Region-specific forest structure pathways reveal climate effects on old-growth tropical forest biomass

Scientific Reports, vol. 16

Abstract

Abstract Old-growth tropical forests store vast amounts of carbon in their aboveground biomass (AGB), yet the relative roles of abiotic factors such as climate, soil, and topography in governing its spatial distribution remain poorly understood. In particular, the degree to which climate acts on AGB through forest structure is still poorly quantified at the pantropical scale. Using a pantropical dataset of more than 2,000 old-growth forest plots and a structure-explicit framework, we assess how climate influences AGB through its effects on four structural attributes: basal area, mean diameter, stem density, and basal area-weighted wood density. We find that climate shapes AGB primarily through its effects on forest structure. However, structural attributes respond to climate in opposite directions, so climate’s net effect on AGB largely cancels out, and no clear climate-AGB relationship emerges across tropical regions. Moreover, only wood density responds consistently, decreasing with annual precipitation and increasing with precipitation seasonality, whereas all other attributes respond to climate differently from one region to another. This geographical variation further obscures any global climatic signal on AGB and points to the role of biogeographic history in shaping forest structure. Our findings highlight the central role of the climate-structure nexus in explaining AGB variation, and call for structure-explicit models to improve carbon stock predictions and inform climate adaptation strategies.

Authors 99

1. Pauline Depoortere

   University of Liège · Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech

   Affiliation as printed

   TERRA Teaching and Research Centre, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, Université de Liège, Gembloux, Belgium

2. Adeline Fayolle

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

   Affiliation as printed

   Forêts Et Sociétés, CIRAD, Montpellier, France

   Institut de Recherche en Écologie Tropicale (IRET), CENAREST, Libreville, Gabon

3. Oliver Lawrence Phillips

   University of Leeds

   Affiliation as printed

   School of Geography, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK

4. Lalasia Bialic‐Murphy

   Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research

   Affiliation as printed

   Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research, Land Change Science Unit, Birmensdorf, Switzerland

5. Constantin M. Zohner

   The University of Tokyo

   Affiliation as printed

   BRANCH Institute, Zug, Switzerland

   Institute for Future Initiatives, University of Tokyo (UTokyo), Tokyo, Japan

6. Arthur Vander Linden

   University of Liège · Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech

   Affiliation as printed

   TERRA Teaching and Research Centre, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, Université de Liège, Gembloux, Belgium

7. Antoine Plumacker

   University of Liège · Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech

   Affiliation as printed

   TERRA Teaching and Research Centre, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, Université de Liège, Gembloux, Belgium

8. Hugo de Lame

   University of Liège · Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech

   Affiliation as printed

   TERRA Teaching and Research Centre, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, Université de Liège, Gembloux, Belgium

9. Jingjing Liang

   Purdue University West Lafayette

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Purdue University, West Lafayette, USA

10. Peter B. Reich

    University of Minnesota · University of Michigan

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Forest Resources, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, USA

    Institute for Global Change Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA

11. Javier G. P. Gamarra

    Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

    Affiliation as printed

    Forestry Division, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome, Italy

12. Alberti Giorgio

    University of Udine · University of Palermo

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Agricultural, Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences (Di4A), University of Udine, Udine, Italy

    National Biodiversity Future Centre, Palermo, Italy

13. Bruno Hérault

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

    Affiliation as printed

    Forêts Et Sociétés, CIRAD, Montpellier, France

    Forêts Et Sociétés, Univ Montpellier, CIRAD, Montpellier, France

14. Nicolas Picard
    Affiliation as printed

    GIP Ecofor, Paris, France

15. Sergio de-Miguel

    Universitat de Lleida · Forest Science and Technology Centre of Catalonia

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Agricultural and Forest Sciences and Engineering, University of Lleida, Lleida, Spain

    Forest Science and Technology Centre of Catalonia (CTFC), Solsona, Spain

16. G.J. Nabuurs

    Wageningen University & Research

    Affiliation as printed

    Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands

17. Thomas Ward Crowther

    King Abdullah University of Science and Technology

    Affiliation as printed

    BRANCH Institute, Zug, Switzerland

    Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, KAUST, Thuwal, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

18. Alain Paquette

    Université du Québec à Montréal

    Affiliation as printed

    Centre for Forest Research, Université du Québec À Montréal, Montreal, Canada

19. Hans Pretzsch

    Universidad de Valladolid · Technical University of Munich

    Affiliation as printed

    SMART Ecosystems Group, Sustainable Forest Management Research Institute iuFOR, University of Valladolid, Palencia, Spain

    Tree Growth and Wood Physiology, School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan, Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany

20. Susan K. Wiser

    Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research

    Affiliation as printed

    Manaaki Whenua–Landcare Research, Lincoln, New Zealand

21. Mo Zhou

    Purdue University West Lafayette

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Purdue University, West Lafayette, USA

22. Han Y. H. Chen

    Inner Mongolia Agricultural University · University of Michigan · Lakehead University

    Affiliation as printed

    Faculty of Natural Resources Management, Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, Canada

    Inner Mongolia Agr Univ, Coll Grassland Sci, Hohhot, China

    Institute for Global Change Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA

23. Hans Verbeeck

    Ghent University

    Affiliation as printed

    Q-ForestLab, Department of Environment, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium

24. C. De Cannière

    Université Libre de Bruxelles

    Affiliation as printed

    Brussels Bioengineering School, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Bruxelles, Belgium

25. Martin J. P. Sullivan

    Manchester Metropolitan University

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Natural Sciences, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK

26. Lourens Poorter

    Wageningen University & Research

    Affiliation as printed

    Forest Ecology and Forest Management Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands

27. Quentin Ponette

    UCLouvain

    Affiliation as printed

    Earth and Life Institute, Environmental Sciences, Université Catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), Louvain-La-Neuve, Belgium

28. Marijn Bauters

    Ghent University

    Affiliation as printed

    Q-ForestLab, Department of Environment, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium

29. Vincent Deblauwe

    University of California, Los Angeles · International Institute of Tropical Agriculture

    Affiliation as printed

    International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Yaoundé, Cameroon

    University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, USA

30. Gunnar Keppel

    Adelaide University · The University of Adelaide

    Affiliation as printed

    School of Biological Sciences and Environment Institute, Adelaide University, Adelaide, Australia

31. Francis Q. Brearley

    Manchester Metropolitan University

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Natural Sciences, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK

32. Irie Casimir Zo‐Bi

    Institut National Polytechnique Félix Houphouët-Boigny

    Affiliation as printed

    UMRI Sciences Agronomiques Et Procédés de Transformation, Institut National Polytechnique Félix Houphouët-Boigny, Yamoussoukro, Côte d’Ivoire

33. Tiodionwa Ouattara

    Institut National Polytechnique Félix Houphouët-Boigny

    Affiliation as printed

    UMRI Sciences Agronomiques Et Procédés de Transformation, Institut National Polytechnique Félix Houphouët-Boigny, Yamoussoukro, Côte d’Ivoire

34. Michael John Lawes

    Universiti Malaysia Sarawak · University of KwaZulu-Natal

    Affiliation as printed

    Institute of Biodiversity and Environmental Conservation (IBEC), Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Kota Samarahan, Malaysia

    School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Scottsville, South Africa

35. Frans Bongers

    Wageningen University & Research

    Affiliation as printed

    Forest Ecology and Forest Management Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands

36. Jorge A. Meave

    Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México

    Affiliation as printed

    Departamento de Ecología y Recursos Naturales, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Coyoacán, Mexico

37. Mark Schulze

    Oregon State University

    Affiliation as printed

    Oregon State University, Corvallis, USA

38. Micheal Lyonga Ngoh

    University of Tennessee at Knoxville

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Tennessee Knoxville, Knoxville, USA

39. Hans ter Steege Aachen Naturalis Biodiversity Center

    Naturalis Biodiversity Center · Utrecht University

    Affiliation as printed

    Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Leiden, The Netherlands

    Quantitative Biodiversity Dynamics, Dept. of Biology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands

40. Jürgen Homeier

    Philipps University of Marburg · University of Applied Sciences and Arts Hildesheim/Holzminden/Göttingen · University of Göttingen

    Affiliation as printed

    Conservation Ecology, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany

    Faculty of Resource Management, HAWK University of Applied Sciences and Arts, Göttingen, Germany

    Plant Ecology, Georg-August University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany

41. Akomian Fortuné Azihou

    Université d'Abomey-Calavi

    Affiliation as printed

    Laboratory of Applied Ecology, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Abomey-Calavi, Cotonou, Benin

42. Liam A. Trethowan

    Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

    Affiliation as printed

    Herbarium Kew, Richmond, UK

43. J. W. Ferry Slik

    Universiti Brunei Darussalam

    Affiliation as printed

    Environmental and Life Sciences Programme, Faculty of Science, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam

44. Géraldine Derroire

    Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique · Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement · Universidade de Brasília · 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

    Department of Forestry, University of Brasilia, Brasília, Brazil

    Forêts Et Sociétés, CIRAD, Montpellier, France

45. Damien Bonal

    Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement · Silva

    Affiliation as printed

    INRAE, UMR Silva, Nancy, France

46. William Frederick Laurance

    James Cook University

    Affiliation as printed

    Centre for Tropical Environmental and Sustainability Science, College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Cairns, Australia

47. Andreas Hemp

    University of Bayreuth

    Affiliation as printed

    Dept. Ecology of Fungi, University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Germany

48. Agustinus Murdjoko

    Universitas Papua

    Affiliation as printed

    Fakultas Kehutanan, Universitas Papua, Jalan Gunung Salju Amban, Manokwari Papua Barat, Indonesia

49. Jesús Aguirre‐Gutiérrez

    University of Oxford · Imperial College London

    Affiliation as printed

    Environmental Change Institute, School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK

    Georgina Mace Centre for the Living Planet, Imperial College London, Ascot, UK

    Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK

50. Endang Kintamani

    National Research and Innovation Agency

    Affiliation as printed

    Research Center for Biota Systems, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Cibinong, Indonesia

51. Lee White

    University of Stirling · Ministre de la Forêt,de la Mer et de l'Environnement

    Affiliation as printed

    Institut de Recherche en Écologie Tropicale, Libreville, Gabon

    Ministry of Forests, Seas, Environment and Climate, Libreville, Gabon

    School of Natural Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling, UK

52. 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

53. Andy Hector

    University of Oxford

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Biology and Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK

54. Christian A. Amani

    Université Officielle de Bukavu

    Affiliation as printed

    Faculté Des Sciences, Université Officielle de Bukavu, Bukavu, Democratic Republic of the Congo

55. Ana Andrade

    Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia

    Affiliation as printed

    National Institute of Amazonian Research (INPA), Manaus, Brazil

56. Albert Angbonga Basia

    Institut Facultaire des sciences Agronomiques de Yangambi

    Affiliation as printed

    Institut Facultaire Des Sciences Agronomiques de Yangambi, Kisangani, Democratic Republic of the Congo

57. Luiz E. O. C. Aragão

    University of Exeter · Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais

    Affiliation as printed

    Earth Observation and Geoinformatics Division, National Institute for Space Research, São José Dos Campos, Brazil

    Geography, Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK

58. Kurian Ayushi

    Anhalt University of Applied Sciences · French Institute of Pondicherry

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Agriculture, Ecotrophology, and Landscape Development, Anhalt University of Applied Sciences, Bernburg, Germany

    Department of Ecology, French Institute of Pondicherry, Puducherry, India

59. Félix Allah‐Barem
60. Angélica M. Almeyda Zambrano

    Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México

    Affiliation as printed

    Facultad de Ciencias , Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México , 04510 Coyoacán , Ciudad de México , Mexico

61. Esteban Alvarez-Davila

    Fundación Con Vida

    Affiliation as printed

    Fundación ConVida, Medellín, Colombia

62. Patricia Álvarez-Loayza

    Field Museum of Natural History

    Affiliation as printed

    Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, USA

63. Elisée Amstrong

    Université de Yaoundé I

    Affiliation as printed

    Plant Systematics and Ecology Laboratory, Higher Teachers’ Training College, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon

64. Alejandro Araujo‐Murakami

    Gabriel René Moreno Autonomous University · Museo de Historia Natural Noel Kempff Mercado

    Affiliation as printed

    Museo de Historia Natural Noel Kempff Mercado, Universidad Autónoma Gabriel René Moreno, Santa Cruz, Bolivia

65. Luzmila Arroyo

    Gabriel René Moreno Autonomous University · Museo de Historia Natural Noel Kempff Mercado

    Affiliation as printed

    Museo de Historia Natural Noel Kempff Mercado, Universidad Autónoma Gabriel René Moreno, Santa Cruz, Bolivia

66. Timothy R. Baker

    University of Leeds

    Affiliation as printed

    School of Geography, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK

67. Ousmane Bako
    Affiliation as printed

    Ecole Nationale des Eaux Et Forêts de Mbalmayo, Ministère Des Forêts Et De La Faune, Mbalmayo, Cameroun

68. Olaf Bánki
    Affiliation as printed

    Catalogue of Life Foundation, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

69. Christopher Baraloto

    Florida International University

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Biological Sciences, Institute of Environment, Florida International University, Miami, USA

70. Nicolas Barbier

    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 · UMR Botanique et Modélisation de l’Architecture des Plantes et des végétations · Institut de Recherche pour le Développement

    Affiliation as printed

    AMAP, CIRAD, CNRS, INRAE, IRD, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France

71. Jorcely Barroso

    Universidade Federal do Acre

    Affiliation as printed

    Universidade Federal Do Acre, Centro Multicisciplinar, Cruzeiro Do Sul, Brazil

72. Patrick Bassama
    Affiliation as printed

    Ecole Nationale des Eaux Et Forêts de Mbalmayo, Ministère Des Forêts Et De La Faune, Mbalmayo, Cameroun

73. Hans Beeckman

    Royal Museum for Central Africa

    Affiliation as printed

    Service of Wood Biology, Royal Museum for Central Africa, Tervuren, Belgium

74. NITHANEL MIKAEL HENDRIK BENU
    Affiliation as printed

    Balai Perhutanan Sosial (BPS) Manokwari, Jalan Inamberi-Susweni, Papua Barat, Indonesia

75. Hervé Bihiya
    Affiliation as printed

    Ecole Nationale des Eaux Et Forêts de Mbalmayo, Ministère Des Forêts Et De La Faune, Mbalmayo, Cameroun

76. Philippe Birnbaum

    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 · UMR Botanique et Modélisation de l’Architecture des Plantes et des végétations · Institut de Recherche pour le Développement

    Affiliation as printed

    AMAP, CIRAD, CNRS, INRAE, IRD, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France

77. Robert Bitariho

    Mbarara University of Science and Technology

    Affiliation as printed

    Institute of Tropical Forest Conservation, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Kabale, Uganda

78. Pascal Boeckx

    Ghent University

    Affiliation as printed

    Isotope Bioscience Laboratory, Department of Green Chemistry and Technology, Ghent University, Gent, Belgium

79. Kelly Boekee

    Wageningen University & Research

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Environmental Sciences, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands

80. Jan Bogaert

    University of Liège · Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech

    Affiliation as printed

    TERRA Teaching and Research Centre, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, Université de Liège, Gembloux, Belgium

81. Katrin Böhning-Gease

    Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research · Leipzig University

    Affiliation as printed

    Faculty of Life Sciences, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany

    Helmholtz Center for Environmental Research UFZ, Leipzig, Germany

82. Faustin Boyemba
    Affiliation as printed

    Secrétariat Exécutif, Fonds National REDD+ (FONAREDD), Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo

83. Hilândia Brandão da Cunha

    Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México

    Affiliation as printed

    Facultad de Ciencias , Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México , 04510 Coyoacán , Ciudad de México , Mexico

84. Roel Brienen

    University of Leeds

    Affiliation as printed

    School of Geography, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK

85. Jaime Briseño‐Reyes

    Universidad Juárez del Estado de Durango

    Affiliation as printed

    Facultad de Ciencias Forestales y Ambientales, Universidad Juárez del Estado de Durango, Durango, Mexico

86. Eben N. Broadbent

    University of Florida

    Affiliation as printed

    Spatial Ecology and Conservation Lab, University of Florida, Gainesville, USA

87. J. L. Camargo

    Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia

    Affiliation as printed

    National Institute of Amazonian Research (INPA), Manaus, Brazil

88. Benoît Cassart

    UCLouvain

    Affiliation as printed

    Earth and Life Institute, Environmental Sciences, Université Catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), Louvain-La-Neuve, Belgium

89. Roberto Cazzolla Gatti

    Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México

    Affiliation as printed

    Facultad de Ciencias , Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México , 04510 Coyoacán , Ciudad de México , Mexico

90. Jérôme Chave

    Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique · Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier · Institut National Polytechnique de Toulouse · Institut de Recherche pour le Développement · Centre de Recherche sur la Biodiversité et l'Environnement

    Affiliation as printed

    UMR5300, Centre Recherche Biodiversité Environnement, CNRS, Université Paul Sabatier, IRD, INPT, Toulouse, France

91. George Bindeh Chuyong

    University of Buea

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Plant Science, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon

92. David B. Clark

    University of Missouri–St. Louis

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Biology, University of Missouri-St Louis, St Louis, USA

93. Connie Clark

    Duke University

    Affiliation as printed

    Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, USA

94. Alessio Collalti

    National Research Council · Institute for Agricultural and Forest Systems in the Mediterranean

    Affiliation as printed

    Forest Modelling Laboratory, National Research Council of Italy, Institute for Agriculture and Forestry Systems in the Mediterranean (CNR-ISAFOM), Perugia, Italy

95. Murray Collins
    Affiliation as printed

    Space Intelligence Ltd, Henry Dunant House, Edinburgh, UK

96. Fernando H. Cornejo Valverde

    Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México

    Affiliation as printed

    Facultad de Ciencias , Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México , 04510 Coyoacán , Ciudad de México , Mexico

97. Jose Javier Corral-Rivas

    Universidad Juárez del Estado de Durango

    Affiliation as printed

    Facultad de Ciencias Forestales y Ambientales, Universidad Juárez del Estado de Durango, Durango, Mexico

98. Pierre Couteron

    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 · UMR Botanique et Modélisation de l’Architecture des Plantes et des végétations · Institut de Recherche pour le Développement

    Affiliation as printed

    AMAP, CIRAD, CNRS, INRAE, IRD, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France

99. Aida Cuní‐Sanchez

    University of York · Norwegian University of Life Sciences

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Environment and Geography, University of York, York, UK

    Department of International Environment and Development Studies (Noragric), Faculty of Landscape and Society, Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), Ås, Norway