Biogeosciences
www.biogeosciences.net
1726-4170
1726-4189
6
10
2009
10.5194/bg-6-2217-2009
http://www.biogeosciences.net/6/2217/2009/
http://www.biogeosciences.net/6/2217/2009/bg-6-2217-2009.html
http://www.biogeosciences.net/6/2217/2009/bg-6-2217-2009.pdf
2217
2226
2009-10-16
Liana infestation impacts tree growth in a lowland tropical moist forest
G. M. F. van der Heijden
g.m.f.vanderheijden@googlemail.com
O. L. Phillips
Ecology and Global Change, School of Geography, University of Leeds, UK
Ecosystem-level estimates of the effect of lianas on tree growth in mature
tropical forests are needed to evaluate the functional impact of lianas and
their potential to affect the ability of tropical forests to sequester
carbon, but these are currently lacking. Using data collected on tree growth
rates, local growing conditions and liana competition in five permanent
sampling plots in Amazonian Peru, we present the first ecosystem-level
estimates of the effect of lianas on above-ground productivity of trees. By
first constructing a multi-level linear mixed effect model to predict
individual-tree diameter growth model using individual-tree growth
conditions, we were able to then estimate stand-level above-ground biomass
(AGB) increment in the absence of lianas. We show that lianas, mainly by
competing above-ground with trees, reduce tree annual above-ground
stand-level biomass increment by ~10%, equivalent to 0.51 Mg dry
weight ha<sup>−1</sup> yr<sup>−1</sup> or 0.25 Mg C ha<sup>−1</sup> yr<sup>−1</sup>. AGB increment
of lianas themselves was estimated to be 0.15 Mg dry weight ha<sup>−1</sup> yr<sup>−1</sup>
or 0.07 Mg C ha<sup>−1</sup> yr<sup>−1</sup>, thus only compensating ~29% of
the liana-induced reduction in ecosystem AGB increment.
Increasing liana pressure on tropical forests will therefore not only tend
to reduce their carbon storage capacity, by indirectly promoting tree
species with low-density wood, but also their rate of carbon uptake, with
potential consequences for the rate of increase in atmospheric carbon
dioxide.
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