English
Plant Respiration in a Warmer WorldBackground:It has been estimated that, globally, plants release 60 gigatons of CO2 during the respiration process. Many studies have shown that an increase in global temperature will increase leaves respiration rates, which in turn will decrease carbon uptake and increase atmospheric CO2 concentration (contributing even more to higher global temperature). Available with subscription or purchase |
Deforestation-Induced Climate Change Reduces Carbon Storage in Remaining Tropical ForestsBackground:Deforestation of tropical forests alters the biophysical properties of the forest's surface, which contributes to regional warming and drying. These environmental changes, in turn, could impact non-degraded forests, reducing the rates of photosynthesis and increasing the release of carbon through autotrophic respiration, as well as the risk of a wildfire. Consequently, it is important to improve the accuracy of carbon and climate benefits of a land management action (e.g., avoided deforestation) to enable a more effective valuation of the carbon credits issued for a specific project. Open access copy available |
Higher Fire Frequency Impaired Woody Species Regeneration in a South-Eastern Amazonian ForestBackground:The more and more common forest fires in the Amazon rainforest, caused after fire escape from pasture or deforested lands, cause unpredictable changes to the forest structure. Therefore, it is essential to assess the resilience of these ecosystems after being impacted by fire events and the likelihood of maintaining forest tree species and not being replaced by savanna species. Available with subscription or purchase |
Lowland Tapirs Facilitate Seed Dispersal in Degraded Amazonian ForestsBackground:During their first decades of growth, secondary tropical forests have the potential to accumulate significative more carbon than old-growth stands. Nevertheless, recovering degraded forests' habitats could be an expensive task to achieve. In this context, natural regeneration processes, such as seed dispersal by herbivorous animals, offer a cost-effective tool to recover degraded forests, although this role remains largely unexplored. Available with subscription or purchase |
Assessing the Carbon Capture Potential of a Reforestation ProjectBackground:Reforestation projects are receiving more and more attention due to their potential to sequester carbon and limit the increase of the global average temperature above 2 Celsius degrees. Consequently, is important to evaluate the accuracy of the GHG capture results made by the increasingly funded reforestation platforms. Open access copy available |
Calibrating Nepal’s scientific forest management practices in the measure of forest restorationBackground
Goals and Methods
Conclusions and TakeawaysOpen access copy available |
Restoration of plant-animal interactions in terrestrial ecosystemsBackgroundPlant-animal interactions are understudied within ecosystem restoration contexts. They are crucial to restoration success, with valuable processes like pollination, seed dispersal, and herbivory. The potential of animal reintroductions in restoration practices is understudied as well. Understanding these interactions is an important piece for future restoration efforts. Available with subscription or purchase |
Patterns and controls on island-wide aboveground biomass accumulation in second-growth forests of Puerto RicoBackgroundSecondary or second-growth forests after land abandonment are a valuable contribution to global carbon sinks. Approximately 70% of the world’s tropical forests are secondary growth, so understanding the carbon sequestration rates on a large scale is important. Sequestration rates are controlled by both abiotic and biotic factors in each region. Open access copy available |
Aboveground carbon responses to experimental and natural hurricane impacts in a subtropical wet forest in Puerto RicoBackgroundCarbon sequestration is a major climate mitigating process. Tropical forests in particular sequester high amounts of carbon, however disturbance events such as storms can alter the ability of forests to sequester more carbon. Hurricanes create forest gaps and increase ground debris which both provide resources that may promote plant recruitment and growth. Open access copy available |
Optimal restoration for pollination services increases forest cover while doubling agricultural profitsBackgroundIn the midst of a global biodiversity crisis and a rapidly expanding food demand, improving agricultural techniques is a high priority. Pollinators are at the forefront of this restoration goal partially due to their rapid decline in population, and also their crucial role in food production. 75% of globally common food depends on pollinators. Though improving agriculture is important, it is also expensive and risky for land owners. A framework is needed to determine best arrangements and practices for sustainable agriculture. Open access copy available |
