Evidence of thermophilization in Afromontane forests

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, Francesco Rovero, Douglas Sheil, Rogers Tinkasimire, Lawrence Tumugabirwe, Kenneth J. Feeley and Martin J. P. Sullivan ()
Additional contact information
Aida Cuni-Sanchez: Norwegian University of Life Sciences
Emanuel H. Martin: College of African Wildlife Management
Eustrate Uzabaho: International Gorilla Conservation Programme
Alain S. K. Ngute: University of the Sunshine Coast
Robert Bitariho: Mbarara University of Science and Technology
Charles Kayijamahe: International Gorilla Conservation Programme
Andrew R. Marshall: University of the Sunshine Coast
Nassoro A. Mohamed: College of African Wildlife Management
Gideon A. Mseja: College of African Wildlife Management
Aventino Nkwasibwe: Mbarara University of Science and Technology
Francesco Rovero: University of Florence
Douglas Sheil: Wageningen University & Research
Rogers Tinkasimire: Mbarara University of Science and Technology
Lawrence Tumugabirwe: Mbarara University of Science and Technology
Kenneth J. Feeley: University of Miami
Martin J. P. Sullivan: Manchester Metropolitan University

Nature Communications, 2024, vol. 15, issue 1, 1-9

Abstract: Abstract Thermophilization is the directional change in species community composition towards greater relative abundances of species associated with warmer environments. This process is well-documented in temperate and Neotropical plant communities, but it is uncertain whether this phenomenon occurs elsewhere in the tropics. Here we extend the search for thermophilization to equatorial Africa, where lower tree diversity compared to other tropical forest regions and different biogeographic history could affect community responses to climate change. Using re-census data from 17 forest plots in three mountain regions of Africa, we find a consistent pattern of thermophilization in tree communities. Mean rates of thermophilization were +0.0086 °C·y−1 in the Kigezi Highlands (Uganda), +0.0032 °C·y−1 in the Virunga Mountains (Rwanda-Uganda-Democratic Republic of the Congo) and +0.0023 °C·y−1 in the Udzungwa Mountains (Tanzania). Distinct from other forests, both recruitment and mortality were important drivers of thermophilzation in the African plots. The forests studied currently act as a carbon sink, but the consequences of further thermophilization are unclear.

Date: 2024
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-48520-w Abstract (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:nat:natcom:v:15:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-48520-w

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
https://www.nature.com/ncomms/

DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48520-w

Access Statistics for this article

Nature Communications is currently edited by Nathalie Le Bot, Enda Bergin and Fiona Gillespie

More articles in Nature Communications from Nature
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Sonal Shukla () and Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing ().