AsianScientist (May 22, 2014) – An international collaboration including scientists from Taiwan and Malaysia has found that certain species of trees in Bornean rainforests achieve faster wood growth rates than even the most productive forests in the Amazon. The research, published in the Journal of Ecology, suggests that these trees may play an important role in mitigating global warming through carbon sequestration.
Previous studies have suggested that trees are taller for a given diameter in Southeast Asia than in South America. This means that the trees gain more biomass per unit of diameter growth, or have a higher above-ground wood production (AGWP).
Dr. Lindsay Banin, an ecologist at the UK’s Center for Ecology & Hydrology, led the team in a comparative study of AGWP in north-west Amazon and in north Borneo, two regions sharing common tropical climates. They found that Bornean forests exhibited a 50 percent higher AGWP, which is attributable to the abundance of large trees as well as differences in a measurement known as height-diameter allometry. This difference amounts to 3.2 tons of wood per hectare per year.
Even though these attributes may in turn be due to the greater solar radiation in equatorial Borneo, the team’s study also suggested the possibility of floristic elements at work.
“In Borneo, dipterocarps – a family of large trees with winged seeds – produce wood more quickly than their neighbors. This means that they have evolved something special and unique – what exactly this is remains a mystery. Dipterocarps are known to make special relationships with fungi in the soil, so they may be able to tap into scarce nutrient resources. Or, they may be trading off growth of other plant parts,” explained Dr. Banin.
For trees, a high AGWP indicates a greater carbon uptake. Tropical rainforests such as Borneo and Amazon are known to store large quantities of carbon dioxide, helping to slow down global warming. Understanding the reasons behind the differences in AGWP levels between both forests will offer knowledge about regional carbon emission levels, which can spur actions to better tackle global warming.
The article can be found at: Banin et al. (2014) Tropical forest wood production: a cross-continental comparison.
——-
Source: Center for Ecology & Hydrology.
Disclaimer: This article does not necessarily reflect the views of AsianScientist or its staff.
