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Altitudinal filtering of large-tree species explains above-ground biomass variation in an Atlantic Central African rain forest

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 January 2017

Christelle Gonmadje ,
Nicolas Picard ,
Sylvie Gourlet-Fleury ,
Maxime Réjou-Méchain ,
Vincent Freycon ,
Terry Sunderland ,
Doyle McKey  and
Charles Doumenge
Christelle Gonmadje*
Affiliation:
CIRAD, Campus International de Baillarguet, TA C-105/D, F-34398 Montpellier, France Department of Plant Biology, University of Yaounde I, P.O. Box 812, Yaounde, Cameroon
Nicolas Picard
Affiliation:
Forestry Department, FAO, Viale delle Terme di Caracalla – 00153 Rome, Italy
Sylvie Gourlet-Fleury
Affiliation:
CIRAD, Campus International de Baillarguet, TA C-105/D, F-34398 Montpellier, France
Maxime Réjou-Méchain
Affiliation:
UMR AMAP, IRD, F-34000 Montpellier, France French Institute of Pondicherry, UMIFRE 21/USR 3330 CNRS-MAEE, Pondicherry, India
Vincent Freycon
Affiliation:
CIRAD, Campus International de Baillarguet, TA C-105/D, F-34398 Montpellier, France
Terry Sunderland
Affiliation:
CIFOR, P.O. Box 0113, BOBCD Bogor 16000, Indonesia
Doyle McKey
Affiliation:
Centre d'Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive, UMR, CNRS 5175, 1919 route de Mende, F-34293 Montpellier, France
Charles Doumenge
Affiliation:
CIRAD, Campus International de Baillarguet, TA C-105/D, F-34398 Montpellier, France
*
*Corresponding author. Email: cgonmadje@yahoo.fr
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Abstract:

Patterns in above-ground biomass of tropical forests over short altitudinal gradients are poorly known. The aim of this study was to investigate the variation of above-ground biomass with altitude in old-growth forests and determine the importance of changes in floristic composition as a cause of this variation. We used a dataset from 15 1-ha permanent plots established from lowland (200 m asl) to submontane forests (900 m asl) in the Ngovayang Massif, south-western Cameroon. We analysed variation over altitude in two specific functional traits, the potential maximum tree height and the wood density. Forest above-ground biomass decreased from 500–600 Mg ha−1 in lowland plots to around 260 Mg ha−1 at the highest altitudes. The contribution to above-ground biomass of large-tree species (dbh ≥ 70 cm) decreased with altitude, while the contribution of smaller trees was constant. Contribution of the Fabaceae subfamily Caesalpinioideae decreased with altitude, while those of Clusiaceae, Phyllanthaceae and Burseraceae increased. While potential maximum tree height significantly decreased, wood specific gravity displayed no trend along the gradient. Finally, the decrease in above-ground biomass along the short altitudinal gradient can be at least partially explained by a shift in species composition, with large-tree species being filtered out at the highest altitudes. These results suggest that global change could lead to significant shifts in the properties of montane forests over time.

Keywords

altitudinal gradientCamerooncarbon stocksNgovayang Massifniche filteringsubmontane forests
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Tropical Ecology , Volume 33 , Issue 2 , March 2017 , pp. 143 - 154
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2017 

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