Disentangling the impacts of soil moisture and vapour pressure deficit on biodiversity patterns and conservation value of tropical forests in Ghana, West Africa
Forzia Ibrahim , Stephen Adu-Bredu , Arne Buechling , Akwasi Duah-Gyamfi , Shalom Addo-Danso , Yadvinder Malhi , Somidh Saha , Stephen Awuni , Emmanuel Tetteh Jumpah , Martin Svátek , Radim Matula
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
African tropical forests are recognised for their important contributions to biodiversity conservation and carbon storage, yet they remain notably understudied. Understanding how current climatic conditions regulate species composition and diversity is crucial for predicting the resilience of these ecosystems in an era of global change. This study examines biodiversity patterns and the conservation status of species among disjunct forest communities in wet, moist and dry forest zones of Ghana, West Africa. Detailed forest inventory data were collected to assess community composition and tree diversity metrics. We analysed how climatic factors influenced variations in tree diversity and the occurrence of at-risk species. A total of 3471 trees representing 242 species were surveyed, with 17.4 % classified as threatened or near-threatened according to global extinction risk assessments. Tree diversity declined significantly from wet to dry forest communities. We found that vapour pressure deficit (VPD) negatively affected community diversity potential across the study area. However, we also detected evidence for potential mitigation of VPD impacts by greater soil moisture storage, leading to stable biodiversity levels in more mesic soil environments. At-risk species were more common in high-rainfall regions relative to drier environments. However, across the study area, the number of at-risk species increased with the combined effects of high VPD and low soil moisture. This study highlights the distinct roles of VPD and soil water storage in maintaining tropical forest tree diversity, with important implications for ecosystem stability in a changing climate.
期刊介绍:
Biological Conservation is an international leading journal in the discipline of conservation biology. The journal publishes articles spanning a diverse range of fields that contribute to the biological, sociological, and economic dimensions of conservation and natural resource management. The primary aim of Biological Conservation is the publication of high-quality papers that advance the science and practice of conservation, or which demonstrate the application of conservation principles for natural resource management and policy. Therefore it will be of interest to a broad international readership.