Disrupted montane forest recovery hinders biodiversity conservation in the tropical Andes

Christmann, Tina; Palomeque, Ximena; Armenteras, Dolors; Wilson, Sarah J.; Malhi, Yadvinder; Menor, Imma Oliveras

doi:10.1111/geb.13666

Cited by 9 publications

(4 citation statements)

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“…Such information is greatly needed to assess the potential implication in the long term for the recovery of TMFs, particularly for forests at low and mid-elevations. Forests at low and mid elevations could be exposed to slow recovery if they become trapped in a reinforcing loop of fast-growing species dying in large numbers and releasing space for the colonization of fast-growing species again [ 49 ]. Such risks have been reported in other studies [ 50 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tree mortality and recruitment in secondary Andean tropical mountain forests along a 3000 m elevation gradient

Ordoñez,

Pinto,

Bernardi

et al. 2024

PLoS ONE

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This study addresses the understudied dynamics of mortality and recruitment in Tropical Mountain forests, critical determinants of forest structural processes and biomass turnover. We examine how these demographic processes change with elevation and varying degrees of forest recovery by utilizing two forest censuses (2015 and 2019) from 16 plots (0.36 ha) across a 600–3500 m asl elevation gradient in the Ecuadorian Andes. Employing multivariate PCA analyses, we characterize successional forest dynamics and explore relationships between demographic rates, elevation, and indicators of forest recovery using standard linear regression and generalized additive models (GAMs). Contrary to our hypothesis, mortality exhibits a unimodal response, peaking at mid-elevations, with no significant relationship to above-ground biomass productivity (AGBp). In our successional forests, dominance by fast-growing species alters expected patterns, leading to increased mortality rates and AGBp, particularly at low-mid elevations. Forest recovery emerges as a significant driver of mortality and the sole predictor of recruitment, especially across different recovery statuses. Although forest recovery doesn’t impact mortality rates, it elucidates the identity of declining species in forests with varying recovery degrees. Our findings underscore that while forest recovery does not alter mortality rates, it provides critical insights into understanding which species are affected under varying recovery conditions. Recruitment, primarily driven by successional dynamics, exhibits higher rates in sites with less recovery. Furthermore, we demonstrate the utility of forest structure indicators, such as above-ground biomass, in inferring successional dynamics when the time since the last disturbance is unknown. The study emphasizes the importance of considering disturbances in comprehending the intricate interplay between the environment and forest dynamics in secondary forests.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tree mortality and recruitment in secondary Andean tropical mountain forests along a 3000 m elevation gradient

Ordoñez,

Pinto,

Bernardi

et al. 2024

PLoS ONE

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“…Despite these clearly defined targets and guidelines (Di Sacco et al, 2021), restoration outcomes vary widely, with multiple failures to establish target ecosystems (Banin et al, 2023;Brancalion & Holl, 2020;Brudvig & Catano, 2021;Dudney et al, 2022). Examples of ecological failures, that is attributed to biotic and abiotic ecological constraints, include poor survival of planted or naturally regenerating trees in forest restoration (Banin et al, 2023;Christmann et al, 2023;Kodikara et al, 2017;Magaju et al, 2020), no population growth of targeted fish species in lake or coral reef restoration (Boström-Einarsson et al, 2020;Fox et al, 2019;Graham et al, 2013) and failure to restore non-turbid water conditions in lake restoration (Gulati et al, 2008;Jilbert et al, 2020;Søndergaard et al, 2007).…”

Section: Backg Rou N D 1| Complex System Science Concepts In An Era O...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Explore before you restore: Incorporating complex systems thinking in ecosystem restoration

Maes,

Perring,

Cohen

et al. 2024

Journal of Applied Ecology

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The global movement for ecosystem restoration has gained momentum in response to the Bonn Challenge (2010) and the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (UNDER, 2021–2030). While several science‐based guidelines exist to aid in achieving successful restoration outcomes, significant variation remains in the outcomes of restoration projects. Some of this disparity can be attributed to unexpected responses of ecosystem components to planned interventions. Given the complex nature of ecosystems, we propose that concepts from Complex Systems Science (CSS) that are linked to non‐linearity, such as regime shifts, ecological resilience and ecological feedbacks, should be employed to help explain this variation in restoration outcomes from an ecological perspective. Our framework, Explore Before You Restore, illustrates how these concepts impact restoration outcomes by influencing degradation and recovery trajectories. Additionally, we propose incorporating CSS concepts into the typical restoration project cycle through a CSS assessment phase and suggest that the need for such assessment is explicitly included in the guidelines to improve restoration outcomes. To facilitate this inclusion and make it workable by practitioners, we describe indicators and methods available for restoration teams to answer key questions that should make up such CSS assessment. In doing so, we identify key outstanding science and policy tasks that are needed to further operationalize CSS assessment in restoration. Synthesis and applications. By illustrating how key Complex Systems Science (CSS) concepts linked to non‐linear threshold behaviour can impact restoration outcomes through influencing recovery trajectories, our framework Explore Before You Restore demonstrates the need to incorporate Complex Systems thinking in ecosystem restoration. We argue that inclusion of CSS assessment into restoration project cycles, and more broadly, into international restoration guidelines, may significantly improve restoration outcomes.

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“…Tropical montane forests have been identified as one of the most rapidly declining forest types in South America, mostly because of human land-use transformation for agriculture and livestock grazing (Armenteras et al, 2017). Restoration dynamics of these forests are often slow or stabilized in alternative successional stages (Christmann et al, 2023).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Systematic reduction in seed rain of large‐seeded and endozoochorous species in pastures compared to forests along a tropical elevational gradient

Acosta‐Rojas,

Barczyk,

Espinosa

et al. 2024

Applied Vegetation Science

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QuestionsHow do seed rain biomass and richness change from old‐growth tropical forests to pastures at different elevations? How do seed mass and seed dispersal mode change from forests to pastures across these elevations? What implications do these changes have for the recovery of deforested areas in tropical mountains?LocationOld‐growth montane forests and livestock pastures along an elevational gradient (1,000–3,000 m a.s.l.), located at Podocarpus National Park, San Francisco Reserve and surrounding agricultural lands, Andes of southern Ecuador.MethodsWe collected seed rain for a 3‐month period using 324 traps installed at eighteen 1‐ha plots across elevations. Half of the traps were installed in nine 1‐ha forest plots, and the other half in nine 1‐ha pasture plots. For each trap, we identified the seeds and measured seed rain biomass and richness. We also recorded seed traits and calculated community‐weighted means of seed mass and seed dispersal mode (proportion of endozoochory).ResultsForests received a higher seed rain biomass than pastures, but only at the lowest elevation. Seed rain richness did not differ between habitat types at all elevations. Community‐weighted means of seed mass and the proportion of endozoochorous species declined from forests to pastures, especially at the lower elevations.ConclusionsAlthough seed rain biomass and richness were overall similar between forests and pastures, large‐seeded and endozoochorous species were generally poorly represented in the seed rain of pastures compared with that of forests. These findings show that biomass and richness of seed rain may be insufficient to quantify the restoration potential of natural seed rain in deforested areas. Information on seed traits, such as seed mass and seed dispersal mode, is important to optimize restoration efforts towards the regeneration of diverse old‐growth forests along elevational gradients in tropical mountains.

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Disrupted montane forest recovery hinders biodiversity conservation in the tropical Andes

Cited by 9 publications

References 100 publications

Tree mortality and recruitment in secondary Andean tropical mountain forests along a 3000 m elevation gradient

Tree mortality and recruitment in secondary Andean tropical mountain forests along a 3000 m elevation gradient

Explore before you restore: Incorporating complex systems thinking in ecosystem restoration

Systematic reduction in seed rain of large‐seeded and endozoochorous species in pastures compared to forests along a tropical elevational gradient

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