Seasonally dry tropical forests are distributed across Latin America and the Caribbean and are highly threatened, with less than 10% of their original extent remaining in many countries. Using 835 ...inventories covering 4660 species of woody plants, we show marked floristic turnover among inventories and regions, which may be higher than in other neotropical biomes, such as savanna. Such high floristic turnover indicates that numerous conservation areas across many countries will be needed to protect the full diversity of tropical dry forests. Our results provide a scientific framework within which national decision-makers can contextuaiize the floristic significance of their dry forest at a regional and continental scale.
Attempts at historical reconstruction are based on limited data. We are more likely to produce accurate historical reconstructions by utilizing information from diverse sources and pooling data ...within the relevant research communities which will allow us to build up a moving picture of the geological, climatic, and biological evolution of our planet. We suggest that dated phylogenies of plants can contribute greatly to a better understanding of Earth history. Timing of phylogenetic splits of lowland restricted lineages on either side of the Andes could provide information on the timing of montane uplift and associated climatic changes. The timing of the arrival and diversification of organisms restricted to specific climatic regimes at a particular altitude can provide information on the age at which mountains reached a height adequate for that climate once corrected for global climate changes. As a model for study, we discuss how dated phylogenies in biome rich Colombia may contribute to an understanding of geological and climatic change in north‐western South America. Lowland wet forest restricted lineages separated from the mid‐Miocene, whereas lineages primarily restricted to mid‐altitude cloud forests began to diversify from the mid‐ to late‐Miocene and the majority of high‐altitude Páramo lineages began to diversify during the Pliocene. The age of diversification of altitudinally restricted lineages therefore gives an indication of the age at which particular altitudes may have been reached.
Precise ecological information about the life‐history strategies of different species of tropical trees is required for effective management. (a, b) Three genera of trees from the nutmeg family have ...very different maximum sizes and growth rates, but are all typically harvested under the same guidelines. (c) The species of palm Euterpe precatoria has very high recruitment and mortality rates compared to most tropical trees, and an understanding of these high turnover rates need to be incorporated in efforts to manage this species.
Societal Impact Statement
The approach that we take to our science is as important as the questions that we address if we would like our research to inform management. Here, we discuss our experience of using networks of permanent forest inventory plots to support sustainable management and conservation of intact tropical forests. A key conclusion is that to maximize the use of data from such large international networks within policymaking, it is crucial that leadership is widely shared among participants. Such an approach helps to address ethical concerns surrounding international collaborations and also achieves greater policy impact.
Summary
Long‐term data from permanent forest inventory plots have much to offer the management and conservation of intact tropical forest landscapes. Knowledge of the growth and mortality rates of economically important species, forest carbon balance, and the impact of climate change on forest composition are all central to effective management. However, this information is rarely integrated within the policymaking process. The problem reflects broader issues in using evidence to influence environmental management, and in particular, the need to engage with potential users beyond the collection and publication of high‐quality data. To ensure permanent plot data are used, (a) key “policy windows”—opportunities to integrate data within policy making—need to be identified; (b) long‐term relationships need to be developed between scientists and policy makers and policymaking organizations; and (c) leadership of plot networks needs to be shared among all participants, and particularly between institutions in the global north and those in tropical countries. Addressing these issues will allow permanent plot networks to make tangible contributions to ensuring that intact tropical forest persists over coming decades.
Societal Impact Statement
Understanding of tropical forests has been revolutionized by monitoring in permanent plots. Data from global plot networks have transformed our knowledge of forests’ ...diversity, function, contribution to global biogeochemical cycles, and sensitivity to climate change. Monitoring has thus far been concentrated in rain forests. Despite increasing appreciation of their threatened status, biodiversity, and importance to the global carbon cycle, monitoring in tropical dry forests is still in its infancy. We provide a protocol for permanent monitoring plots in tropical dry forests. Expanding monitoring into dry biomes is critical for overcoming the linked challenges of climate change, land use change, and the biodiversity crisis.
Understanding of tropical forests has been revolutionised by monitoring in permanent plots. Data from global plot networks have transformed our knowledge of forests' diversity, function, contribution to global biogeochemical cycles, and sensitivity to climate change. Monitoring has thus far been concentrated in rain forests. Despite increasing appreciation of their threatened status, biodiversity, and importance to the global carbon cycle, monitoring in tropical dry forests is still in its infancy. We provide a protocol for permanent monitoring plots in tropical dry forests. Expanding monitoring into dry biomes is critical for overcoming the linked challenges of climate change, land use change, and the biodiversity crisis.
Response Pennington, R. Toby; Banda-R, Karina; Delgado-Salinas, Alfonso ...
Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science),
02/2017, Letnik:
355, Številka:
6324
Journal Article
Forest conservation: Remember Gran Chaco-Response Dryflor; Pennington, R Toby; Banda-R, Karina ...
Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science),
02/2017, Letnik:
355, Številka:
6324
Journal Article
Response Pennington, R. Toby; Banda-R, Karina; Delgado-Salinas, Alfonso ...
Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science),
02/2017, Letnik:
355, Številka:
6324
Journal Article
The province of Northern Samar, its municipalities including Pambujan, is a place abundant of Manihot esculenta Crantz (cassava), and Cocos nucifera Linn. (coconut). However, its industry is mainly ...limited to food production. This study developed biofilms from cassava starch (CasS), and coconut flour (CoF) with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). The physicochemical properties were analyzed to determine their pH, solubility, moisture content, and tensile strength. Functional groups were investigated using FTIR, and the antibacterial properties were evaluated. The results showed that both biofilms with PVA were weakly acidic and insoluble in all solvents. Meanwhile, CoF biofilm contained higher moisture content than the CasS biofilm. CoF biofilms also carried more weight and higher force than CasS biofilm. Hydroxyl, alkyl, and alkene functional groups were identified for both biofilms. Meanwhile, both biofilms showed no inhibitory effect against E. coli, and S. aureus. Therefore, the developed biofilms with PVA showed good physicochemical properties and can be used for packaging applications. The slight acidity can prolong their shelf-life. Moreover, both will not easily dissolve. CoF biofilm comprised more water than CasS but both are still suitable for packaging due to their tensile strength attributed to the presence of the functional groups. However, CasS, CoF, and PVA do not have antibacterial properties. More physicochemical tests, further characterization, and incorporation of antibacterial agents were recommended.
Los bosques primarios intactos de la Amazonía peruana se comportan como sumideros de carbono: un servicio ecosistémico clave a nivel mundial. Este sumidero fue cuantificado en 0.54 Mg C ha-1 año-1 ...(1990-2017) para los bosques amazónicos intactos de las Áreas Naturales Protegidas (ANPs) de Perú y las zonas de amortiguamiento. En otras palabras, la conservación de bosques intactos en ANPs ayudó a remover 9.6 millones de toneladas de carbono de la atmósfera por año, lo cual equivale aproximadamente al 85% de las emisiones de la quema de combustibles fósiles del país durante el 2012. Este servicio de remoción de CO2 atmosférico es necesario incluir en el inventario nacional de gases de efecto invernadero, y en los compromisos nacionales de reducción de emisiones, por dos razones. Primero, debido a ser un flujo importante, nos ayudaría a tener una aproximación más real del balance de carbono en Perú. Segundo, fortalecería la necesidad de mantener la integridad de estos bosques tanto por el servicio de almacenamiento de carbono (evitar emisiones) como el servicio de sumidero (remoción de emisiones) y la diversidad biológica que albergan. La provisión del servicio de sumidero solo se asegurará con una gestión efectiva y adaptativa de las ANPs. El reporte de este servicio ambiental a nivel nacional debe ser implementado a través del monitoreo a largo plazo de la dinámica del carbono y el impacto del cambio climático a través de la red de parcelas forestales permanentes de RAINFOR (Red Amazónica de Inventarios Forestales) y el proyecto MonANPeru. El establecimiento de este sistema de monitoreo permitirá el desarrollo de los mecanismos financieros para cerrar la brecha y lograr la sostenibilidad de la conservación de los bosques en las ANPs de Perú.
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