are under opposing pressures.eng
dc.language.isoengnone
dc.publisherRobert Koch-Institut
dc.rights(CC BY 3.0 DE) Namensnennung 3.0 Deutschlandger
dc.rights.urihttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/de/
dc.subjectclimate changeeng
dc.subjectelephantseng
dc.subjectsuccessioneng
dc.subjectprimateseng
dc.subjectdisturbanceeng
dc.subjectforest regenerationeng
dc.subject.ddc610 Medizin und Gesundheitnone
dc.titleA 40-year evaluation of drivers of African rainforest changenone
dc.typearticle
dc.identifier.urnurn:nbn:de:0257-176904/11891-0
dc.type.versionpublishedVersionnone
local.edoc.container-titleForest Ecosystemsnone
local.edoc.container-issn2197-5620none
local.edoc.pages16none
local.edoc.type-nameZeitschriftenartikel
local.edoc.container-typeperiodical
local.edoc.container-type-nameZeitschrift
local.edoc.container-urlhttps://forestecosyst.springeropen.com/none
local.edoc.container-publisher-nameSpringer Naturenone
local.edoc.container-volume8none
local.edoc.container-reportyear2021none
dc.description.versionPeer Reviewednone

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