Lewis, S.L.; Sonke, 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. 
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1168-3914; Bastin, J-F.; Beeckman, H.; Boeckx, P.; Bogaert, J.; De Canniere, C.; Chezeaux, E.; Clark, C.J.; Collins, M.; Djagbletey, G.; Djuikouo, M.N.K.; Droissart, V.; Doucet, J.-L.; Ewango, C.E.N.; Fauset, S.; Feldpausch, T.R.; Foli, E.G.; Gillet, J.-F.; Hamilton, A.C.; Harris, D.J.; Hart, T.B.; de Haulleville, T.; Hladik, A.; Hufkens, K.; Huygens, D.; Jeanmart, P.; Jeffery, K.; Kearsley, E.; Leal, M. E.; Lloyd, J.; Lovett, J. C.; Makana, J.-R.; Malhi, Y.; Marshall, A. R.; Ojo, L.; Peh, K. S.- H.; Pickavance, G.; Poulsen, J. R.; Reitsma, J. M.; Sheil, D.; Simo, M.; Steppe, K.; Taedoumg, H. E.; Talbot, J.; Taplin, J. R. D.; Taylor, D.; Thomas, S. C.; Toirambe, B.; Verbeeck, H.; Vleminckx, J.; White, L. J. T.; Willcock, S.; Woell, H.; Zemagho, L..
2013
Above-ground biomass and structure of 260 African tropical forests.
Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 368 (1625), 20120295.
10.1098/rstb.2012.0295
We report above-ground biomass (AGB), basal area, stem
density 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 ha21 (95% CI: 14.3), substantially
higher than Amazonian values, with the Congo Basin and
contiguous forest region attaining AGB values (429 Mg
ha21) similar to those of Bornean forests, and significantly
greater than east or west African forests. AGB therefore
appears generally higher in palaeo- compared with neotropical
forests. However, mean stem density is low (426+11
stems ha21 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 relationships with
C :N ratio (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.
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution.
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CEH Science Areas 2013- > Ecological Processes & Resilience
CEH Programmes 2012 > Biodiversity
CEH Programmes 2012 > Biogeochemistry
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