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Drought sensitivity shapes species distribution patterns in tropical forests

Author

Listed:
  • Bettina M. J. Engelbrecht

    (Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Apartado 0843-03092, Balboa, Ancon, Panama
    University of Kaiserslautern, 67663 Kaiserslautern, Germany)

  • Liza S. Comita

    (University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA)

  • Richard Condit

    (Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Apartado 0843-03092, Balboa, Ancon, Panama)

  • Thomas A. Kursar

    (Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Apartado 0843-03092, Balboa, Ancon, Panama
    University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, USA)

  • Melvin T. Tyree

    (Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Apartado 0843-03092, Balboa, Ancon, Panama
    USDA Forest Service, PO Box 968, Burlington, Vermont 05402, USA
    University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E3, Canada)

  • Benjamin L. Turner

    (Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Apartado 0843-03092, Balboa, Ancon, Panama)

  • Stephen P. Hubbell

    (Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Apartado 0843-03092, Balboa, Ancon, Panama
    University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA)

Abstract

Water-limited tropics Tropical forests are among the most diverse plant communities on Earth and provide a variety of ecosystem services. They have therefore received widespread attention from policy makers and conservation organizations. Now a common assumption about them — that humid tropical forests are generally water saturated — is brought into question. An assessment of species distribution patterns across the Isthmus of Panama shows that drought plays a large role in structuring plant communities in these tropical forests. Changes in soil moisture availability due to climate change and habitat fragmentation are therefore likely to hit tropical species dramatically.

Suggested Citation

  • Bettina M. J. Engelbrecht & Liza S. Comita & Richard Condit & Thomas A. Kursar & Melvin T. Tyree & Benjamin L. Turner & Stephen P. Hubbell, 2007. "Drought sensitivity shapes species distribution patterns in tropical forests," Nature, Nature, vol. 447(7140), pages 80-82, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:447:y:2007:i:7140:d:10.1038_nature05747
    DOI: 10.1038/nature05747
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    Cited by:

    1. Rahul Bhadouria & Pratap Srivastava & Rishikesh Singh & Sachchidanand Tripathi & Hema Singh & A. S. Raghubanshi, 2017. "Tree seedling establishment in dry tropics: an urgent need of interaction studies," Environment Systems and Decisions, Springer, vol. 37(1), pages 88-100, March.
    2. Maclean, Ilya M.D. & Bennie, Jonathan J. & Scott, Amanda J. & Wilson, Robert J., 2012. "A high-resolution model of soil and surface water conditions," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 237, pages 109-119.
    3. Laura A Schreeg & W John Kress & David L Erickson & Nathan G Swenson, 2010. "Phylogenetic Analysis of Local-Scale Tree Soil Associations in a Lowland Moist Tropical Forest," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 5(10), pages 1-10, October.
    4. Haoze Zhang & Mingliang Gao & Fuying Liu & Huabin Yuan & Zhendong Liu & Mingming Zhang & Quanqi Li & Rui Zong, 2024. "Characteristic of soil moisture utilisation with different water-sensitive cultivars of summer maize in the North China Plain," Plant, Soil and Environment, Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences, vol. 70(4), pages 210-219.
    5. Lindh, Magnus & Zhang, Lai & Falster, Daniel & Franklin, Oskar & Brännström, Åke, 2014. "Plant diversity and drought: The role of deep roots," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 290(C), pages 85-93.
    6. Elodie Allié & Raphaël Pélissier & Julien Engel & Pascal Petronelli & Vincent Freycon & Vincent Deblauwe & Laure Soucémarianadin & Jean Weigel & Christopher Baraloto, 2015. "Pervasive Local-Scale Tree-Soil Habitat Association in a Tropical Forest Community," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(11), pages 1-16, November.
    7. Duan Li & Jianhua Si & Xiaoyou Zhang & Yayu Gao & Huan Luo & Jie Qin & Guanlong Gao, 2019. "Comparison of Branch Water Relations in Two Riparian Species: Populus euphratica and Tamarix ramosissima," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(19), pages 1-14, October.
    8. Bing Wang & Fenxiang Wen & Jiangtao Wu & Xiaojun Wang & Yani Hu, 2014. "Vertical Profiles of Soil Water Content as Influenced by Environmental Factors in a Small Catchment on the Hilly-Gully Loess Plateau," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 9(10), pages 1-12, October.
    9. Pablo Imbach & Megan Beardsley & Claudia Bouroncle & Claudia Medellin & Peter Läderach & Hugo Hidalgo & Eric Alfaro & Jacob Etten & Robert Allan & Debbie Hemming & Roger Stone & Lee Hannah & Camila I., 2017. "Climate change, ecosystems and smallholder agriculture in Central America: an introduction to the special issue," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 141(1), pages 1-12, March.
    10. Kishor Prasad Bhatta & Anisha Aryal & Himlal Baral & Sujan Khanal & Amul Kumar Acharya & Chanthavone Phomphakdy & Rinzin Dorji, 2021. "Forest Structure and Composition under Contrasting Precipitation Regimes in the High Mountains, Western Nepal," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(13), pages 1-23, July.
    11. repec:caa:jnlpse:v:preprint:id:401-2023-pse is not listed on IDEAS

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