Disturbance frequency, intensity and forest structure modulate cyclone‐induced changes in mangrove forest canopy cover

Peereman, Jonathan; Hogan, J. Aaron; Lin, Teng Chiu

doi:10.1111/geb.13407

Cited by 37 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 76 publications

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“…We found that damages caused to forest vegetation by TCs based on NDVI changes were negligible for winds <50 m/s, i.e., for category 1-2 TCs (SSHWS). This is consistent with recent conclusions reached by Peereman et al [13] on global mangroves. Above this breakpoint, reduction in NDVI increased linearly with increasing wind speed which likely resulted from increasing major damages to vegetation, including branch breaking, tree uprooting, and bole snapping.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 94%

“…The TC regime could also play a role in the effects of these disturbances on forests. Forests that have been historically exposed to frequent intense TCs are likely to be acclimated or adapted to these disturbances and thus could be more resistant to TCs than forests that have been historically rarely exposed to these disturbances [13]. Different levels of resistance of different forest types also probably explain the large variation in observed damages for a given maximum sustained wind speed.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Increasingly available and accurate remote-sensed vegetation index time series and TC trajectories and characteristics databases now allow to analyse the impacts of TCs on forests and their recovery at large spatio-temporal scales (e.g., [11][12][13]). Maximum sustained wind speed (Wmax) appears to be a key parameter to predict changes in vegetation indices.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Tropical Cyclone Impact and Forest Resilience in the Southwestern Pacific

et al. 2022

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Tropical cyclones (TCs) can have profound effects on the dynamics of forest vegetation that need to be better understood. Here, we analysed changes in forest vegetation induced by TCs using the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI). We used an accurate historical database of TC tracks and intensities, together with the Willoughby cyclone model to reconstruct the 2D surface wind speed structure of TCs and analyse how TCs affect forest vegetation. We used segmented linear models to identify significant breakpoints in the relationship between the reconstructed maximum sustained wind speed (Wmax) and the observed changes in NDVI. We tested the hypothesis that the rate of change in damage caused by TCs to forest and recovery time would increase according to Wmax thresholds as defined in the widely used Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale (SSHWS). We showed that the most significant breakpoint was located at 50 m/s. This breakpoint corresponds to the transition between categories 2 and 3 TCs in the SSHWS. Below this breakpoint, damages caused to forest vegetation and the time needed to recover from these damages were negligable. We found a second breakpoint, with a sharp increase in damages for winds >75 m/s. This suggested that extremely intense tropical cyclones, which might be more frequent in the future, can cause extreme damages to forest vegetation. Nevertheless, we found high variation in the observed damages and time needed to recover for a given Wmax. Further studies are needed to integrate other factors that might affect the exposure and resistance to TCs as well as forests’ capacity to recover from these disturbances.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 94%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Tropical Cyclone Impact and Forest Resilience in the Southwestern Pacific

et al. 2022

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“…The severity of cyclone impacts on mangrove forests is not only dependent on cyclone‐induced storm surge and high velocity winds, but also on factors such as structural composition and heterogeneity of the vegetation, canopy cover, canopy height, species traits, and their spatial arrangement in the mangrove forest (Krauss & Osland, 2020; Peereman et al., 2021). The current status of mangrove forests is defined by a legacy of past tropical cyclones and recovery regime (Awty‐Carroll et al., 2019).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Radar and optical remote sensing for near real‐time assessments of cyclone impacts on coastal ecosystems

Mondal

Dutta

Qadir

et al. 2022

Remote Sens Ecol Conserv

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Rapid impact assessment of cyclones on coastal ecosystems is critical for timely rescue and rehabilitation operations in highly human-dominated landscapes. Such assessments should also include damage assessments of vegetation for restoration planning in impacted natural landscapes. Our objective is to develop a remote sensing-based approach combining satellite data derived from optical (Sentinel-2), radar (Sentinel-1), and LiDAR (Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation) platforms for rapid assessment of post-cyclone inundation in nonforested areas and vegetation damage in a primarily forested ecosystem. We apply this multi-scalar approach for assessing damages caused by the cyclone Amphan that hit coastal India and Bangladesh in May 2020, severely flooding several districts in the two countries, and causing destruction to the Sundarban mangrove forests. Our analysis shows that at least 6821 sq. km. land across the 39 study districts was inundated even after 10 days after the cyclone. We further calculated the change in forest greenness as the difference in normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) pre-and post-cyclone. Our findings indicate a <0.2 unit decline in NDVI in 3.45 sq. km. of the forest. Rapid assessment of post-cyclone damage in mangroves is challenging due to limited navigability of waterways, but critical for planning of mitigation and recovery measures. We demonstrate the utility of Otsu method, an automated statistical approach of the Google Earth Engine platform to identify inundated areas within days after a cyclone. Our radar-based inundation analysis advances current practices because it requires minimal user inputs, and is effective in the presence of high cloud cover. Such rapid assessment, when complemented with detailed information on species and vegetation composition, can inform appropriate restoration efforts in severely impacted regions and help decision makers efficiently manage resources for recovery and aid relief. We provide the datasets from this study on an open platform to aid in future research and planning endeavors.

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“…Individual hurricane disturbances represent distinct events that drastically influence successional trajectories of a forest by shaping forest structure (e.g., maximum tree heights and biomass), tree population dynamics (e.g., recruitment and mortality rates), and tree growth, over decades and centuries (Bellingham et al, 1995; Brokaw & Grear, 1991; Lin et al, 2020; McLaren et al, 2019; Zimmerman et al, 1994). For example, tropical forest structure and canopy architecture are shaped by cyclone disturbance frequency to varying degrees (de Gouvenain & Silander Jr., 2003; Ibanez et al, 2019; Peereman et al, 2022). Hurricane‐induced compositional changes can lead to varying successional trajectories of forests, altering species composition, and relative abundances of forest taxa in novel and ecologically important ways, especially when combined with other disturbances (Vandermeer et al, 2000).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Solar radiation and soil moisture drive tropical forest understory responses to experimental and natural hurricanes

Hogan

Sharpe²,

Beusekom

et al. 2022

Ecosphere

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Tropical forest understory regeneration occurs rapidly after disturbance with compositional trajectories that depend on species availability and environmental conditions. To predict future tropical forest regeneration dynamics, we need a deeper understanding of how pulse disturbance events, like hurricanes, interact with environmental variability to affect understory demography and composition. We examined fern and sapling mortality, recruitment, and community composition in relation to solar radiation and soil moisture using 17 years of forest dynamics data (2003–2019) from the Canopy Trimming Experiment in the Luquillo Experimental Forest, Puerto Rico. Solar radiation increased 150% and soil moisture increased 40% following canopy trimming of experimental plots relative to control plots. All plots were disturbed in 2017 by Hurricanes Irma and Maria, so experimentally trimmed plots presented the opportunity to study the effects of multiple hurricanes, while control plots isolated the effects of a single natural hurricane. Recruitment rates maximized at 0.14 individuals/plot/month for ferns and 0.20 stems/plot/month for saplings. Recruitment and mortality were distributed more evenly over the 17 years of monitoring in experimentally trimmed plots than in control plots; however, following Hurricane Maria demographic rates substantially increased in control plots only. In experimentally trimmed plots, the largest community compositional shifts occurred as a result of the trimming events, and compositional changes were greatest for control plots after Hurricane Maria in 2017. Pioneer tree and fern species increased in abundance in response to both simulated and natural hurricanes. Following Hurricane Maria, two dominant pioneer species, Cyathea arborea and Cecropia schreberiana, recruited abundantly, but only in control plots. In trimmed plots, increased solar radiation and soil moisture shifted understory species composition steadily toward pioneer and secondary‐successional species, with soil moisture interacting strongly with canopy trimming. Thus, both solar radiation and soil moisture are environmental drivers affecting pioneer species recruitment following disturbance, which interact with canopy opening following hurricanes. Our results suggest that if hurricane disturbances increase in frequency and severity, as suggested by climate change predictions, the understory regeneration of late‐successional species, such as Manilkara bidentata and Sloanea berteroana, which prefer deeper shade and slightly drier soil microsites, may become imperiled.

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Disturbance frequency, intensity and forest structure modulate cyclone‐induced changes in mangrove forest canopy cover

Abstract: This is an open access article under the terms of the Creat ive Commo ns Attri butio n-NonCo mmerc ial-NoDerivs License, which permits use and distribution in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, the use is non-commercial and no modifications or adaptations are made.

Cited by 37 publications

References 76 publications

Tropical Cyclone Impact and Forest Resilience in the Southwestern Pacific

Tropical Cyclone Impact and Forest Resilience in the Southwestern Pacific

Radar and optical remote sensing for near real‐time assessments of cyclone impacts on coastal ecosystems

Solar radiation and soil moisture drive tropical forest understory responses to experimental and natural hurricanes

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