New Phytologist Foundation Keynote

The productivity, carbon dynamics and energetics of tropical forests: new insights from a global monitoring network

Tropical forests show strong geographical variation in ecosystem functions, but the role of climate, soils and biogeography in shaping these patterns remains unclear. I show results from our studies across the tropics as part of the GEM (Global Ecosystems Monitoring Network), exploring the factors that contribute to geographical variation in productivity and carbon cycling, their link to canopy traits and the possibility of mapping this geographical variation using satellite remote sensing. I then explore a case study along a logging gradient in Malaysian Borneo in more detail, describing how nutrient and carbon cycling vary with logging intensity and also what fraction of productivity ends up in birds and mammals. The energy analysis finds some surprising results, suggesting that logged forests can be more ecologically vibrant than expected and questioning the widespread use of the concept of degradation.