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Widespread but heterogeneous responses of Andean forests to climate change

Author

Listed:
  • Belén Fadrique

    (University of Miami)

  • Selene Báez

    (Escuela Politécnica Nacional
    Consortium for the Sustainable Development of the Andean Ecoregion (CONDESAN))

  • Álvaro Duque

    (Universidad Nacional de Colombia–Sede Medellín)

  • Agustina Malizia

    (Universidad Nacional de Tucumán (UNT) & Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET))

  • Cecilia Blundo

    (Universidad Nacional de Tucumán (UNT) & Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET))

  • Julieta Carilla

    (Universidad Nacional de Tucumán (UNT) & Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET))

  • Oriana Osinaga-Acosta

    (Universidad Nacional de Tucumán (UNT) & Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET))

  • Lucio Malizia

    (Universidad Nacional de Jujuy)

  • Miles Silman

    (Wake Forest University)

  • William Farfán-Ríos

    (Wake Forest University
    Universidad Nacional de San Antonio Abad del Cusco)

  • Yadvinder Malhi

    (University of Oxford)

  • Kenneth R. Young

    (University of Texas at Austin)

  • Francisco Cuesta C.

    (Consortium for the Sustainable Development of the Andean Ecoregion (CONDESAN)
    University of Amsterdam)

  • Jurgen Homeier

    (University of Göttingen)

  • Manuel Peralvo

    (Consortium for the Sustainable Development of the Andean Ecoregion (CONDESAN))

  • Esteban Pinto

    (Consortium for the Sustainable Development of the Andean Ecoregion (CONDESAN))

  • Oswaldo Jadan

    (Universidad de Cuenca, Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias)

  • Nikolay Aguirre

    (Universidad Nacional de Loja)

  • Zhofre Aguirre

    (Universidad Nacional de Loja)

  • Kenneth J. Feeley

    (University of Miami
    Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden)

Abstract

Global warming is forcing many species to shift their distributions upward, causing consequent changes in the compositions of species that occur at specific locations. This prediction remains largely untested for tropical trees. Here we show, using a database of nearly 200 Andean forest plot inventories spread across more than 33.5° latitude (from 26.8° S to 7.1° N) and 3,000-m elevation (from 360 to 3,360 m above sea level), that tropical and subtropical tree communities are experiencing directional shifts in composition towards having greater relative abundances of species from lower, warmer elevations. Although this phenomenon of ‘thermophilization’ is widespread throughout the Andes, the rates of compositional change are not uniform across elevations. The observed heterogeneity in thermophilization rates is probably because of different warming rates and/or the presence of specialized tree communities at ecotones (that is, at the transitions between distinct habitats, such as at the timberline or at the base of the cloud forest). Understanding the factors that determine the directions and rates of compositional changes will enable us to better predict, and potentially mitigate, the effects of climate change on tropical forests.

Suggested Citation

  • Belén Fadrique & Selene Báez & Álvaro Duque & Agustina Malizia & Cecilia Blundo & Julieta Carilla & Oriana Osinaga-Acosta & Lucio Malizia & Miles Silman & William Farfán-Ríos & Yadvinder Malhi & Kenne, 2018. "Widespread but heterogeneous responses of Andean forests to climate change," Nature, Nature, vol. 564(7735), pages 207-212, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:564:y:2018:i:7735:d:10.1038_s41586-018-0715-9
    DOI: 10.1038/s41586-018-0715-9
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Justin D. Gay & Bryce Currey & E. N. J. Brookshire, 2022. "Global distribution and climate sensitivity of the tropical montane forest nitrogen cycle," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-8, December.
    2. Martin A. Wilkes & James Bennett & Sara Burbi & Sue Charlesworth & Katharina Dehnen-Schmutz & Francis Rayns & Ulrich Schmutz & Barbara Smith & Mark Tilzey & Liz Trenchard & Marco Van De Wiel, 2020. "Making Way for Trees? Changes in Land-Use, Habitats and Protected Areas in Great Britain under “Global Tree Restoration Potential”," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(14), pages 1-10, July.
    3. Mateo, Rubén G. & Arellano, Gabriel & Gómez-Rubio, Virgilio & Tello, J. Sebastián & Fuentes, Alfredo F. & Cayola, Leslie & Loza, M. Isabel & Cala, Victoria & Macía, Manuel J., 2022. "Insights on biodiversity drivers to predict species richness in tropical forests at the local scale," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 473(C).
    4. Tatiana Erika Boza Espinoza & Norma Salinas & Eric G. Cosio & Richard Tito & Alex Nina-Quispe & Rosa María Roman-Cuesta, 2024. "Assessing Peru’s Land Monitoring System Contributions towards Fulfilment of Its International Environmental Commitments," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-20, February.
    5. Imran Khaliq & Christian Rixen & Florian Zellweger & Catherine H. Graham & Martin M. Gossner & Ian R. McFadden & Laura Antão & Jakob Brodersen & Shyamolina Ghosh & Francesco Pomati & Ole Seehausen & T, 2024. "Warming underpins community turnover in temperate freshwater and terrestrial communities," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-9, December.
    6. Aida Cuni-Sanchez & Emanuel H. Martin & Eustrate Uzabaho & Alain S. K. Ngute & Robert Bitariho & Charles Kayijamahe & Andrew R. Marshall & Nassoro A. Mohamed & Gideon A. Mseja & Aventino Nkwasibwe & F, 2024. "Evidence of thermophilization in Afromontane forests," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-9, December.

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