Climate variability, tree increment patterns and ENSO-related carbon sequestration reduction of the tropical dry forest species Loxopterygium huasango of Southern Ecuador
Spannl S, Volland F, Pucha Cofrep D, Peters T, Cueva E, Bräuning A (2016)
Publication Language: English
Publication Type: Journal article, Original article
Publication year: 2016
Journal
Publisher: Springer Verlag (Germany)
Book Volume: 30
Pages Range: 1245-1258
Journal Issue: 4
URI: http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00468-016-1362-0
DOI: 10.1007/s00468-016-1362-0
Abstract
We present the first multi-year long time series of local climate data in the seasonally dry tropical forest in Southern Ecuador and related growth dynamics of Loxopterygium huasango, a deciduous tree species. Local climate was investigated by installing an automatically weather station in 2007 and the daily tree growth variability was measured with high-resolution point dendrometers. The climatic impact on growth behaviour was evaluated. Hydro-climatic variables, like precipitation and relative humidity, were the most important factors for controlling tree growth. Changes in rainwater input affected radial increment rates and daily amplitudes of stem diameter variations within the study period from 2009 to 2013. El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) related variations of tropical Pacific Ocean sea surface temperatures influenced the trees’ increment rates. Average radial increments showed high inter-annual (up to 7.89 mm) and inter-individual (up to 3.88 mm) variations. Daily amplitudes of stem diameter variations differed strongly between the two extreme years 2009 (wet) and 2011 (dry). Contrary to 2009, the La Niña drought in 2011 caused a rapid reduction of the daily amplitudes, indicating a total cessation (‘growth collapse’) of stem increment under ENSO-related drought conditions and demonstrating the high impact of climatic extreme events on carbon sequestration of the dry tropical forest ecosystem.
Authors with CRIS profile
Susanne Spannl
Lehrstuhl für Geographie (Physische Geographie)
Franziska Volland
Lehrstuhl für Geographie (Physische Geographie)
Thorsten Peters
Institut für Geographie
Achim Bräuning
Lehrstuhl für Geographie (Physische Geographie)
Involved external institutions
Ecuador (EC)How to cite
APA:
Spannl, S., Volland, F., Pucha Cofrep, D., Peters, T., Cueva, E., & Bräuning, A. (2016). Climate variability, tree increment patterns and ENSO-related carbon sequestration reduction of the tropical dry forest species Loxopterygium huasango of Southern Ecuador. Trees-Structure and Function, 30(4), 1245-1258. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00468-016-1362-0
MLA:
Spannl, Susanne, et al. "Climate variability, tree increment patterns and ENSO-related carbon sequestration reduction of the tropical dry forest species Loxopterygium huasango of Southern Ecuador." Trees-Structure and Function 30.4 (2016): 1245-1258.
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