The Impacts of Droughts in Tropical Forests

Trends Plant Sci. 2016 Jul;21(7):584-593. doi: 10.1016/j.tplants.2016.02.003. Epub 2016 Mar 16.

Abstract

Tropical forests exchange more carbon dioxide (CO2) with the atmosphere than any other vegetation type and, thus, form a crucial component of the global carbon cycle. However, the impacts of anthropogenic climate change on drought occurrence and intensity could weaken the tropical forest carbon sink, with resulting feedback to future climates. We urgently need a better understanding of the mechanisms and processes involved to predict future responses of tropical forest carbon sequestration to climate change. Recent progress has been made in the study of drought responses at the molecular, cellular, organ, individual, species, community, and landscape levels. Although understanding of the mechanisms is incomplete, the models used to predict drought impacts could be significantly improved by incorporating existing knowledge.

Keywords: carbon sink; climate change; drought; tree mortality; tropical forest.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Carbon Dioxide / metabolism
  • Climate Change
  • Droughts*
  • Forests
  • Models, Theoretical
  • Trees / metabolism*
  • Tropical Climate

Substances

  • Carbon Dioxide