Dataset Information

Logged tropical forests have amplified and diverse ecosystem energetics.

ABSTRACT: Old-growth tropical forests are widely recognized as being immensely important for their biodiversity and high biomass¹. Conversely, logged tropical forests are usually characterized as degraded ecosystems². However, whether logging results in a degradation in ecosystem functions is less clear: shifts in the strength and resilience of key ecosystem processes in large suites of species have rarely been assessed in an ecologically integrated and quantitative framework. Here we adopt an ecosystem energetics lens to gain new insight into the impacts of tropical forest disturbance on a key integrative aspect of ecological function: food pathways and community structure of birds and mammals. We focus on a gradient spanning old-growth and logged forests and oil palm plantations in Borneo. In logged forest there is a 2.5-fold increase in total resource consumption by both birds and mammals compared to that in old-growth forests, probably driven by greater resource accessibility and vegetation palatability. Most principal energetic pathways maintain high species diversity and redundancy, implying maintained resilience. Conversion of logged forest into oil palm plantation results in the collapse of most energetic pathways. Far from being degraded ecosystems, even heavily logged forests can be vibrant and diverse ecosystems with enhanced levels of ecological function.

SUBMITTER: Malhi Y

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9771799 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Logged tropical forests have amplified and diverse ecosystem energetics.

Malhi Yadvinder Y Riutta Terhi T Wearn Oliver R OR Deere Nicolas J NJ Mitchell Simon L SL Bernard Henry H Majalap Noreen N Nilus Reuben R Davies Zoe G ZG Ewers Robert M RM Struebig Matthew J MJ

Nature 20221214 7941

Old-growth tropical forests are widely recognized as being immensely important for their biodiversity and high biomass<sup>1</sup>. Conversely, logged tropical forests are usually characterized as degraded ecosystems<sup>2</sup>. However, whether logging results in a degradation in ecosystem functions is less clear: shifts in the strength and resilience of key ecosystem processes in large suites of species have rarely been assessed in an ecologically integrated and quantitative framework. Here w ...[more]

PMID: 36517596

Similar Datasets

Project description:The allocation of the net primary productivity (NPP) of an ecosystem between canopy, woody tissue and fine roots is an important descriptor of the functioning of that ecosystem, and an important feature to correctly represent in terrestrial ecosystem models. Here, we collate and analyse a global dataset of NPP allocation in tropical forests, and compare this with the representation of NPP allocation in 13 terrestrial ecosystem models. On average, the data suggest an equal partitioning of allocation between all three main components (mean 34 ± 6% canopy, 39 ± 10% wood, 27 ± 11% fine roots), but there is substantial site-to-site variation in allocation to woody tissue versus allocation to fine roots. Allocation to canopy (leaves, flowers and fruit) shows much less variance. The mean allocation of the ecosystem models is close to the mean of the data, but the spread is much greater, with several models reporting allocation partitioning outside of the spread of the data. Where all main components of NPP cannot be measured, litterfall is a good predictor of overall NPP (r(2) = 0.83 for linear fit forced through origin), stem growth is a moderate predictor and fine root production a poor predictor. Across sites the major component of variation of allocation is a shifting allocation between wood and fine roots, with allocation to the canopy being a relatively invariant component of total NPP. This suggests the dominant allocation trade-off is a 'fine root versus wood' trade-off, as opposed to the expected 'root-shoot' trade-off; such a trade-off has recently been posited on theoretical grounds for old-growth forest stands. We conclude by discussing the systematic biases in estimates of allocation introduced by missing NPP components, including herbivory, large leaf litter and root exudates production. These biases have a moderate effect on overall carbon allocation estimates, but are smaller than the observed range in allocation values across sites.

Dataset Information

Logged tropical forests have amplified and diverse ecosystem energetics.

Publications

Logged tropical forests have amplified and diverse ecosystem energetics.

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

Tweets