Global_LTR_Data.xlsx (94.09 kB)
Dataset: Global dominance of lianas over trees is driven by forest disturbance, climate, and topography
dataset
posted on 2023-12-20, 17:46 authored by Alain Senghor K. NguteAlain Senghor K. Ngute, David S Schoeman, Marion PfeiferMarion Pfeifer, Geertje M.F. van der Heijden, Oliver L Phillips, Michiel van Breugel, Mason J. Campbell, Christopher Chandler, Brian J. Enquist, Rachael V. Gallagher, Christoph Gehring, Jefferson S. Hall, Susan G.W. Laurance, William F. Laurance, Susan G Letcher, Wenyao Liu, Martin J.P. Sullivan, S Joseph Wright, Chunming Yuan, Andrew R. MarshallIn a meta-analysis, we use an unprecedented dataset, representing 556 unique locations worldwide, distributed across 44 countries and six continents to show for the first time that lianas (woody vines) thrive relatively better than trees when forests are disturbed, temperature increase, precipitation decrease, and particularly in tropical lowlands. We demonstrate that liana dominance can persist for decades post-disturbance and hinder the recovery of disturbed forests, especially when climate favours lianas. With implications for the global carbon sink, our findings suggest that degraded tropical forests with environmental conditions favouring lianas should be the highest priority to consider for restoration management.
