Increasing tree size across Amazonia

Nature Plants, vol. 11, pp. 2016–2025

Abstract

Abstract Climate change and increasing availability of resources such as carbon dioxide are modifying forest functioning worldwide, but the effects of these changes on forest structure are unclear. As additional resources become available, for example, through CO2 fertilization or nitrogen deposition, large trees, with greater access to light, may be expected to gain further advantages. Conversely, smaller light-suppressed trees might benefit more if their light compensation point changes, while bigger trees may be the most negatively impacted by increasing heat and drought. We assessed recent changes in the structure of Earth’s largest tropical forest by analysing 30 years of Amazonian tree records across 188 mature forest plots. We find that, at a stand level, trees have become larger over time, with mean tree basal area increasing by 3.3% per decade (95% CI 2.4; 4.1). Larger trees have increased in both number and size, yet we observed similar rates of relative size gain in large and small trees. This evidence is consistent with a resource-driven boost for larger trees but also a reduction in suppression among smaller trees. These results, especially the persistence and consistency of tree size increases across Amazonian forest plots, communities and regions, indicate that any negative impacts of climate change on forests and large trees here have so far been mitigated by the positive effects of increased resources.

Authors 67

1. Adriane Esquivel‐Muelbert corresponding

   University of Leeds · University of Cambridge · University of Birmingham

   Affiliation as printed

   Birmingham Institute of Forest Research (BIFoR), Stafford, UK. a.esquivelmuelbert@bham.ac.uk

   Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK. a.esquivelmuelbert@bham.ac.uk

   School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK. a.esquivelmuelbert@bham.ac.uk

   School of Geography, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK. a.esquivelmuelbert@bham.ac.uk

   Birmingham Institute of Forest Research (BIFoR), Stafford, UK

   Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK

   School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK

   School of Geography, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK

2. Rebecca Banbury Morgan corresponding

   University of Leeds · University of Bristol

   Affiliation as printed

   School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK. becky.banburymorgan@bristol.ac.uk

   School of Geography, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK. becky.banburymorgan@bristol.ac.uk

   School of Geography, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK

3. Roel Brienen

   University of Leeds

   Affiliation as printed

   School of Geography, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK

4. Emanuel U. Gloor

   University of Leeds

   Affiliation as printed

   School of Geography, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK

5. Simon L. Lewis

   University of Leeds · University College London

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Geography, University College London, London, UK

   School of Geography, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK

6. Edmar Almeida de Oliveira

   Universidade do Estado de Mato Grosso

   Affiliation as printed

   Universidade do Estado de Mato Grosso, Cáceres, Brazil

7. Esteban Álvarez‐Dávila

   Fundación Con Vida

   Affiliation as printed

   13Fundácion ConVida, Medellín, Colombia

8. Ana C. Andrade

   Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia

   Affiliation as printed

   Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia, Manaus, Brazil

9. Simone Aparecida Vieira

   Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP)

   Affiliation as printed

   Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, Brazil

10. Luiz E. O. C. Aragão

    Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais

    Affiliation as printed

    National Institute for Space Research (INPE), São José dos Campos, Brazil

11. Alejandro Araujo‐Murakami
    Affiliation as printed

    National Institute for Space Research (INPE), Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia

12. Eric J. M. M. Arets

    Wageningen University & Research

    Affiliation as printed

    Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, Netherlands

13. Luzmila Arroyo
    Affiliation as printed

    National Institute for Space Research (INPE), Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia

14. Olaf Bánki Aachen Naturalis Biodiversity Center

    Naturalis Biodiversity Center

    Affiliation as printed

    Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Leiden, Netherlands

15. Plínio Barbosa de Camargo

    Universidade de São Paulo

    Affiliation as printed

    Centro de Energia Nuclear na Agricultura, Universidade de São Paulo, Piracicaba, Brazil

16. Jorcely Barroso

    Universidade Federal do Acre

    Affiliation as printed

    Universidade Federal do Acre, Rio Branco, Brazil

17. Lilian Blanc

    Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement · Université de Montpellier · Forests and Societies

    Affiliation as printed

    CIRAD, UPR Forêts et Sociétés, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France

18. Foster Brown

    Woodwell Climate Research Center

    Affiliation as printed

    Woods Hole Research Center, Falmouth, MA, USA

19. José Luís Camargo

    Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia

    Affiliation as printed

    Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia, Manaus, Brazil

20. Wendeson Castro

    Universidade Federal do Acre

    Affiliation as printed

    Universidade Federal do Acre, Rio Branco, Brazil

21. Víctor Chama Moscoso

    Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique · Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement · AgroParisTech · National University of Saint Anthony the Abbot in Cuzco · Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement · Ecologie des Forêts de Guyane

    Affiliation as printed

    CIRAD, UMR EcoFoG (AgroParistech, CNRS, INRAE, Université des Antilles, Université de la Guyane), Oxapampa, Peru

    Universidad Nacional de San Antonio Abad del Cusco, Cusco, Peru

22. Jérôme Chave

    Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique · Centre de Recherche sur la Biodiversité et l'Environnement · Université de Toulouse

    Affiliation as printed

    CRBE-CNRS, Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France

    CRBE–CNRS, Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France

23. Ezequiel Chavez

    Museo de Historia Natural Noel Kempff Mercado

    Affiliation as printed

    Museu Noel Kempff, Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia

24. James A. Comiskey

    National Park Service

    Affiliation as printed

    National Park Service, Washington, DC, USA

25. Antônio C. L. da Costa

    Universidade Federal do Pará

    Affiliation as printed

    Universidade Federal do Para, Belém, Brazil

26. Jhon del Águila Pasquel

    Universidad Nacional de la Amazonía Peruana · Instituto de Investigaciones de la Amazonía Peruana

    Affiliation as printed

    Instituto de Investigaciones de la Amazonia Peruana, Iquitos, Peru

    Universidad Nacional de la Amazonia Peruana, Iquitos, Peru

27. Géraldine Derroire

    Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique · Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement · Université de Montpellier · Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement · Forests and Societies · Ecologie des Forêts de Guyane

    Affiliation as printed

    CIRAD, UMR EcoFoG (AgroParistech, CNRS, INRAE, Université des Antilles, Université de la Guyane), Kourou, French Guiana

    CIRAD, UPR Forêts et Sociétés, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France

28. Sophie Fauset

    University of Plymouth

    Affiliation as printed

    University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK

29. René Guillén Villaroel
    Affiliation as printed

    Independent consultant, Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia

30. Rafael Herrera

    Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Científicas

    Affiliation as printed

    Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Científicas (IVIC), Parroquia Macarao, Venezuela

31. Isau Huamantupa‐Chuquimaco

    Amazon National University of Madre de Dios

    Affiliation as printed

    Universidad Nacional Amazónica de Madre de Dios, Puerto Maldonado, Peru

32. Eliana M. Jimenez

    Universidad Nacional de Colombia

    Affiliation as printed

    Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia

33. Timothy J. Killeen

    Missouri Botanical Garden

    Affiliation as printed

    Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO, USA

34. Susan G. W. Laurance

    James Cook University

    Affiliation as printed

    James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia

35. William Frederick Laurance

    James Cook University

    Affiliation as printed

    James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia

36. Aurora Levesley

    University of Leeds

    Affiliation as printed

    School of Geography, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK

37. Yadvinder Singh Malhi

    University of Oxford

    Affiliation as printed

    University of Oxford, Oxford, UK

38. Beatriz Schwantes Marimon

    Universidade do Estado de Mato Grosso

    Affiliation as printed

    Universidade do Estado de Mato Grosso, Cáceres, Brazil

39. Simone Matias Reis

    Universidade Federal do Acre · Universidade do Estado de Mato Grosso

    Affiliation as printed

    Universidade Federal do Acre, Rio Branco, Brazil

    Universidade do Estado de Mato Grosso, Cáceres, Brazil

40. Casimiro Mendoza Bautista

    Universidad Mayor de San Simón

    Affiliation as printed

    Universidad Mayor de San Simón, Cochabamba, Bolivia

41. Irina Polo

    Fundación Jardín Botánico “Joaquín Antonio Uribe” de Medellín

    Affiliation as printed

    Jardín Botánico de Medellín, Medellín, Colombia

42. Abel Lorenzo Monteagudo Mendoza

    Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique · Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement · AgroParisTech · Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement · Ecologie des Forêts de Guyane

    Affiliation as printed

    CIRAD, UMR EcoFoG (AgroParistech, CNRS, INRAE, Université des Antilles, Université de la Guyane), Oxapampa, Peru

43. Percy Núñez Vargas

    National University of Saint Anthony the Abbot in Cuzco

    Affiliation as printed

    Universidad Nacional de San Antonio Abad del Cusco, Cusco, Peru

44. Alexander Parada Gutierrez
    Affiliation as printed

    National Institute for Space Research (INPE), Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia

45. Julie Peacock

    University of Leeds

    Affiliation as printed

    School of Geography, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK

46. María Cristina Peñuela-Mora

    Universidad Regional Amazónica IKIAM

    Affiliation as printed

    Universidad Regional Amazónica Ikiam, Tena, Ecuador

47. Nigel C. A. Pitman

    Field Museum of Natural History

    Affiliation as printed

    Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, IL, USA

48. Adriana Prieto

    Universidad Nacional de Colombia

    Affiliation as printed

    Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia

49. Freddy Ramírez Arévalo

    Universidad Nacional de la Amazonía Peruana

    Affiliation as printed

    Universidad Nacional de la Amazonia Peruana, Iquitos, Peru

50. Lily O. Rodríguez

    Centro de Conservación Investigación y Manejo de Areas Naturales

    Affiliation as printed

    Centro de Conservación, Investigación y Manejo de Areas Naturales, San Antonio, Peru

51. Anand Roopsind

    Iwokrama International Centre for Rainforest Conservation and Development

    Affiliation as printed

    Iwokrama International Centre for Rainforest Conservation and Development, Georgetown, Guyana

52. Rafael Paiva Salomão

    Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi

    Affiliation as printed

    Museu Paraense Emilio Goeldi, Belém, Brazil

53. Natalino Silva
    Affiliation as printed

    Serviço Florestal Brasileiro, Santarém, Brazil

54. Marcos Silveira

    Universidade Federal do Acre

    Affiliation as printed

    Universidade Federal do Acre, Rio Branco, Brazil

55. Juliana Stropp
    Affiliation as printed

    Instituto de Ecología y Biodiversidad (IEB), Trier, Germany

56. Joey Talbot

    University of Leeds

    Affiliation as printed

    School of Geography, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK

57. Hans ter Steege Aachen Naturalis Biodiversity Center

    Naturalis Biodiversity Center · Utrecht University

    Affiliation as printed

    Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Leiden, Netherlands

    Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands

58. John Terborgh

    University of Florida · James Cook University

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA

    School of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia

59. Raquel Thomas

    Iwokrama International Centre for Rainforest Conservation and Development

    Affiliation as printed

    Iwokrama International Centre for Rainforest Conservation and Development, Georgetown, Guyana

60. Luis Valenzuela Gamarra

    Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique · Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement · AgroParisTech · Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement · Ecologie des Forêts de Guyane

    Affiliation as printed

    CIRAD, UMR EcoFoG (AgroParistech, CNRS, INRAE, Université des Antilles, Université de la Guyane), Oxapampa, Peru

61. Peter van der Hout
    Affiliation as printed

    Form International, Zwolle, Netherlands

62. Rodolfo Vásquez

    Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique · Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement · AgroParisTech · Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement · Ecologie des Forêts de Guyane

    Affiliation as printed

    CIRAD, UMR EcoFoG (AgroParistech, CNRS, INRAE, Université des Antilles, Université de la Guyane), Oxapampa, Peru

63. Ima Célia Guimarães Vieira

    Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi

    Affiliation as printed

    Museu Paraense Emilio Goeldi, Belém, Brazil

64. Emilio Vilanova

    Universidad de Los Andes

    Affiliation as printed

    Universidad de Los Andes, Mérida, Venezuela

65. Roderick Zagt

    Utrecht University

    Affiliation as printed

    Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands

66. Timothy R. Baker

    University of Leeds

    Affiliation as printed

    School of Geography, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK

67. Oliver Lawrence Phillips

    University of Leeds

    Affiliation as printed

    School of Geography, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK