Lianas and ecosystem structure of secondary tropical dry forests

热带次生干旱林藤本植物和生态系统结构

• 批准号: RGPIN-2020-03888
• 负责人: SanchezAzofeifa, Gerardo
• 金额: $ 4.01万
• 依托单位: University of Alberta
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2021
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2021-01-01 至 2022-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=739536
• 关键词: Lianas; ecosystem; structure; secondary; tropical

Seasonally dry tropical forests (TDFs) account for 42% of all tropical forests and contain a wealth of unique biodiversity. Plant species in this ecosystem have slower growth rates, restricted reproductive episodes, and more structural and physiological diversity than those found in tropical rainforests. In the Americas alone, it is estimated that nearly 60 million people benefit from the ecosystem services (e.g., water production, pollination) that TDFs provide. Despite their importance, little is known about their ecological response to climate change and how this response is reflected in their ecological succession processes (young vs. old forests). The objective of the proposed research program is to fill critical knowledge gaps in how TDFs respond to climate change and the consequent shifts in their ecosystem services. In the short-term, my research will focus on two main topics: (1) Determining the resilience mechanisms of tropical forests under climate change, especially in the context of the role that liana infestation plays on their functioning; and (2) Advancing our understanding of how TDFs respond to extreme climatic events using phenomena such as El Niño- Southern Oscillation (ENSO) as proxy for potential climate change scenarios. In the long-term, my research program aims to fill knowledge gaps integrating remote sensing, carbon flux measurements, ecosystem structure, and ecological processes at different stages of TDF regeneration. This information will assist policymakers in developing cost-effective and results-oriented methods for preserving this fragile ecosystem across the Americas. The short-term goals of my research program will involve four core areas of scientific discovery. These core areas aim to enhance the current understanding of: (1) the spatiotemporal variability of Essential Climatic Variables (ECVs) in liana-free and liana-infested regions; (2) the three-dimensional (structural) changes in TDFs induced by lianas; (3) the changes that liana loads induce in the metabolic conditions of the trees; and (4) the response of TDFs to extreme climatic events using eddy-covariance approaches. These questions will be studied at different spatial extents ranging from the individual plot to a regional scale. TDFs are among the least protected and studied ecosystems worldwide. Integrating research results from plot and landscape scales will further development of better mechanisms to monitor land cover changes and link those observations to conservation approaches. Also, by focusing on the impact that non-structural systems such as lianas have on TDFs, a better understanding will be gained of the response of this ecosystem to future climate change conditions.

季节性干燥的热带森林（TDFS）占所有热带森林的42％，并且包含大量独特的生物多样性。该生态系统中的植物物种的生长速度缓慢，生殖发作限制，结构和身体多样性比热带雨林中的植物多样性更大。仅在美洲，据估计，TDF提供的生态系统服务（例如，水生产，授粉）中有近6000万人受益。尽管它们的重要性很重要，但他们对气候变化的生态反应知之甚少，以及这种反应如何反映在其生态成功过程中（年轻的森林与旧森林）。拟议的研究计划的目的是填补TDF如何应对气候变化以及随之而来的生态系统服务转变的关键知识差距。在短期内，我的研究将重点介绍两个主要主题：（1）在气候变化下确定热带森林的弹性机制，尤其是在莉安娜（Liana）侵袭者在其功能方面发挥的作用； （2）我们使用诸如厄尔尼诺南部振荡（ENSO）等现象作为潜在气候变化情景的替代现象来促进我们对TDF如何应对极端气候事件的理解。从长远来看，我的研究计划旨在填补在TDF再生不同阶段的遥感，碳通量测量，生态系统结构和生态过程的知识差距。该信息将有助于决策者开发具有成本效益和以结果为导向的方法来保存整个美洲的脆弱生态系统。我的研究计划的短期目标将涉及科学发现的四个核心领域。这些核心领域旨在增强目前对：（1）无LIANA和LIANA侵入区域中必需气候变量（ECV）的空间时间变化； （2）LIANAS引起的TDF的三维（结构）变化； （3）在树木的代谢条件下，liana载荷引起的变化； （4）使用涡流方法对TDF对极端气候事件的响应。这些问题将在不同的空间范围内进行研究，从单个图到区域规模。 TDF是全球受保护和研究的生态系统。整合地块和景观量表的研究结果将进一步开发更好的机制，以监测土地覆盖的变化并将这些观察结果与保护方法联系起来。同样，通过关注Lianas等非结构系统对TDFS的影响，将对该生态系统对未来气候变化条件的反应有更好的了解。