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Increasing dominance of large lianas in Amazonian forests

Author

Listed:
  • Oliver L. Phillips

    (University of Leeds)

  • Rodolfo Vásquez Martínez

    (Jardin Botánico de Missouri)

  • Luzmila Arroyo

    (Missouri Botanical Garden
    Museo de Historia Natural Noel Kempff Mercado)

  • Timothy R. Baker

    (University of Leeds)

  • Timothy Killeen

    (Missouri Botanical Garden
    Museo de Historia Natural Noel Kempff Mercado
    Conservation International)

  • Simon L. Lewis

    (University of Leeds
    University of Edinburgh)

  • Yadvinder Malhi

    (University of Edinburgh)

  • Abel Monteagudo Mendoza

    (Jardin Botánico de Missouri
    Herbario Vargas, Universidad San Antonio Abad del Cusco)

  • David Neill

    (Escuela de Biología de la Universidad Central del Ecuador
    Escuela de Biología de la Universidad Central del Ecuador)

  • Percy Núñez Vargas

    (Herbario Vargas, Universidad San Antonio Abad del Cusco)

  • Miguel Alexiades

    (New York Botanical Garden)

  • Carlos Cerón

    (Escuela de Biología de la Universidad Central del Ecuador)

  • Anthony Di Fiore

    (New York University)

  • Terry Erwin

    (Smithsonian Institution)

  • Anthony Jardim

    (Museo de Historia Natural Noel Kempff Mercado)

  • Walter Palacios

    (Escuela de Biología de la Universidad Central del Ecuador)

  • Mario Saldias

    (Museo de Historia Natural Noel Kempff Mercado)

  • Barbara Vinceti

    (University of Edinburgh)

Abstract

Ecological orthodoxy suggests that old-growth forests should be close to dynamic equilibrium, but this view has been challenged by recent findings that neotropical forests are accumulating carbon1,2 and biomass3,4, possibly in response to the increasing atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide5,6. However, it is unclear whether the recent increase in tree biomass has been accompanied by a shift in community composition. Such changes could reduce or enhance the carbon storage potential of old-growth forests in the long term. Here we show that non-fragmented Amazon forests are experiencing a concerted increase in the density, basal area and mean size of woody climbing plants (lianas). Over the last two decades of the twentieth century the dominance of large lianas relative to trees has increased by 1.7–4.6% a year. Lianas enhance tree mortality and suppress tree growth7, so their rapid increase implies that the tropical terrestrial carbon sink may shut down sooner than current models suggest8,9,10. Predictions of future tropical carbon fluxes will need to account for the changing composition and dynamics of supposedly undisturbed forests.

Suggested Citation

  • Oliver L. Phillips & Rodolfo Vásquez Martínez & Luzmila Arroyo & Timothy R. Baker & Timothy Killeen & Simon L. Lewis & Yadvinder Malhi & Abel Monteagudo Mendoza & David Neill & Percy Núñez Vargas & Mi, 2002. "Increasing dominance of large lianas in Amazonian forests," Nature, Nature, vol. 418(6899), pages 770-774, August.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:418:y:2002:i:6899:d:10.1038_nature00926
    DOI: 10.1038/nature00926
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Rodrigo S Rios & Cristian Salgado-Luarte & Ernesto Gianoli, 2014. "Species Divergence and Phylogenetic Variation of Ecophysiological Traits in Lianas and Trees," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 9(6), pages 1-10, June.
    2. Chave, Jérôme & Norden, Natalia, 2007. "Changes of species diversity in a simulated fragmented neutral landscape," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 207(1), pages 3-10.
    3. Manuel Guariguata & Jonathan Cornelius & Bruno Locatelli & Claudio Forner & G. Sánchez-Azofeifa, 2008. "Mitigation needs adaptation: Tropical forestry and climate change," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 13(8), pages 793-808, October.
    4. Alyssa M. Willson & Anna T. Trugman & Jennifer S. Powers & Chris M. Smith-Martin & David Medvigy, 2022. "Climate and hydraulic traits interact to set thresholds for liana viability," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-11, December.

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