dc.contributor.author |
Rolo, Victor
|
|
dc.contributor.author |
Olivier, Pieter Ignatius
|
|
dc.contributor.author |
Pfeifer, Marion
|
|
dc.contributor.author |
Van Aarde, Rudi J.
|
|
dc.date.accessioned |
2017-11-24T07:10:23Z |
|
dc.date.issued |
2018-01 |
|
dc.description.abstract |
Changes in structure and functioning of tree communities in response to forest fragmentation may alter tropical forest’s capacity to store carbon and regulate climate. However, evidence for indirect effects of forest fragmentation on above – and belowground carbon pools through changes in forest biodiversity is scarce. Here we focus on understanding the relative importance of taxonomic and functional diversity and tree cover to explain above- and below-ground carbon stocks in coastal dune forest fragments. We surveyed tree species composition and structure in six coastal forest patches varying in size from 215 to 13350 ha, in Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa. For each fragment, we estimated carbon stocks of two pools, aboveground biomass (AGC) and soil organic carbon (SOC). We used structural equation models to test if and to what extent the effects of forest fragmentation on AGC and SOC were mediated by tree cover and taxonomic and functional diversity. Our results showed that forest fragmentation directly reduced AGC, but increased SOC. In contrast, forest fragmentation indirectly, through decreasing functional diversity, increased AGC, but decreased SOC. Small patches therefore had few tree species that were functional similar and had high AGC, but low SOC, which led to a negative relationship between species richness and AGC. Tree cover was not affected by fragmentation, and had a direct positive effect on AGC but not on SOC. Our results suggest that forest fragmentation simultaneously affect multiple processes which directly and indirectly affects carbon stocks of different pools. Fragmentation may trigger a process of biotic homogenization, in which a few species are positively related with carbon storage above-, but not below-ground. |
en_ZA |
dc.description.department |
Zoology and Entomology |
en_ZA |
dc.description.embargo |
2019-01-01 |
|
dc.description.librarian |
hj2017 |
en_ZA |
dc.description.sponsorship |
V. Rolo and P.I. Olivier are supported by post-doctoral grants from the National Research Foundation (NRF) of South Africa. This work was also partly funded by an Ecologists in Africa grant by the British Ecological Society to P.I. Olivier. R.J. van Aarde is supported by Richards Bay Minerals, NRF and the Technology and Human Resources for Industry Programme (THRIP). M. Pfeifer was supported by European Research Council Project number 281986. |
en_ZA |
dc.description.uri |
http://www.elsevier.com/locate/foreco |
en_ZA |
dc.identifier.citation |
Rolo, V., Olivier, P.I., Pfeifer, M. & Van Aarde, R.J. 2017, 'Functional diversity mediates contrasting direct and indirect effects of fragmentation on below- and above-ground carbon stocks of coastal dune forests', Forest Ecology and Management, vol. 407, pp. 174-183. |
en_ZA |
dc.identifier.issn |
0378-1127 (print) |
|
dc.identifier.issn |
1872-7042 (online) |
|
dc.identifier.other |
10.1016/j.foreco.2017.10.059 |
|
dc.identifier.uri |
http://hdl.handle.net/2263/63329 |
|
dc.language.iso |
en |
en_ZA |
dc.publisher |
Elsevier |
en_ZA |
dc.rights |
© 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. Notice : this is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Forest Ecology and Management. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. A definitive version was subsequently published in Forest Ecology and Management, vol. 407, pp. 174-183, 2018. doi : 10.1016/j.foreco.2017.10.059. |
en_ZA |
dc.subject |
Aboveground biomass (AGC) |
en_ZA |
dc.subject |
Soil organic carbon (SOC) |
en_ZA |
dc.subject |
Piecewise structural equation models |
en_ZA |
dc.subject |
Functional traits |
en_ZA |
dc.subject |
Fragmented landscapes |
en_ZA |
dc.subject |
Carbon sequestration |
en_ZA |
dc.subject |
Biodiversity homogenization |
en_ZA |
dc.subject |
Biodiversity |
en_ZA |
dc.subject |
South Africa (SA) |
en_ZA |
dc.subject |
KwaZulu-Natal |
en_ZA |
dc.subject |
Taxonomy |
en_ZA |
dc.subject |
Species richness |
en_ZA |
dc.subject |
Landscape change |
en_ZA |
dc.subject |
Homogeneity |
en_ZA |
dc.subject |
Functional change |
en_ZA |
dc.subject |
Fragmentation |
en_ZA |
dc.subject |
Forest ecosystem |
en_ZA |
dc.subject |
Dune |
en_ZA |
dc.subject |
Tree species composition |
en_ZA |
dc.subject |
Structural equation modelling (SEM) |
en_ZA |
dc.subject |
Forest fragmentation |
en_ZA |
dc.subject |
Biotic homogenization |
en_ZA |
dc.subject |
Organic carbon |
en_ZA |
dc.subject |
Lakes |
en_ZA |
dc.title |
Functional diversity mediates contrasting direct and indirect effects of fragmentation on below- and above-ground carbon stocks of coastal dune forests |
en_ZA |
dc.type |
Postprint Article |
en_ZA |