1. Leveraging Signatures of Plant Functional Strategies in Wood Density Profiles of African Trees to Correct Mass Estimations From Terrestrial Laser Data
- Author
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Momo, Stéphane Takoudjou, Ploton, Pierre, Martin-Ducup, Olivier, Lehnebach, Romain, Fortunel, Claire, Sagang, Le Bienfaiteur Takougoum, Boyemba, Faustin, Couteron, Pierre, Fayolle, Adeline, Libalah, Moses, Loumeto, Joel, Medjibe, Vincent, Ngomanda, Alfred, Obiang, Diosdado, Pélissier, Raphaël, Rossi, Vivien, Yongo, Olga, Sonké, Bonaventure, Barbier, Nicolas, Botanique et Modélisation de l'Architecture des Plantes et des Végétations (UMR AMAP), Université de Montpellier (UM)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement (Cirad)-Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD [France-Sud])-Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE), Ghent University [Belgium] (UGENT), Université de Kisangani (KISANGANI UNIVERSITY), Université de Kisangani, AgroBioTech, Laboratoire de Botanique systématique et d'Ecologie [ENS Yaoudé], Université de Yaoundé I [Yaoundé]-École normale supérieure [ENS] - Yaoundé 1, Forêts et Sociétés (Cirad-Es-UPR 105 Forêts et Sociétés), Département Environnements et Sociétés (Cirad-ES), Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement (Cirad)-Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement (Cirad), Université de Bangui, Université de Yaoundé I, Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement (Cirad)-Université de Montpellier (UM)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD [France-Sud])-Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE), Universiteit Gent = Ghent University [Belgium] (UGENT), Université de Yaoundé I-École normale supérieure [ENS] - Yaoundé 1, Forêts et Sociétés (UPR Forêts et Sociétés), Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement (Cirad), European Project: 3DForMod, and Universiteit Gent = Ghent University (UGENT)
- Subjects
Greenhouse Effect ,Ecological Parameter Monitoring ,[SDV.BID.SPT]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Biodiversity/Systematics, Phylogenetics and taxonomy ,Trees ,biomasse aérienne des arbres ,K01 - Foresterie - Considérations générales ,Densité ,Biomass ,Forêt tropicale humide ,Plant ecology ,Central Africa ,Climate-change ecology ,MECHANICAL-PROPERTIES ,[SDV.BV.BOT]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Vegetal Biology/Botanics ,FOREST ,Adaptation, Physiological ,Wood ,Functional trait ,Wood density ,TRAITS ,ABOVEGROUND BIOMASS ,Technology and Engineering ,Rainforest ,F40 - Écologie végétale ,Télédétection ,Laser ,GRADIENTS ,Models, Biological ,Article ,Carbon Cycle ,Bois ,Greenhouse Gases ,Écologie forestière ,[SDV.EE.ECO]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Ecology, environment/Ecosystems ,GRAVITY ,RADIAL VARIATION ,Africa, Central ,Changement climatique ,ALLOMETRIC MODELS ,Lasers ,Biology and Life Sciences ,TISSUE ,Earth and Environmental Sciences ,Remote Sensing Technology ,PATTERNS ,U30 - Méthodes de recherche ,[SDE.BE]Environmental Sciences/Biodiversity and Ecology - Abstract
International audience; Wood density (WD) relates to important tree functions such as stem mechanics and resistance against pathogens. this functional trait can exhibit high intraindividual variability both radially and vertically. With the rise of LiDAR-based methodologies allowing nondestructive tree volume estimations, failing to account for WD variations related to tree function and biomass investment strategies may lead to large systematic bias in AGB estimations. Here, we use a unique destructive dataset from 822 trees belonging to 51 phylogenetically dispersed tree species harvested across forest types in Central Africa to determine vertical gradients in WD from the stump to the branch tips, how these gradients relate to regeneration guilds and their implications for AGB estimations. We find that decreasing WD from the tree base to the branch tips is characteristic of shade-tolerant species, while light-demanding and pioneer species exhibit stationary or increasing vertical trends. Across all species, the WD range is narrower in tree crowns than at the tree base, reflecting more similar physiological and mechanical constraints in the canopy. Vertical gradients in WD induce significant bias (10%) in AGB estimates when using database-derived species-average WD data. However, the correlation between the vertical gradients and basal WD allows the derivation of general correction models. With the ongoing development of remote sensing products providing 3D information for entire trees and forest stands, our findings indicate promising ways to improve greenhouse gas accounting in tropical countries and advance our understanding of adaptive strategies allowing trees to grow and survive in dense rainforests. Terrestrial plants account for 83% of the living carbon on Earth 1 , of which tropical forests are estimated to account for close to half 2 , principally contained within woody plant parts. Tropical forests are therefore becoming a key element in international carbon trading schemes despite obvious difficulties in accurately estimating stocks
- Published
- 2020
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