Above-ground biomass and structure of 260 African tropical forests

Simon L. Lewis; Bonaventure Sonké; Terry Sunderland; Serge K. Begne; Gabriela Lopez-Gonzalez; Geertje M F van der Heijden; Oliver L. Phillips; Kofi Affum-Baffoe; Timothy R. Baker; Lindsay Banin; Jean François Bastin; Hans Beeckman; Pascal Boeckx; Jan Bogaert; Charles De Cannière; Eric Chezeaux; Connie J. Clark; Murray Collins; Gloria Djagbletey; Marie Noël K Djuikouo; Vincent Droissart; Jean Louis Doucet; Cornielle E N Ewango; Sophie Fauset; Ted R. Feldpausch; Ernest G. Foli; Jean François Gillet; Alan C. Hamilton; David J. Harris; Terese B. Hart; Thales de Haulleville; Annette Hladik; Koen Hufkens; Dries Huygens; Philippe Jeanmart; Kathryn J. Jeffery; Elizabeth Kearsley; Miguel E. Leal; Jon Lloyd; Jon C. Lovett; Jean Remy Makana; Yadvinder Malhi; Andrew R. Marshall; Lucas Ojo; Kelvin S H Peh; Georgia Pickavance; John R. Poulsen; Jan M. Reitsma; Douglas Sheil; Murielle Simo; Kathy Steppe; Hermann E. Taedoumg; Joey Talbot; James R D Taplin; David Taylor; Sean C. Thomas; Benjamin Toirambe; Hans Verbeeck; Jason Vleminckx; Lee J T White; Simon Willcock; Hannsjorg Woell; Lise Zemagho

doi:10.1098/rstb.2012.0295

Above-ground biomass and structure of 260 African tropical forests

Simon L. Lewis, Bonaventure Sonké, Terry Sunderland, Serge K. Begne, Gabriela Lopez-Gonzalez, Geertje M F van der Heijden, Oliver L. Phillips, Kofi Affum-Baffoe, Timothy R. Baker, Lindsay Banin, Jean François Bastin, Hans Beeckman, Pascal Boeckx, Jan Bogaert, Charles De Cannière, Eric Chezeaux, Connie J. Clark, Murray Collins, Gloria Djagbletey, Marie Noël K DjuikouoVincent Droissart, Jean Louis Doucet, Cornielle E N Ewango, Sophie Fauset, Ted R. Feldpausch, Ernest G. Foli, Jean François Gillet, Alan C. Hamilton, David J. Harris, Terese B. Hart, Thales de Haulleville, Annette Hladik, Koen Hufkens, Dries Huygens, Philippe Jeanmart, Kathryn J. Jeffery, Elizabeth Kearsley, Miguel E. Leal, Jon Lloyd, Jon C. Lovett, Jean Remy Makana, Yadvinder Malhi, Andrew R. Marshall, Lucas Ojo, Kelvin S H Peh, Georgia Pickavance, John R. Poulsen, Jan M. Reitsma, Douglas Sheil, Murielle Simo, Kathy Steppe, Hermann E. Taedoumg, Joey Talbot, James R D Taplin, David Taylor, Sean C. Thomas, Benjamin Toirambe, Hans Verbeeck, Jason Vleminckx, Lee J T White, Simon Willcock, Hannsjorg Woell, Lise Zemagho

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

We report above-ground biomass (AGB), basal area, stemdensity and wood mass density estimates from 260 sample plots (mean size: 1.2 ha) in intact closed-canopy tropical forests across 12 African countries. Mean AGB is 395.7 Mg dry mass ha^-1 (95% CI: 14.3), substantially higher than Amazonian values, with the Congo Basin and contiguous forest region attaining AGB values (429 Mg ha^-1) similar to those of Bornean forests, and significantly greater than East or West African forests. AGB therefore appears generally higher in palaeo- comparedwithneotropical forests.However, mean stem density is low(426±11 stems ha^-1 greater than or equal to 100 mm diameter) compared with both Amazonian and Bornean forests (cf. approx. 600) and is the signature structural feature of African tropical forests. While spatial autocorrelation complicates analyses, AGB shows a positive relationship with rainfall in the driest nine months of the year, and an opposite association with the wettest three months of the year; a negative relationship with temperature; positive relationship with clay-rich soils; and negative relationshipswith C:Nratio (suggesting a positive soil phosphorus- AGB relationship), and soil fertility computed as the sum of base cations. The results indicate that AGB is mediated by both climate and soils, and suggest that the AGB of African closed-canopy tropical forests may be particularly sensitive to future precipitation and temperature changes.

Original language	English
Journal	Philosophical Transactions Of The Royal Society Of London Series B - Biological Sciences
Volume	368
Issue number	1625
Early online date	22 Jul 2013
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2012.0295
Publication status	Published - 5 Sept 2013

Keywords

Climate
Congo basin
East Africa
Soil
West Africa
Wood density

Access to Document

10.1098/rstb.2012.0295

Valuing the Arc (£74,875, Leverhulme Trust)
Marshall, A.
1/01/07 → 30/06/08
Project: Other project › Research collaboration

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Lewis, S. L., Sonké, B., Sunderland, T., Begne, S. K., Lopez-Gonzalez, G., van der Heijden, G. M. F., Phillips, O. L., Affum-Baffoe, K., Baker, T. R., Banin, L., Bastin, J. F., Beeckman, H., Boeckx, P., Bogaert, J., De Cannière, C., Chezeaux, E., Clark, C. J., Collins, M., Djagbletey, G., ... Zemagho, L. (2013). Above-ground biomass and structure of 260 African tropical forests. Philosophical Transactions Of The Royal Society Of London Series B - Biological Sciences, 368(1625). https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2012.0295

@article{e96003f652c24cf5be8812a2514fbe38,

title = "Above-ground biomass and structure of 260 African tropical forests",

abstract = "We report above-ground biomass (AGB), basal area, stemdensity and wood mass density estimates from 260 sample plots (mean size: 1.2 ha) in intact closed-canopy tropical forests across 12 African countries. Mean AGB is 395.7 Mg dry mass ha-1 (95% CI: 14.3), substantially higher than Amazonian values, with the Congo Basin and contiguous forest region attaining AGB values (429 Mg ha-1) similar to those of Bornean forests, and significantly greater than East or West African forests. AGB therefore appears generally higher in palaeo- comparedwithneotropical forests.However, mean stem density is low(426±11 stems ha-1 greater than or equal to 100 mm diameter) compared with both Amazonian and Bornean forests (cf. approx. 600) and is the signature structural feature of African tropical forests. While spatial autocorrelation complicates analyses, AGB shows a positive relationship with rainfall in the driest nine months of the year, and an opposite association with the wettest three months of the year; a negative relationship with temperature; positive relationship with clay-rich soils; and negative relationshipswith C:Nratio (suggesting a positive soil phosphorus- AGB relationship), and soil fertility computed as the sum of base cations. The results indicate that AGB is mediated by both climate and soils, and suggest that the AGB of African closed-canopy tropical forests may be particularly sensitive to future precipitation and temperature changes.",

keywords = "Climate, Congo basin, East Africa, Soil, West Africa, Wood density",

author = "Lewis, {Simon L.} and Bonaventure Sonk{\'e} and Terry Sunderland and Begne, {Serge K.} and Gabriela Lopez-Gonzalez and {van der Heijden}, {Geertje M F} and Phillips, {Oliver L.} and Kofi Affum-Baffoe and Baker, {Timothy R.} and Lindsay Banin and Bastin, {Jean Fran{\c c}ois} and Hans Beeckman and Pascal Boeckx and Jan Bogaert and {De Canni{\`e}re}, Charles and Eric Chezeaux and Clark, {Connie J.} and Murray Collins and Gloria Djagbletey and Djuikouo, {Marie No{\"e}l K} and Vincent Droissart and Doucet, {Jean Louis} and Ewango, {Cornielle E N} and Sophie Fauset and Feldpausch, {Ted R.} and Foli, {Ernest G.} and Gillet, {Jean Fran{\c c}ois} and Hamilton, {Alan C.} and Harris, {David J.} and Hart, {Terese B.} and {de Haulleville}, Thales and Annette Hladik and Koen Hufkens and Dries Huygens and Philippe Jeanmart and Jeffery, {Kathryn J.} and Elizabeth Kearsley and Leal, {Miguel E.} and Jon Lloyd and Lovett, {Jon C.} and Makana, {Jean Remy} and Yadvinder Malhi and Marshall, {Andrew R.} and Lucas Ojo and Peh, {Kelvin S H} and Georgia Pickavance and Poulsen, {John R.} and Reitsma, {Jan M.} and Douglas Sheil and Murielle Simo and Kathy Steppe and Taedoumg, {Hermann E.} and Joey Talbot and Taplin, {James R D} and David Taylor and Thomas, {Sean C.} and Benjamin Toirambe and Hans Verbeeck and Jason Vleminckx and White, {Lee J T} and Simon Willcock and Hannsjorg Woell and Lise Zemagho",

year = "2013",

month = sep,

day = "5",

doi = "10.1098/rstb.2012.0295",

language = "English",

volume = "368",

journal = "Philosophical Transactions Of The Royal Society Of London Series B - Biological Sciences",

issn = "0962-8436",

publisher = "The Royal Society",

number = "1625",

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Lewis, SL, Sonké, B, Sunderland, T, Begne, SK, Lopez-Gonzalez, G, van der Heijden, GMF, Phillips, OL, Affum-Baffoe, K, Baker, TR, Banin, L, Bastin, JF, Beeckman, H, Boeckx, P, Bogaert, J, De Cannière, C, Chezeaux, E, Clark, CJ, Collins, M, Djagbletey, G, Djuikouo, MNK, Droissart, V, Doucet, JL, Ewango, CEN, Fauset, S, Feldpausch, TR, Foli, EG, Gillet, JF, Hamilton, AC, Harris, DJ, Hart, TB, de Haulleville, T, Hladik, A, Hufkens, K, Huygens, D, Jeanmart, P, Jeffery, KJ, Kearsley, E, Leal, ME, Lloyd, J, Lovett, JC, Makana, JR, Malhi, Y, Marshall, AR, Ojo, L, Peh, KSH, Pickavance, G, Poulsen, JR, Reitsma, JM, Sheil, D, Simo, M, Steppe, K, Taedoumg, HE, Talbot, J, Taplin, JRD, Taylor, D, Thomas, SC, Toirambe, B, Verbeeck, H, Vleminckx, J, White, LJT, Willcock, S, Woell, H & Zemagho, L 2013, 'Above-ground biomass and structure of 260 African tropical forests', Philosophical Transactions Of The Royal Society Of London Series B - Biological Sciences, vol. 368, no. 1625. https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2012.0295

TY - JOUR

T1 - Above-ground biomass and structure of 260 African tropical forests

AU - Lewis, Simon L.

AU - Sonké, Bonaventure

AU - Sunderland, Terry

AU - Begne, Serge K.

AU - Lopez-Gonzalez, Gabriela

AU - van der Heijden, Geertje M F

AU - Phillips, Oliver L.

AU - Affum-Baffoe, Kofi

AU - Baker, Timothy R.

AU - Banin, Lindsay

AU - Bastin, Jean François

AU - Beeckman, Hans

AU - Boeckx, Pascal

AU - Bogaert, Jan

AU - De Cannière, Charles

AU - Chezeaux, Eric

AU - Clark, Connie J.

AU - Collins, Murray

AU - Djagbletey, Gloria

AU - Djuikouo, Marie Noël K

AU - Droissart, Vincent

AU - Doucet, Jean Louis

AU - Ewango, Cornielle E N

AU - Fauset, Sophie

AU - Feldpausch, Ted R.

AU - Foli, Ernest G.

AU - Gillet, Jean François

AU - Hamilton, Alan C.

AU - Harris, David J.

AU - Hart, Terese B.

AU - de Haulleville, Thales

AU - Hladik, Annette

AU - Hufkens, Koen

AU - Huygens, Dries

AU - Jeanmart, Philippe

AU - Jeffery, Kathryn J.

AU - Kearsley, Elizabeth

AU - Leal, Miguel E.

AU - Lloyd, Jon

AU - Lovett, Jon C.

AU - Makana, Jean Remy

AU - Malhi, Yadvinder

AU - Marshall, Andrew R.

AU - Ojo, Lucas

AU - Peh, Kelvin S H

AU - Pickavance, Georgia

AU - Poulsen, John R.

AU - Reitsma, Jan M.

AU - Sheil, Douglas

AU - Simo, Murielle

AU - Steppe, Kathy

AU - Taedoumg, Hermann E.

AU - Talbot, Joey

AU - Taplin, James R D

AU - Taylor, David

AU - Thomas, Sean C.

AU - Toirambe, Benjamin

AU - Verbeeck, Hans

AU - Vleminckx, Jason

AU - White, Lee J T

AU - Willcock, Simon

AU - Woell, Hannsjorg

AU - Zemagho, Lise

PY - 2013/9/5

Y1 - 2013/9/5

N2 - We report above-ground biomass (AGB), basal area, stemdensity and wood mass density estimates from 260 sample plots (mean size: 1.2 ha) in intact closed-canopy tropical forests across 12 African countries. Mean AGB is 395.7 Mg dry mass ha-1 (95% CI: 14.3), substantially higher than Amazonian values, with the Congo Basin and contiguous forest region attaining AGB values (429 Mg ha-1) similar to those of Bornean forests, and significantly greater than East or West African forests. AGB therefore appears generally higher in palaeo- comparedwithneotropical forests.However, mean stem density is low(426±11 stems ha-1 greater than or equal to 100 mm diameter) compared with both Amazonian and Bornean forests (cf. approx. 600) and is the signature structural feature of African tropical forests. While spatial autocorrelation complicates analyses, AGB shows a positive relationship with rainfall in the driest nine months of the year, and an opposite association with the wettest three months of the year; a negative relationship with temperature; positive relationship with clay-rich soils; and negative relationshipswith C:Nratio (suggesting a positive soil phosphorus- AGB relationship), and soil fertility computed as the sum of base cations. The results indicate that AGB is mediated by both climate and soils, and suggest that the AGB of African closed-canopy tropical forests may be particularly sensitive to future precipitation and temperature changes.

AB - We report above-ground biomass (AGB), basal area, stemdensity and wood mass density estimates from 260 sample plots (mean size: 1.2 ha) in intact closed-canopy tropical forests across 12 African countries. Mean AGB is 395.7 Mg dry mass ha-1 (95% CI: 14.3), substantially higher than Amazonian values, with the Congo Basin and contiguous forest region attaining AGB values (429 Mg ha-1) similar to those of Bornean forests, and significantly greater than East or West African forests. AGB therefore appears generally higher in palaeo- comparedwithneotropical forests.However, mean stem density is low(426±11 stems ha-1 greater than or equal to 100 mm diameter) compared with both Amazonian and Bornean forests (cf. approx. 600) and is the signature structural feature of African tropical forests. While spatial autocorrelation complicates analyses, AGB shows a positive relationship with rainfall in the driest nine months of the year, and an opposite association with the wettest three months of the year; a negative relationship with temperature; positive relationship with clay-rich soils; and negative relationshipswith C:Nratio (suggesting a positive soil phosphorus- AGB relationship), and soil fertility computed as the sum of base cations. The results indicate that AGB is mediated by both climate and soils, and suggest that the AGB of African closed-canopy tropical forests may be particularly sensitive to future precipitation and temperature changes.

KW - Climate

KW - Congo basin

KW - East Africa

KW - Soil

KW - West Africa

KW - Wood density

U2 - 10.1098/rstb.2012.0295

DO - 10.1098/rstb.2012.0295

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:84880632524

SN - 0962-8436

VL - 368

JO - Philosophical Transactions Of The Royal Society Of London Series B - Biological Sciences

JF - Philosophical Transactions Of The Royal Society Of London Series B - Biological Sciences

IS - 1625

ER -

Above-ground biomass and structure of 260 African tropical forests

Abstract

Keywords

Access to Document

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Valuing the Arc (£74,875, Leverhulme Trust)

Cite this