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Multi-Stemmed Habit in Trees Contributes Climate Resilience in Tropical Dry Forest

Author

Listed:
  • Ian M. Ware

    (Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry, Pacific Southwest Research Station, USDA Forest Service, 60 Nowelo Street, Hilo, HI 96720, USA)

  • Rebecca Ostertag

    (Department of Biology, University of Hawai’i at Hilo, Hilo, HI 96720, USA)

  • Susan Cordell

    (Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry, Pacific Southwest Research Station, USDA Forest Service, 60 Nowelo Street, Hilo, HI 96720, USA)

  • Christian P. Giardina

    (Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry, Pacific Southwest Research Station, USDA Forest Service, 60 Nowelo Street, Hilo, HI 96720, USA)

  • Lawren Sack

    (Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA)

  • Camila D. Medeiros

    (Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA)

  • Faith Inman

    (Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry, Pacific Southwest Research Station, USDA Forest Service, 60 Nowelo Street, Hilo, HI 96720, USA)

  • Creighton M. Litton

    (Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management, University of Hawai’i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA)

  • Thomas Giambelluca

    (Water Resources Research Center, University of Hawai’i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA
    Department of Geography and Environment, University of Hawai’I at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA)

  • Grace P. John

    (Department of Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA)

  • Christine Scoffoni

    (Department of Biological Sciences, California State University, Los Angeles, CA 90032, USA)

Abstract

Understanding how environmental adaptations mediate plant and ecosystem responses becomes increasingly important under accelerating global environmental change. Multi-stemmed trees, for example, differ in form and function from single-stemmed trees and may possess physiological advantages that allow for persistence during stressful climatic events such as extended drought. Following the worst drought in Hawaii in a century, we examined patterns of stem abundance and turnover in a Hawaiian lowland dry forest (LDF) and a montane wet forest (MWF) to investigate how multi-stemmed trees might influence site persistence, and how stem abundance and turnover relate to key functional traits. We found stem abundance and multi-stemmed trees to be an important component for climate resilience within the LDF. The LDF had higher relative abundance of multi-stemmed trees, stem abundance, and mean stem abundance compared to a reference MWF. Within the LDF, multi-stemmed trees had higher relative stem abundance (i.e., percent composition of stems to the total number of stems in the LDF) and higher estimated aboveground carbon than single-stemmed trees. Stem abundance varied among species and tree size classes. Stem turnover (i.e., change in stem abundance between five-year censuses) varied among species and tree size classes and species mean stem turnover was correlated with mean species stem abundance per tree. At the plot level, stem abundance per tree is also a predictor of survival, though mortality did not differ between multiple- and single-stemmed trees. Lastly, species with higher mean stem abundance per tree tended to have traits associated with a higher light-saturated photosynthetic rate, suggesting greater productivity in periods with higher water supply. Identifying the traits that allow species and forest communities to persist in dry environments or respond to disturbance is useful for forecasting ecological climate resilience or potential for restoration in tropical dry forests.

Suggested Citation

  • Ian M. Ware & Rebecca Ostertag & Susan Cordell & Christian P. Giardina & Lawren Sack & Camila D. Medeiros & Faith Inman & Creighton M. Litton & Thomas Giambelluca & Grace P. John & Christine Scoffoni, 2022. "Multi-Stemmed Habit in Trees Contributes Climate Resilience in Tropical Dry Forest," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-16, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:11:p:6779-:d:829838
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Reko Libby & Aimee Y. Sato & Lehua Alapai & Wilds Pihanui Brawner & Yvonne Yarber Carter & Keoki Apokolani Carter & Kekaulike Tomich & Tamara Ticktin, 2022. "A Hawaiian Tropical Dry Forest Regenerates: Natural Regeneration of Endangered Species under Biocultural Restoration," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-16, January.
    2. Natalia Mesa-Sierra & Marinés de la Peña-Domene & Julio Campo & Christian P. Giardina, 2022. "Restoring Mexican Tropical Dry Forests: A National Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-22, March.
    3. Ian J Fiske & Emilio M Bruna & Benjamin M Bolker, 2008. "Effects of Sample Size on Estimates of Population Growth Rates Calculated with Matrix Models," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 3(8), pages 1-6, August.
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