Diversity enhances carbon storage in tropical forests
Wageningen University & Research · University of Puerto Rico at Río Piedras · +26 more institutions
Abstract
Abstract Aim Tropical forests store 25% of global carbon and harbour 96% of the world's tree species, but it is not clear whether this high biodiversity matters for carbon storage. Few studies have teased apart the relative importance of forest attributes and environmental drivers for ecosystem functioning, and no such study exists for the tropics. Location Neotropics. Methods We relate aboveground biomass ( AGB ) to forest attributes (diversity and structure) and environmental drivers (annual rainfall and soil fertility) using data from 144,000 trees, 2050 forest plots and 59 forest sites. The sites span the complete latitudinal and climatic gradients in the lowland Neotropics, with rainfall ranging from 750…
Citation impact
- FWCI
- 44.11
- Percentile
- 100%
- References
- 49
Authors
64- LPLourens PoorterCorresponding
Wageningen University & Research
- MTMasha T. van der Sande
Wageningen University & Research
- JTJill Thompson
University of Puerto Rico at Río Piedras, UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology
- EAE.J.M.M. Arets
Wageningen University & Research
- AAAlejandro Alarcón
Gabriel René Moreno Autonomous University, Bolivian Forest Research Institute
Topics & keywords
- Species richness
- Ecology
- Biodiversity
- Biomass (ecology)
- Environmental science
- Forest ecology
- Species diversity
- Ecosystem
- Life in Land