Synergistic Ecoclimate Teleconnections from Forest Loss in Different Regions Structure Global Ecological Responses

García, Eva de; Swann, Abigail L. S.; Villegas, Juan Camilo; Breshears, David D.; Law, Darin J.; Saleska, S. R.; Stark, Scott C.

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0165042

Cited by 44 publications

(44 citation statements)

References 46 publications

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“…Most studies of how land use change influences climate and hydrology rely on models (e.g., Piao et al 2007;Unger 2014;Garcia et al 2016;Mahowald et al 2017). These models are imperfect (Hagemann et al 2013;Maraun 2016).…”

Section: Modelsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Forests, atmospheric water and an uncertain future: the new biology of the global water cycle

Sheil

2018

For. Ecosyst.

144

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Theory and evidence indicate that trees and other vegetation influence the atmospheric water-cycle in various ways. These influences are more important, more complex, and more poorly characterised than is widely realised. While there is little doubt that changes in tree cover will impact the water-cycle, the wider consequences remain difficult to predict as the underlying relationships and processes remain poorly characterised. Nonetheless, as forests are vulnerable to human activities, these linked aspects of the water-cycle are also at risk and the potential consequences of large scale forest loss are severe. Here, for non-specialist readers, I review our knowledge of the links between vegetation-cover and climate with a focus on forests and rain (precipitation). I highlight advances, uncertainties and research opportunities. There are significant shortcomings in our understanding of the atmospheric hydrological cycle and of its representation in climate models. A better understanding of the role of vegetation and tree-cover will reduce some of these shortcomings. I outline and illustrate various research themes where these advances may be found. These themes include the biology of evaporation, aerosols and atmospheric motion, as well as the processes that determine monsoons and diurnal precipitation cycles. A novel theory-the 'biotic pump'-suggests that evaporation and condensation can exert a major influence over atmospheric dynamics. This theory explains how high rainfall can be maintained within those continental land-masses that are sufficiently forested. Feedbacks within many of these processes can result in non-linear behaviours and the potential for dramatic changes as a result of forest loss (or gain): for example, switching from a wet to a dry local climate (or visa-versa). Much remains unknown and multiple research disciplines are needed to address this: forest scientists and other biologists have a major role to play. New ideas, methods and data offer opportunities to improve understanding. Expect surprises.

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Section: Modelsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Forests, atmospheric water and an uncertain future: the new biology of the global water cycle

Sheil

2018

For. Ecosyst.

144

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“…As the largest intact tropical rainforest in the world, the Amazon plays a critical role in global climate processes and biodiversity maintenance (Dirzo & Raven, ; Malhi et al ., ). Changes to Amazonian forests could affect local, regional, and global atmospheric circulation, resulting in altered precipitation patterns (Gedney & Valdes, ; Werth & Avissar, ; Spracklen et al ., ; Garcia et al ., ) and atmospheric carbon content (Pan et al ., ). As such, it is critical to understand the controls on Amazon forest productivity, which is highly to moderately seasonal, ranging from zero to five dry season months (Restrepo‐Coupe et al ., ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seasonal and drought‐related changes in leaf area profiles depend on height and light environment in an Amazon forest

et al. 2019

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Summary Seasonal dynamics in the vertical distribution of leaf area index (LAI) may impact the seasonality of forest productivity in Amazonian forests. However, until recently, fine‐scale observations critical to revealing ecological mechanisms underlying these changes have been lacking. To investigate fine‐scale variation in leaf area with seasonality and drought we conducted monthly ground‐based LiDAR surveys over 4 yr at an Amazon forest site. We analysed temporal changes in vertically structured LAI along axes of both canopy height and light environments. Upper canopy LAI increased during the dry season, whereas lower canopy LAI decreased. The low canopy decrease was driven by highly illuminated leaves of smaller trees in gaps. By contrast, understory LAI increased concurrently with the upper canopy. Hence, tree phenological strategies were stratified by height and light environments. Trends were amplified during a 2015–2016 severe El Niño drought. Leaf area low in the canopy exhibited behaviour consistent with water limitation. Leaf loss from short trees in high light during drought may be associated with strategies to tolerate limited access to deep soil water and stressful leaf environments. Vertically and environmentally structured phenological processes suggest a critical role of canopy structural heterogeneity in seasonal changes in Amazon ecosystem function.

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“…Loss of forest cover due to mortality increases the surface albedo and simultaneously decreases evapotranspiration rates and increases sensible heating [83]. These alterations of the local surface energy budget can also lead to spatially broad impacts dubbed "ecoclimate teleconnections" by changing both local atmospheric feedbacks such as clouds [84], and large-scale atmospheric circulation patterns through atmospheric wave propagation and alterations in energy gradients [85], with implications for ecosystems far from where the mortality occurred [86][87][88]. The relatively longer timescale of recovery from mortality could also lead to less plant cover, and thus less regulation by stomata of surface to atmosphere water flux.…”

Section: Plant Stress Under "Hot" Droughtsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Plants and Drought in a Changing Climate

Swann¹

2018

Preprint

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Purpose of review Climate is changing in response to rising concentrations of atmospheric CO 2 and it is commonly asserted that this will cause droughts to become more frequent and severe. However, different metrics of drought give diverging estimates of future impacts. I present a summary of the significant yet underappreciated influence that plant stomatal and growth responses to CO 2 have on drought, and highlight new insights into the impacts of drought on plants in a warmer world. Recent findings Plants influence the water availability on land, and thus reduce the duration and intensity of droughts under higher CO 2 conditions. Plants are concurrently more vulnerable to mortality when droughts occur under hotter conditions. Summary The frequency and severity of drought in the future depends on the response of plants to a changing climate-ignoring plant responses leads to over-prediction of drought. Nonetheless, the impact of current frequencies of drought on plants could lead to higher mortality rates in the future as plants must withstand drought stress simultaneously with hotter temperatures.

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Synergistic Ecoclimate Teleconnections from Forest Loss in Different Regions Structure Global Ecological Responses

Cited by 44 publications

References 46 publications

Forests, atmospheric water and an uncertain future: the new biology of the global water cycle

Forests, atmospheric water and an uncertain future: the new biology of the global water cycle

Seasonal and drought‐related changes in leaf area profiles depend on height and light environment in an Amazon forest

Plants and Drought in a Changing Climate

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