Variability in solar radiation and temperature explains observed patterns and trends in tree growth rates across four tropical forests |
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Authors: | Shirley Xiaobi Dong Stuart J Davies Peter S Ashton Sarayudh Bunyavejchewin M N Nur Supardi Abd Rahman Kassim Sylvester Tan Paul R Moorcroft |
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Institution: | Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, , 26 Oxford St, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA, Center for Tropical Forest Science, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, , APO AA 34002 Panama, Republic of Panama, Center for Tropical Forest Science, Arnold Arboretum Asia Program, Harvard University, , 22 Divinity Ave, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA, Research Office, Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand, Forest Environment Division, Forest Research Institute of Malaysia, , Kepong, Kuala Lumpur 52109, Malaysia, C/O CTFS-AA 52-ha Plot Project, Lambir Hills National Park, Km. 30, Miri-Bintulu Road, 98000, Miri, Sarawak, Malaysia. |
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Abstract: | The response of tropical forests to global climate variability and change remains poorly understood. Results from long-term studies of permanent forest plots have reported different, and in some cases opposing trends in tropical forest dynamics. In this study, we examined changes in tree growth rates at four long-term permanent tropical forest research plots in relation to variation in solar radiation, temperature and precipitation. Temporal variation in the stand-level growth rates measured at five-year intervals was found to be positively correlated with variation in incoming solar radiation and negatively related to temporal variation in night-time temperatures. Taken alone, neither solar radiation variability nor the effects of night-time temperatures can account for the observed temporal variation in tree growth rates across sites, but when considered together, these two climate variables account for most of the observed temporal variability in tree growth rates. Further analysis indicates that the stand-level response is primarily driven by the responses of smaller-sized trees (less than 20 cm in diameter). The combined temperature and radiation responses identified in this study provide a potential explanation for the conflicting patterns in tree growth rates found in previous studies. |
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Keywords: | tropical forest tree growth rates forest demography forest dynamics climate variability climate change |
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