Disturbance sensitivity shapes patterns of tree species distribution in Afrotropical lowland rainforests more than climate or soil
Human disturbance—especially hunting and proximity to villages—shapes Afrotropical tree communities more than climate, revealing unique ecological and anthropogenic drivers in Central African forests.
Subject Tags
- Forest
- Biodiversity
- Climate adaptation
Abstract
Understanding how tropical forests respond to abiotic environmental changes is critical for preserving biodiversity, mitigating climate change, and maintaining ecosystem services in the coming century. To evaluate the relative roles of the abiotic environment and human disturbance on Central African tree community composition, we employ tree inventory data, remotely sensed climatic data, and soil nutrient data collected from 30 1-ha plots distributed across a large-scale observational experiment in forests that had been differently impacted by logging and hunting in northern Republic of Congo. We show that the composition of Afrotropical plant communities at this scale responds to human disturbance more than to climate, with particular sensitivities to hunting and distance to the nearest village (a proxy for other human activities, including tree-cutting and gathering). These findings contrast neotropical predictions, highlighting the unique ecological, evolutionary, and anthropogenic history of Afrotropical forests.
Citation
Núñez, C.L., Clark, J.S. and Poulsen, J.R., 2024. Disturbance sensitivity shapes patterns of tree species distribution in Afrotropical lowland rainforests more than climate or soil. Ecology and Evolution, 14(5), p.e11329. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.11329
TNC Authors
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John Poulsen
Global Director of Science Capacity
The Nature Conservancy
Email: john.poulsen@tnc.org