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Very Low Stocks and Inputs of Necromass in Wind-affected Tropical Forests

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Abstract

The relationships between climate and forest dynamics can help us to interpret patterns of ecosystem carbon and to predict how forests react to climatic changes. We report mass dynamics of deadwood (necromass) from tropical forest ecosystems subject to some of the highest frequency of tropical cyclones in the world and to regular, persistent seasonal monsoon winds. Plots that are influenced by typhoons but exposed to different degrees of monsoon winds were monitored. We expected that stocks and inputs of necromass would reflect the seasonal intensity of wind events and be higher in the high wind exposure forest than in the low wind exposure forest, especially for fallen woody debris. The results showed that necromass input was indeed influenced by the magnitude of typhoons and aggravated by monsoon winds. However, while there was no significant difference in stock of necromass between plots, inputs of standing necromass were significantly higher in the high wind exposure plot; these were mostly derived from dead resprouts. Both our forests had very low values of total necromass stocks (3.47–4.32 Mg C ha−1) and inputs (2.1–2.5 Mg C ha−1 y−1) compared with tropical forests worldwide. Our results show that both monsoon and typhoon winds shape these tropical forests, favouring low stature individuals and trees with ability to resprout and that these strategies provide these forests with remarkable resistance and resilience to wind disturbances. Our findings from some of the most wind-affected forests in the world indicate how woody carbon dynamics and forest structure in other regions may respond to future changes in the frequency and intensity of winds.

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Data Availability

Data available at https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1oxOSzjk-4mItmVsgyASeSndwG9_U3nte?usp=sharing.

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Acknowledgements

We sincerely appreciate the important fieldwork done by Yi-Ju Li, Yen-Chen Chao, Chia-Min Lin, Chien-Hui Liao, Yeh Hsu, Chun-Yao Liu and numerous student volunteers. We thank Chia-Cheng Yang, Wei-Hong Chan, Dr. Wei-Chun Chao, Dr. I-Fang Sun, Dr. Tsung-Hsin Hsieh and Dr. Chang-Fu Hsieh for their pioneer works in the study forests. We are also grateful to Dr. Tsung-I Lin for his statistical consultation and to Kenting National Park for its logistic support. This study was funded by grants to Kuo-Jung Chao from the Ministry of Science and Technology, Taiwan (NSC 101-2313-B-005-024-MY3 and MOST 104-2313-B-005-032-MY3).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. International Master Program of Agriculture, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, 40227, Taiwan

    Kuo-Jung Chao, Pin-Siou Liao & Yi-Sheng Chen

  2. Department of Life Sciences, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, 40227, Taiwan

    Pin-Siou Liao, Yi-Sheng Chen & Hsing-Juh Lin

  3. Department of Soil and Water Conservation, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, 40227, Taiwan

    Guo-Zhang Michael Song

  4. School of Geography, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK

    Oliver L. Phillips

  5. Innovation and Development Center of Sustainable Agriculture, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, 40227, Taiwan

    Hsing-Juh Lin

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  1. Kuo-Jung Chao
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Correspondence to Kuo-Jung Chao.

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Author Contributions

KJC and GZMS designed the study. KJC, PSL and YSC carried out the analysis with inputs from GZMS, OLP and HJL. KJC, PSL and YSC wrote the manuscript with inputs from GZMS, OLP and HJL. PSL and YSC coordinated data collection with the help of KJC, GZMS and HJL. All co-authors commented on the manuscript.

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Chao, KJ., Liao, PS., Chen, YS. et al. Very Low Stocks and Inputs of Necromass in Wind-affected Tropical Forests. Ecosystems 25, 488–503 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10021-021-00667-z

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