Publications
Found 156 publication(s)
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Murkute, C.P.; Sayeed, M.; Pucha-Cofrep, F.; Carrillo-Rojas, G.; Homeier, J.; Limberger, O.; Fries, A.; Bendix, J. & Trachte, K. (2024): Turbulent Energy and Carbon Fluxes in an Andean Montane Forest—Energy Balance and Heat Storage. Forests 15(10), 1828.
Schoen, J.; Keuth, R.; Homeier, J.; Limberger, O.; Bendix, J.; Farwig, N. & Brandl, R. (2024): Do leaf traits shape herbivory in tropical montane rainforests? A multispecies approach. Ecosphere 15(10), 1-15.
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DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.70018
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Abstract:
Abstract:
The co-evolutionary arms race between herbivores and plants forces plants to evolve protection strategies that reduce the palatability of the plant modules attacked by the herbivores. These characteristics of traits have consequences for both the survival of plant individuals and the composition of plant communities. Thus, correlating traits of for instance leaves with herbivory is an important step toward understanding the dynamics of plant populations and communities. Traits can either be measured using conventional lab methods or recently developed spectral sensing techniques. We examined whether leaf traits of trees are related to herbivory in a multispecies approach. Furthermore, we explored whether leaf traits characterized by spectral sensing provide similar relations to herbivory as lab-based leaf traits. We established nine 1-ha square plots evenly distributed over three different forest types in Ecuadorian tropical montane rainforests where we estimated herbivory as the leaf area loss (in square centimeters) of 20 (±5) leaves sampled from the canopies of 380 tree individuals belonging to 51 tree species (7 ± 1 individuals/species) using lab- and spectral-sensing-based methods. For each methodological approach, we ran 100 linear mixed-effects models with all respective leaf traits as predictor and herbivory as response variables for data subsets containing one randomly selected tree individual of each species to estimate the range of the regression coefficients for each trait. Automated stepwise backward selections determined the frequency of each trait having an important influence on herbivory. We found no clear relations between leaf traits and herbivory for neither lab- nor spectral-sensing-based traits. A nested variance component analysis demonstrated that the observed variability was mainly due to the variation in trait concentrations between tree individuals of a species. Our results suggest that snapshot data lead to a mismatch between herbivory and the concentrations of traits during the peak of herbivory. Another explanation could be that environmental conditions or processes along the food web are more important in structuring herbivory than leaf traits.
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Keywords: |
Ecuador |
herbivory |
leaf area loss |
plant defense |
plant nutrients |
secondary metabolites |
spectral sensing |
Urgilés, G.; Celleri, R.; Bendix, J. & Orellana-Alvear, J. (2024): Identification of spatio-temporal patterns in extreme rainfall events in the Tropical Andes: A clustering analysis approach. Meteorological Applications 31(5), e70005.
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DOI: 10.1002/met.70005
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Abstract:
Abstract:
High spatio-temporal variability is a characteristic of extreme rainfall. In
mountainous regions like the Tropical Andes, where intricate orography and
mesoscale atmospheric dynamics greatly impact rainfall systems, this particularly
holds for mountain areas like the Tropical Andes. Thus, the absence of
operational rainfall monitoring networks with high spatio-temporal resolution
has imposed difficulties for a proper analysis of extreme rainfall events in the
Ecuadorian Andes. Nowhere, we present our improved knowledge on rainfall
extremes based on newly available rainfall radar data of this region. In our
study we employ a clustering approach to identify types of extreme rainfall
events and analyze their spatio-temporal characteristics. Based on 3 years of
data obtained from an X-band scanning weather radar data, the study was conducted
in the southern Ecuadorian Tropical Andes at 4450 m a.s.l. By applying
a rainfall threshold, 67 extreme rainfall events were selected. The rainfall characteristics
of each extreme rainfall event, such as the amount of rain, its duration,
its hour, and month of occurrence were determined and used as input
variables of a k-means clustering analysis to group the events into different
classes. The result revealed three main classes of extreme rainfall events. The
first class is characterized by highest rain intensity and lowest duration. The
second class is characterized by its month of occurrence, during the first
5 months of the year. The third class showed lowest rain intensity and highest
duration mainly occurred at higher elevations. The typology of events
advances our understanding of the spatio-temporal characteristics of extreme
rainfall in the Tropical Andes.
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Keywords: |
classification |
rainfall |
Tropical Andes |
weather radar |
Cordova, M.; Orellana-Alvear, J.; Bendix, J.; Rollenbeck, R. & Celleri, R. (2024): Large-scale dynamics of extreme precipitation in the tropical Andes: combining weather radar observations and reanalysis data. Meteorology and Atmospheric Physics 136(4), 27.
Álvarez-Estrella, J.; Muñoz, P.; Bendix, J.; Contreras, P. & Celleri, R. (2024): Enhancing Peak Runoff Forecasting through Feature Engineering Applied to X-Band Radar Data. Water 16(7), 968.
Schoen, J.; Tiede, Y.; Becker, M.; Donoso, D.A.; Homeier, J.; Limberger, O.; Bendix, J.; Farwig, N. & Brandl, R. (2023): Effects of leaf traits of tropical trees on the abundance and body mass of herbivorous arthropod communities. PLOS ONE -(-), 1 - 21.
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DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0288276
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Abstract:
Abstract:
In tropical forests, herbivorous arthropods remove between 7% up to 48% of leaf area,
which has forced plants to evolve defense strategies. These strategies influence the palat-
ability of leaves. Palatability, which reflects a syndrome of leaf traits, in turn influences both
the abundance and the mean body mass not only of particular arthropod taxa but also of the
total communities. In this study, we tested two hypotheses: (H1) The abundance of two
important chewer guilds (‘leaf chewers’ and ‘rostrum chewers’), dominant components of
arthropod communities, is positively related to the palatability of host trees. (H2) Lower pal-
atability leads to an increased mean body mass of chewers (Jarman-Bell principle). Arthro-
pods were collected by fogging the canopies of 90 tropical trees representing 31 species in
three plots at 1000 m and three at 2000 m a.s.l. Palatability was assessed by measuring
several ‘leaf traits’ of each host tree and by conducting a feeding trial with the generalist her-
bivore Gryllus assimilis (Orthoptera, Gryllidae). Leaf traits provided partial support for H1, as
abundance of leaf chewers but not of rostrum chewers was positively affected by the experi-
mentally estimated palatability. There was no support for H2 as neither leaf traits nor experi-
mentally estimated palatability affected the mean body mass of leaf chewers. The mean
body mass of rostrum chewers was positively related to palatability. Thus, leaf traits and
experimentally estimated palatability influenced the abundance and mean body mass of
chewing arthropods on the community level. However, the data were not consistent with the
Jarman-Bell principle. Overall, our results suggest that the palatability of leaves is not
among the dominant factors influencing abundance and mean body mass of the community of chewing arthropod herbivores. If other factors, such as the microclimate, predation or fur-
ther (a-)biotic interactions are more important has to be analyzed in refined studies.
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Keywords: |
insect herbivores |
abundance |
morphological traits |
leaf functional traits |
Jarman-Bell principle |
leaf chewers |
rostrum chewers |
palatability |
Rollenbeck, R.; Orellana-Alvear, J.; Bendix, J.; Rodriguez, R.; Pucha-Cofrep, F.; Guallpa, M.; Fries, A. & Celleri, R. (2022): The Coastal El Niño Event of 2017 in Ecuador and Peru: A Weather Radar Analysis. Remote Sensing 14(4), 824.
Moses, J.; Peters, M.K.; Tiede, Y.; Mottl, O.; Donoso, D.A.; Farwig, N.; Fayle, T.M.; Novotny, V.; Sanders, N.J. & Klimes, P. (2023): Nutrient use by tropical ant communities varies among three extensive elevational gradients: A cross-continental comparison. Global Ecology and Biogeography n/a(n/a), -.
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DOI: 10.1111/geb.13757
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Abstract:
Abstract:
Abstract Aim Many studies demonstrate that climate limits invertebrates along tropical elevational gradients, but we have only a rudimentary understanding of the role of nutrient limitation and climatic seasonality. Here we examined the relationships between ant community structure, nutrient use and season along three undisturbed elevational gradients, each from a different continent. Location Ecuador (South America), Papua New Guinea (PNG: Oceania), Tanzania (Africa). Time period 2011–2014. Major taxa studied Ants. Methods Along each of the three gradients, we placed six distinct nutrient types (amino acid, sucrose, sucrose + amino acid, lipid, NaCl, H2O). In total, we distributed 2370 baits at 38 sites from 203 m to 3972 m. We used generalized linear models to test for the effects of elevation and season on ant species richness and activity and relative nutrient use. We also tested if changes in ant trophic guilds corresponded to changes in the use of particular nutrients. Results Both species richness and activity decreased with elevation along each gradient. However, there were significant interaction effects among elevation, region and season, as ant activity in the dry season was higher in Ecuador and Tanzania but lower in PNG. Relative nutrient use varied among regions: ant preference for some nutrients changed with increasing elevation in Ecuador (decrease in lipid use) and Tanzania (decrease in amino acid and H2O use), while season affected nutrient use in PNG. There were common trends in trophic guilds along the three elevational gradients (e.g. proportional increase of predators), but these did not explain most of the nutrient use patterns. Main conclusion While the structure of ant communities changed similarly with elevation, both the seasonal and elevational effects on nutrient use by ants differed between continents. We argue that regional differences in climate and nutrient availability rather than ant functional composition shape nutrient use by ants.
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Keywords: |
nutrient use |
Formicidae |
elevational gradients |
feeding preference |
foraging |
functional group |
intercontinental differences |
invertebrates |
seasonal shifts |
tropical forests |
Acosta Rojas, D.C.; Barczyk, M.; Espinosa, C.I.; Farwig, N.; Homeier, J.; Tiede, Y.; Velescu, A.; Tinoco, B.A.; Wilcke, W.; Neuschulz, E.L. & Schleuning, M. (2023): Abiotic factors similarly shape the distribution of fruit, seed and leaf traits in tropical fleshy-fruited tree communities. Acta Oecologica 121, 103953.
Wurz, A.; Bendix, J.; Homeier, J.; Matt, F.; Paladines, P.; Serrano, F. & Farwig, N. (2023): A hidden gem in the Tumbesian dry forest in southern Ecuador: Estacon Cientfica Laipuna. ECOTROPICA 25(1/2), -.
Raffelsbauer, V.; Pucha-Cofrep, F.; Strobl, S.; Knüsting, J.; Schorsch, M.; Trachte, K.; Scheibe, R.; Bräuning, A.; Windhorst, D.; Bendix, J.; Silva, B. & Beck, E. (2023): Trees with anisohydric behavior as main drivers of nocturnal evapotranspiration in a tropical mountain rainforest. PloS ONE 18(3), 1-1.
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DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0282397
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Abstract:
Abstract:
This study addresses transpiration in a tropical evergreen mountain forest in the Ecuadorian
Andes from the leaf to the stand level, with emphasis on nocturnal plant-water relations. The
stand level: Evapotranspiration (ET) measured over 12 months with the Eddy-Covariance
(ECov) technique proved as the major share (79%) of water received from precipitation. Irre-
spective of the humid climate, the vegetation transpired day and night. On average, 15.3%
of the total daily ET were due to nocturnal transpiration. Short spells of drought increased
daily ET, mainly by enhanced nighttime transpiration. Following leaf transpiration rather
than air temperature and atmospheric water vapor deficit, ET showed its maximum already
in the morning hours. The tree level: Due to the humid climate, the total water consumption
of trees was generally low. Nevertheless, xylem sap flux measurements separated the
investigated tree species into a group showing relatively high and another one with low sap
flux rates. The leaf level: Transpiration rates of Tapirira guianensis, a member of the high-
flux-rate group, were more than twice those of Ocotea aciphylla, a representative of the
group showing low sap flux rates. Representatives of the Tapirira group operated at a rela-
tively high leaf water potential but with a considerable diurnal amplitude, while the leaves of
the Ocotea group showed low water potential and small diurnal fluctuations. Overall, the
Tapirira group performed anisohydrically and the Ocotea group isohydrically. Grouping of
the tree species by their water relations complied with the extents of the diurnal stem circum-
ference fluctuations. Nighttime transpiration and hydrological type: In contrast to the isohy-
drically performing trees of the Ocotea group, the anisohydric trees showed considerable
water vapour pressure deficit (VPD)-dependent nocturnal transpiration. Therefore, we con-
clude that nighttime ET at the forest level is mainly sourced by the tree species with aniso-
hydric performance.
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Keywords: |
dendrometer |
Evapotranspiration |
Sap flux |
Eddy covariance |
Muñoz, P.; Orellana-Alvear, J.; Bendix, J.; Feyen, J. & Celleri, R. (2021): Flood Early Warning Systems Using Machine Learning Techniques: The Case of the Tomebamba Catchment at the Southern Andes of Ecuador. Hydrology 8(4), -.
Wallis, C.; Tiede, Y.; Beck, E.; Boehning-Gaese, K.; Brandl, R.; Donoso, D.A.; Espinosa, C.; Fries, A.; Homeier, J.; Inclan, D.; Leuschner, C.; Maraun, M.; Mikolajewski, K.; Neuschulz, E.L.; Scheu, S.; Schleuning, M.; Suárez, J.P.; Tinoco, B.A.; Farwig, N. & Bendix, J. (2021): Biodiversity and ecosystem functions depend on environmental conditions and resources rather than the geodiversity of a tropical biodiversity hotspot. Scientific Reports 11(1), 24530.
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DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-03488-1
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Abstract:
Abstract:
Biodiversity and ecosystem functions are highly threatened by global change. It has been proposed that geodiversity can be used as an easy-to-measure surrogate of biodiversity to guide conservation management. However, so far, there is mixed evidence to what extent geodiversity can predict biodiversity and ecosystem functions at the regional scale relevant for conservation planning. Here, we analyse how geodiversity computed as a compound index is suited to predict the diversity of four taxa and associated ecosystem functions in a tropical mountain hotspot of biodiversity and compare the results with the predictive power of environmental conditions and resources (climate, habitat, soil). We show that combinations of these environmental variables better explain species diversity and ecosystem functions than a geodiversity index and identified climate variables as more important predictors than habitat and soil variables, although the best predictors differ between taxa and functions. We conclude that a compound geodiversity index cannot be used as a single surrogate predictor for species diversity and ecosystem functions in tropical mountain rain forest ecosystems and is thus little suited to facilitate conservation management at the regional scale. Instead, both the selection and the combination of environmental variables are essential to guide conservation efforts to safeguard biodiversity and ecosystem functions.
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Keywords: |
Biodiversity |
geodiversity |
Velescu, A.; Homeier, J.; Bendix, J.; Valarezo, C. & Wilcke, W. (2021): Response of water-bound fluxes of potassium, calcium, magnesium and sodium to nutrient additions in an Ecuadorian tropical montane forest. Forest Ecology and Management 501(119661), 1-14.
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DOI: 10.1016/j.foreco.2021.119661
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Abstract:
Abstract:
In the past two decades, the Amazon-exposed, tropical montane rain forests in south Ecuador experienced increasing deposition of reactive N mainly from Amazonian forest fires, episodic Ca and Mg inputs from Saharan dust, and a low but constant P deposition from unknown sources. To explore the response of this tropical, perhumid ecosystem to nutrient inputs, we established in 2007 a Nutrient Manipulation Experiment (NUMEX). Since 2008, we have applied 50 kg ha−1 year−1 of N as urea, 10 kg ha−1 year−1 of P as NaH2PO4·H2O, 50 kg ha−1 year−1 of N + 10 kg ha−1 year−1 of P and 10 kg ha−1 year−1 of Ca as CaCl2·H2O in a randomized block design at 2000 m a.s.l. in a natural forest of the south Ecuadorian Andes. Previous studies have shown that alkali and alkaline earth metals had beneficial effects on the functioning of N and P co-limited tropical forests occurring on acidic soils. Therefore, we determined the response of all major aqueous ecosystem fluxes of K, Ca, Mg and Na to nutrient amendments, to understand how increasing atmospheric deposition would affect their cycling in the future. Additions of N and P decreased K leaching from the organic layer and in the mineral soil, thus tightening K cycling. This suggests that increasing future N and P availability may result in K limitation in the long term. The leaching of Ca and Mg from the canopy increased in response to amendments of N and P and we observed an enhanced uptake of these nutrients also if Ca was amended alone. Although N was applied as urea, acidity of soil solutions and leaching of K, Ca, Mg and Na did not increase following separate N amendments. In spite of the acid soils and of its low cation-exchange competitivity, Na included in the P fertilizer was only partly leached from the organic layer. We suggest that it was probably required to cover an unmet Na demand of the soil fauna. Our results demonstrate the major role in the functioning of the tropical montane forests played by K, Ca and Mg as potential future growth-limiting elements and increasingly required nutrients in response to rising N and P availability, while they also support the importance of Na as a functional element in these ecosystems.
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Keywords: |
Ecuador |
NUMEX |
nutrient manipulation |
tropical montane forest |
nutrient additions |
base cations |
Seibold, S.; Rammer, W.; Hothorn, T.; Seidl, R.; Ulyshen, M.D.; Lorz, J.; Cadotte, M.W.; Lindenmayer, D.B.; Adhikari, Y.P.; Aragón, R.; Bae, S.; Baldrian, P.; Barimani Varandi, H.; Barlow, J.; Bässler, C.; Beauchene, J.; Berenguer, E.; Bergamin, R.S.; Birkemoe, T.; Boros, G.; Brandl, R.; Brustel, H.; Burton, P.J.; Cakpo-Tossou, Y.T.; Castro, J.; Cateau, E.; Cobb, T.P.; Farwig, N.; Fernández, R.D.; Firn, J.; Gan, K.S.; González, G.; Gossner, M.M.; Habel, J.C.; Hébert, C.; Heibl, C.; Heikkala, O.; Hemp, A.; Hemp, C.; Hjältén, J.; Hotes, S.; Kouki, J.; Lachat, T.; Liu, J.; Liu, Y.; Luo, Y.; Macandog, D.M.; Martina, P.E.; Mukul, S.A.; Nachin, B.; Nisbet, K.; O’Halloran, J.; Oxbrough, A.; Pandey, J.N.; Pavlíček, T.; Pawson, S.M.; Rakotondranary, J.S.; Ramanamanjato, J.; Rossi, L.; Schmidl, J.; Schulze, M.; Seaton, S.; Stone, M.J.; Stork, N.E.; Suran, B.; Sverdrup-Thygeson, A.; Thorn, S.; Thyagarajan, G.; Wardlaw, T.J.; Weisser, W.; Yoon, S.; Zhang, N. & Müller, J. (2021): The contribution of insects to global forest deadwood decomposition. Nature 597(7874), 77-81.
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DOI: 10.1038/s41586-021-03740-8
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Abstract:
Abstract:
The amount of carbon stored in deadwood is equivalent to about 8per cent of the global forest carbon stocks1. The decomposition of deadwood is largely governed by climate2–5 with decomposer groups—such as microorganisms and insects—contributing to variations in the decomposition rates2,6,7. At the global scale, the contribution of insects to the decomposition of deadwood and carbon release remains poorly understood7. Here we present a field experiment of wood decomposition across 55 forest sites and 6 continents. We find that the deadwood decomposition rates increase with temperature, and the strongest temperature effect is found at high precipitation levels. Precipitation affects the decomposition rates negatively at low temperatures and positively at high temperatures. As a net effect—including the direct consumption by insects and indirect effects through interactions with microorganisms—insects accelerate the decomposition in tropical forests (3.9% median mass loss per year). In temperate and boreal forests, we find weak positive and negative effects with a median mass loss of 0.9per cent and −0.1per cent per year, respectively. Furthermore, we apply the experimentally derived decomposition function to a global map of deadwood carbon synthesized from empirical and remote-sensing data, obtaining an estimate of 10.93.2petagram of carbon per year released from deadwood globally, with 93per cent originating from tropical forests. Globally, the net effect of insects may account for 29per cent of the carbon flux from deadwood, which suggests a functional importance of insects in the decomposition of deadwood and the carbon cycle.
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Keywords: |
Biodiversity |
Climate and Earth system modelling |
Ecosystem ecology |
Forest ecology |
Limberger, O.; Homeier, J.; Farwig, N.; Pucha-Cofrep, F.; Fries, A.; Leuschner, C.; Trachte, K. & Bendix, J. (2021): Classification of Tree Functional Types in a Megadiverse Tropical Mountain Forest from Leaf Optical Metrics and Functional Traits for Two Related Ecosystem Functions. Forests 12(5), 649.
Tiede, Y.; Hemp, C.; Schmidt, A.; Nauss, T.; Farwig, N. & Brandl, R. (2018): Beyond body size: consistent decrease of traits within orthopteran assemblages with elevation. Ecology 0(0), 1-13.
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DOI: 10.1002/ecy.2436
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Abstract:
Abstract:
Morphological traits provide the interface between species and their environment. For example, body size affects the fitness of individuals in various ways. Yet especially for ectotherms, the applicability of general rules of interspecific clines of body size and even more so of other morphological traits is still under debate. Here we tested relationships between elevation (as a proxy for temperature) and productivity with four ecologically relevant morphological traits of orthopteran assemblages that are related to fecundity (body size), dispersal (wing length), jumping ability (hind femur length), and predator detection (eye size). We measured traits of 160 orthopteran species that were sampled along an extensive environmental gradient at Mt. Kilimanjaro (Tanzania), spanning elevations from 790 to 4,410 m above sea level (a.s.l.) with different levels of plant productivity. For traits other than body size, we calculated the residuals from a regression on body length to estimate the variation of traits irrespective of body size. Bayesian analyses revealed that mean body size of assemblages, as well as the means of relative wing length, hind femur length, and eye size, decreased with increasing elevation. Body size and relative eye size also decreased with increasing productivity. Both phylogenetic relationships, as well as species‐specific adaptations, contributed to these patterns. Our results suggest that orthopteran assemblages had higher fecundity and better dispersal and escape abilities, as well as better predator detection at higher temperatures (low elevations) than at low temperatures (high elevations). Large body sizes might be advantageous in habitats with low productivity because of a reduced risk of starvation. Likewise, large eye size might be advantageous because of the ability to detect predators in habitats with low vegetation cover, where hiding possibilities are scarce. Our study highlights that changes in temperature and productivity not only lead to interspecific changes in body size but are also related to independent changes of other morphological traits that influence the ecological fit of organisms in their environment.
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Keywords: |
body size |
eleva |
morphological traits |
vegetation index |
productivity |
resource availability hypothesis |
Astudillo Webster, P.X.; schabo, D.; Siddons, D. & Farwig, N. (2018): Patch-matrix movements of birds in the páramo landscape of the southern Andes of Ecuador. Emu - Austral Ornithology 67(2), 307-324.
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DOI: 10.13157/arla.67.2.2020.ra5
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Abstract:
Abstract:
Habitat loss and landscape fragmentation are important drivers of changes in biodiversity. In fragmented landscapes, bird species are able to use multiple forest patches that may therefore share an important portion of the regional biodiversity. In turn, these patches are linked through their shared bird diversity (i.e. species-habitat networks). Identifying the importance of nodes (e.g. forest patches) in species-habitat networks is increasingly important to improve conservation planning. Within this network approach, the relative importance of patches for birds can be identified via centrality indices-measures of the magnitude of shared bird diversity of patches across the entire network (i.e. patch centrality). Here, we tested for changes in patch centrality within bird species-patch networks of two habitat guilds, forest specialists and generalists, in relation to patch area, patch shape irregularity and within-patch habitat characteristics across 15 Polylepis woodland patches in a páramo landscape of southern Ecuador. Patch centrality for forest specialists decreased with greater influence of surrounding páramo plants, i.e. an increasing proportion of bunch-grasses and small shrubs, in the within-patch habitat and was unaffected by either patch area or patch shape irregularity. On the other hand, patch centrality for generalists was positively influenced by patch shape irregularity but was unaffected by patch area or the influence of surrounding páramo plants in the within-patch habitat. Patch centrality reveals that the relative importance of Polylepis woodlands lies in their habitat quality. Forest specialists are dependent on mature Polylepis woodland patches, while generalists benefit from the natural irregular shape of the woodlands. Finally, a species-habitat network approach facilitates the recognition of important Polylepis patches and their characteristics for conservation of the Andean bird community at a landscape scale.
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Keywords: |
Paramo |
Polylepis |
bird habitat guilds |
native woody plants |
stepping-stone movements |
Bendix, J.; Aguirre, N.; Beck, E.; Bräuning, A.; Brandl, R.; Breuer, L.; Boehning-Gaese, K.; Dantas De Paula, M.; Hickler, T.; Homeier, J.; Inclan, D.; Leuschner, C.; Neuschulz, E.; Schleuning, M.; Suarez, J.P.; Trachte, K.; Wilcke, W. & Farwig, N. (2021): A research framework for projecting ecosystem change in highly diverse tropical mountain ecosystems. Oecologia 2021, 1-13.
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DOI: 10.1007/s00442-021-04852-8
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Abstract:
Abstract:
Tropical mountain ecosystems are threatened by climate and land-use changes. Their diversity and complexity make projec-
tions how they respond to environmental changes challenging. A suitable way are trait-based approaches, by distinguishing
between response traits that determine the resistance of species to environmental changes and efect traits that are relevant
for species’ interactions, biotic processes, and ecosystem functions. The combination of those approaches with land surface
models (LSM) linking the functional community composition to ecosystem functions provides new ways to project the
response of ecosystems to environmental changes. With the interdisciplinary project RESPECT, we propose a research
framework that uses a trait-based response-efect-framework (REF) to quantify relationships between abiotic conditions,
the diversity of functional traits in communities, and associated biotic processes, informing a biodiversity-LSM. We apply
the framework to a megadiverse tropical mountain forest. We use a plot design along an elevation and a land-use gradient
to collect data on abiotic drivers, functional traits, and biotic processes. We integrate these data to build the biodiversity-
LSM and illustrate how to test the model. REF results show that aboveground biomass production is not directly related to
changing climatic conditions, but indirectly through associated changes in functional traits. Herbivory is directly related to
changing abiotic conditions. The biodiversity-LSM informed by local functional trait and soil data improved the simulation
of biomass production substantially. We conclude that local data, also derived from previous projects (platform Ecuador), are
key elements of the research framework. We specify essential datasets to apply this framework to other mountain ecosystems.
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Keywords: |
Biodiversity-Land-Surface-Model |
Wallis, C.; Homeier, J.; Pena Tamayo, J.E.; Brandl, R.; Farwig, N. & Bendix, J. (2019): Modeling tropical montane forest biomass, productivity and canopy traits with multispectral remote sensing data. Remote Sensing of Environment 225, 77 - 92.
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DOI: 10.1016/j.rse.2019.02.021
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Abstract:
Abstract:
Tropical montane forests, particularly Andean rainforest, are important ecosystems for regional carbon and water cycles as well as for biological diversity and speciation. Owing to their remoteness, however, ecological key-processes are less understood as in the tropical lowlands. Remote sensing allows modeling of variables related to spatial patterns of carbon stocks and fluxes (e.g., biomass) and ecosystem functioning (e.g., functional leaf traits). However, at a landscape scale most studies conducted so far are based on airborne remote sensing data which is often available only locally and for one time-point. In contrast, multispectral satellites at moderate spectral and spatial resolutions are able to provide spatially continuous and repeated observations. Here, we investigated the effectiveness of Landsat-8 imagery in modeling tropical montane forest biomass, its productivity and selected canopy traits. Topographical, spectral and textural metrics were derived as predictors. To train and validate the models, in-situ data was sampled in 54 permanent plots in forests of southern Ecuador distributed within three study sites at 1000 m, 2000 m and 3000 m a.s.l. We used partial least squares regressions to model and map all response variables. Along the whole elevation gradient biomass and productivity models explained 31%, 43%, 69% and 63% of variance in aboveground biomass, annual wood production, fine litter production and aboveground net primary production, respectively. Regression models of canopy traits measured as community weighted means explained 62%, 78%, 65% and 65% of variance in leaf toughness, specific leaf area, foliar N concentration, and foliar P concentration, respectively. Models at single study sites hardly explained variation in aboveground biomass and the annual wood production indicating that these measures are mainly determined by the change of forest types along with elevation. In contrast, the models of fine litter production and canopy traits explained between 8%–85% in variation depending on the study site. We found spectral metrics, in particular a vegetation index using the red and the green band to provide complementary information to topographical metrics. The model performances for estimating leaf toughness, biochemical canopy traits and related fine litter production all improved when adding spectral information. Our findings therefore revealed that differences in fine litter production and canopy traits in our study area are driven by local changes in vegetation edaphically induced by topography. We conclude that Landsat-derived metrics are useful in modeling fine litter production and biochemical canopy traits, in a topographically and ecologically complex tropical montane forest.
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Keywords: |
Ecuador |
Aboveground forest productivity |
Ecosystem process |
Fine litter production |
Foliar N |
Foliar P |
Grey level co-occurrence texture |
Landsat-8 |
Leaf toughness |
Specific leaf area |
Annual wood production |
Astudillo Webster, P.X.; Grass, I.; Siddons, D.; schabo, D. & Farwig, N. (2020): Centrality in species-habitat networks reveals the importance of habitat quality for high-andeans birds in Polylepis woodlands. Ardeola 67(2), 307-324.
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DOI: 10.13157/arla.67.2.2020.ra5
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Abstract:
Abstract:
Habitat loss and landscape fragmentation are important drivers of changes in biodiversity. In fragmented landscapes, bird species are able to use multiple forest patches that may therefore share an important portion of the regional biodiversity. In turn, these patches are linked through their shared bird diversity (i.e. species-habitat networks). Identifying the importance of nodes (e.g. forest patches) in species-habitat networks is increasingly important to improve conservation planning. within this network approach, the relative importance of patches for birds can be identified via centrality indices-measures of the magnitude of shared bird diversity of patches across the entire network (i.e. patch centrality). here, we tested for changes in patch centrality within bird species-patch networks of two habitat guilds, forest specialists and generalists, in relation to patch area, patch shape irregularity and within-patch habitat characteristics across 15 Polylepis woodland patches in a páramo landscape of southern Ecuador. Patch centrality for forest specialists decreased with greater influence of surrounding páramo plants, i.e. an increasing proportion of bunch-grasses and small shrubs, in the within-patch habitat and was unaffected by either patch area or patch shape irregularity. On the other hand, patch centrality for generalists was positively influenced by patch shape irregularity but was unaffected by
patch area or the influence of surrounding páramo plants in the within-patch habitat. Patch centrality reveals that the relative importance of Polylepis woodlands lies in their habitat quality. Forest specialists are dependent on mature Polylepis woodland patches, while generalists benefit from the natural irregular shape of the woodlands. Finally, a species-habitat network approach facilitates the recognition of important Polylepis patches and their characteristics for conservation of the Andean bird communityat a landscape scale.
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Keywords: |
Ecuador |
Paramo |
Tropical Andes |
forest specialist |
habitat guild |
Beck, E.; Paladines, P.; Paladines, R.; Matt, F.; Farwig, N. & Bendix, J. (2019): Alexander von Humboldt would have loved it: Estación Científica San Francisco.. Ecotropica 21, 201 99.
Dugger, P.; Blendinger, P.; Boehning-Gaese, K.; Chama, L.; Correia, M.; Dehling, D.; Emer, C.; Farwig, N.; Fricke, E.; Galetti, M.; Garcia, D.; Grass, I.; Heleno, R.; Jacomassa, F.; Morales, S.; Moran, C.; Munoz, M.; Neuschulz, E.; Nowak, L.; Piratelli, A.; Pizo, M.; Quitian, M.; Rogers, H.; Ruggera, R.; Saveedra, F.; Sanchez, M.; Sanchez, R.; Santillan, V.; schabo, D.; Ribeiro da Silva, F.; Timoteo, S.; Traveset, A.; Vollstaedt, M. & Schleuning, M. (2019): Seed‐dispersal networks are more specialized in the Neotropics than in the Afrotropics. Global Ecology and Biogeography 28(2), 248-261.
Bogner, F.; Bendix, J. & Beck, E. 2019: El Bosque Tropical de Montaña - Hotspot de Biodiversidad. (Naturaleza y Cultura Internacional, (Loja, Ecuador).
Campozano, L.; Trachte, K.; Celleri, R.; Samaniego, E.; Bendix, J.; Cristóbal, A. & Mejia, J.F. (2018): Climatology and Teleconnections of Mesoscale Convective Systems in an Andean Basin in Southern Ecuador: The Case of the Paute Basin. Advances in Meteorology 2018, 1-13.
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DOI: 10.1155/2018/4259191
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Abstract:
Abstract:
Mesoscale convective systems (MCSs) climatology, the thermodynamic and dynamical variables, and teleconnections influencing MCSs development are assessed for the Paute basin (PB) in the Ecuadorian Andes from 2000 to 2009. The seasonality of MCSs occurrence shows a bimodal pattern, with higher occurrence during March-April (MA) and October-November (ON), analogous to the regional rainfall seasonality. The diurnal cycle of MCSs shows a clear nocturnal occurrence, especially during the MA and ON periods. Interestingly, despite the higher occurrence of MCSs during the rainy seasons, the monthly size relative frequency remains fairly constant throughout the year. On the east of the PB, the persistent high convective available potential and low convective inhibition values from midday to nighttime are likely related to the nocturnal development of the MCSs. A significant positive correlation between the MCSs occurrence to the west of the PB and the Trans-Niño index was found, suggesting that ENSO is an important source of interannual variability of MCSs frequency with increasing development of MCSs during warm ENSO phases. On the east of the PB, the variability of MCSs is positively correlated to the tropical Atlantic sea surface temperature anomalies south of the equator, due to the variability of the Atlantic subtropical anticyclone, showing main departures from this relation when anomalous conditions occur in the tropical Pacific due to ENSO.
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Keywords: |
Andes |
Meteorology |
Carrillo Rojas, G.; Silva, B.; Rollenbeck, R.; Celleri, R. & Bendix, J. (2018): The breathing of the Andean highlands: Net ecosystem exchange and evapotranspiration over the páramo of southern Ecuador. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology 265, 30-47.
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DOI: 10.1016/j.agrformet.2018.11.006
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Abstract:
Abstract:
Atmospheric carbon (CO2) exchange, evapotranspiration (ET) processes, and their interactions with climatic drivers across tropical alpine grasslands are poorly understood. This lack of understanding is particularly evident for the páramo, the highest vegetated frontier in the northern Andes, the main source of water for inter-Andean cities, and a large carbon storage area. Studies of CO2 and ET fluxes via the standard Eddy Covariance (EC) technique have never been applied to this region, limiting the understanding of diurnal / nocturnal exchanges and budget estimations. In this paper, we report the first EC analysis conducted on the Andean páramo (3765?m a.s.l.); this analysis measured CO2, ET, and micrometeorological variables over two years (2016–2018) to understand their interactions with climatic / biophysical controls. The páramo was found to be a source of CO2 and exhibited a net positive exchange (mean = +99?±?30 gC m?2 per year). The light-responses of net CO2 exchange and the primary productivity were correlated and model-parameterized. Evapotranspiration was 635?±?9?mm per year (51% of the annual rainfall total), and we obtained crop coefficients for the dominant vegetation (Tussock grass) based on reference-ET models FAO56 and ASCE-ERWI (0.90 and 0.78, respectively). We also compared our results to those from other high-altitude (alpine) and high-latitude grasslands (tundra). Finally, we demonstrate that our measurement period is representative of the páramo’s longer-term climate dynamics. Our investigation contributes to the body of knowledge on the land surface-atmosphere processes of the tropical Andes and supports decision-making about ecosystem services management and the preservation of this vulnerable biome.
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Keywords: |
Ecuador |
carbon |
Paramo |
Evapotranspiration |
Tropical Andes |
Eddy covariance |
Knüsting, J.; Brinkmann, M.C.; Silva, B.; Schorsch, M.; Bendix, J.; Beck, E. & Scheibe, R. (2018): Who will win where and why? An ecophysiological dissection of the competition between a tropical pasture grass and the invasive weed Bracken over an elevation range of 1000m in the tropical Andes. PlosOne 13, 1-24.
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DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0202255
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Abstract:
Abstract:
In tropical agriculture, the vigorously growing Bracken fern causes severe problems by
invading pastures and out-competing the common pasture grasses. Due to infestation by
that weed, pastures are abandoned after a few years, and as a fatal consequence, the biodi-
versity-rich tropical forest is progressively cleared for new grazing areas. Here we present a
broad physiological comparison of the two plant species that are the main competitors on
the pastures in the tropical Ecuadorian Andes, the planted forage grass Setaria sphacelata
and the weed Bracken (Pteridium arachnoideum).With increasing elevation, the competitive
power of Bracken increases as shown by satellite data of the study region. Using data
obtained from field measurements, the annual biomass production of both plant species, as
a measure of their competitive strength, was modeled over an elevational gradient from
1800 to 2800 m. The model shows that with increasing elevation, biomass production of the
two species shifts in favor of Bracken which, above 1800 m, is capable of outgrowing the
grass. In greenhouse experiments, the effects on plant growth of the presumed key vari-
ables of the elevational gradient, temperature and UV radiation, were separately analyzed.
Low temperature, as well as UV irradiation, inhibited carbon uptake of the C4-grass more
than that of the C3-plant Bracken. The less temperature-sensitive photosynthesis of
Bracken and its effective protection from UV radiation contribute to the success of the weed
on the highland pastures. In field samples of Bracken but not of Setaria, the content of flavo-
noids as UV-scavengers increased with the elevation. Combining modeling with measure-
ments in greenhouse and field allowed to explain the invasive growth of a common weed in
upland pastures. The performance of Setaria decreases with elevation due to suboptimal
photosynthesis at lower temperatures and the inability to adapt its cellular UV screen.
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Keywords: |
South Ecuador |
Bracken fern |
competition |
Gonzales-Jaramillo, V.; Fries, A.; Zeilinger, J.; Homeier, J.; Paladines, J. & Bendix, J. (2018): Estimation of Above Ground Biomass in a Tropical Mountain Forest in Southern Ecuador Using Airborne LiDAR Data. Remote Sensing 10, .
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DOI: 10.3390/rs10050660
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Abstract:
Abstract:
A reliable estimation of Above Ground Biomass (AGB) in Tropical Mountain Forest (TMF)
is still complicated, due to fast-changing climate and topographic conditions, which modifies the
forest structure within fine scales. The variations in vertical and horizontal forest structure are hardly
detectable by small field plots, especially in natural TMF due to the high tree diversity and the
inaccessibility of remote areas. Therefore, the present approach used remotely sensed data from a
Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) sensor in combination with field measurements to estimate
AGB accurately for a catchment in the Andes of south-eastern Ecuador. From the LiDAR data,
information about horizontal and vertical structure of the TMF could be derived and the vegetation at
tree level classified, differentiated between the prevailing forest types (ravine forest, ridge forest and
Elfin Forest). Furthermore, topographical variables (Topographic Position Index, TPI; Morphometric
Protection Index, MPI) were calculated by means of the high-resolution LiDAR data to analyse the
AGB distribution within the catchment. The field measurements included different tree parameters
of the species present in the plots, which were used to determine the local mean Wood Density
(WD) as well as the specific height-diameter relationship to calculate AGB, applying regional scale
modelling at tree level. The results confirmed that field plot measurements alone cannot capture
completely the forest structure in TMF but in combination with high resolution LiDAR data, applying
a classification at tree level, the AGB amount (Mg ha??1) and its distribution in the entire catchment
could be estimated adequately (model accuracy at tree level: R2 > 0.91). It was found that the AGB
distribution is strongly related to ridges and depressions (TPI) and to the protection of the site (MPI),
because high AGB was also detected at higher elevations (up to 196.6 Mg ha??1, above 2700 m), if the
site is situated in depressions (ravine forest) and protected by the surrounding terrain. In general,
highest AGB is stored in the protected ravine TMF parts, also at higher elevations, which could only
be detected by means of the remote sensed data in high resolution, because most of these areas are
inaccessible. Other vegetation units, present in the study catchment (pasture and subpáramo) do not
contain large AGB stocks, which underlines the importance of intact natural forest stands.
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Keywords: |
LiDAR |
AGB estimation |
Beck, E.; Knoke, T.; Farwig, N.; Breuer, L.; Siddons, D. & Bendix, J. 2017: Landscape Restoration, Sustainable Land Use and Cross-scale Monitoring of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Functions. A Science-directed Approach for South Ecuador. (Universität Bayreuth).
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DOI: 10.5678/lcrs/pak823-825.cit.1696
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Abstract:
Abstract:
In 201 3, the “Platform for Biodiversity and Ecosystem
Monitoring and Research in South Ecuador”
(www.TropicalMountainForest.org) was launched as a
knowledge transfer program in the biodiversity
hotspot of the southern Ecuadorian Andes, jointly
funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG)
and Ecuadorian non-university partners. One of the
overall aims of the transdisciplinary program is to
design science-directed recommendations for an
ecologically sustainable, economically profitable and
socially compatible use of the mainly rural land. The
second major goal of the program is the development
of functional indicators that are crucial for the
monitoring of impacts of environmental change on the
ecosystem and its functions. They encompass
abiotic, abiotic-biotic and biotic-biotic interrelations,
and are sensitive - though to different extent - to
subtle changes in the environment. Therefore, it is not
only the interaction per se, which has to be examined.
In addition to that the quantification of the response to
certain environmental stressors is needed.
Representing the fundament of ecosystem functioning,
biodiversity as such or certain functional taxa can
be monitored for an assessment of the ecosystem’s
state. Important further criteria for the selection of an
indicator are general applicability, easiness of
handling and stability against pitfalls.
This book “Landscape Restoration, Sustainable
Use and Cross-scale Monitoring of Biodiversity
and Ecosystem Functions: A Science-directed
Approach for South Ecuador” presents in its first
part a compilation of sustainable land use concepts
that have been proven for application in the Provinces
Loja and Zamora Chinchipe and beyond, given
comparable environmental conditions. The second
part describes functional indicators as well as their
development, monitoring and application.
Both parts start with introductory chapters on the
major aims of the respective transdisciplinary
program, followed by contributions showing how land
use concepts can be used to achieve sustainable
management and ecosystem services, as well as how
functional indicators can be used to assess and
monitor the stability of biodiversity and ecosystem
functions.
It should be stressed that this book has not the aim to
present only a scientific summary of the developed
systems. Instead, it targets on stakeholders as our
non-university partners and beyond which are in
charge of environmental planning and ecosystem
function surveillance in Ecuador. In the manner of a
technical handbook, it gives a comprehensible introduction
to the land use option or the indicator,
followed by hints how to apply, implement and assess
the developed systems. The book is and was
complementing our three pillars of capacity building
which also includes stakeholder workshops on the
developed land use options and indicators, and
demonstration plots in the field.
With this book the authors highly acknowledge the
generous funding of the research by the German
Science Foundation (DFG) and the logistic,
administrative and practical support by the foundation
Naturaleza y Cultura Internacional (Loja and Del
Mar). Such research requires also fruitful
collaboration with local academic institutions, the
Universidad Tecnica Particular de Loja, the
Universidad Nacional de Loja, the Universidad de
Cuenca, the Universidad de Azuay, and the local
weather service INAMHI. These partnerships were a
great experience in capacity building on both sides,
as evidenced by a number of academic degrees
obtained and by numerous joint publications. The
authors are also grateful for the support of our nonuniversity
research partners beyond NCI, namely
ETAPA EP (Empresa Pública Municipal de
Telecomunicaciones, Agua potable, lcantarillado y
Saneamiento de Cuenca- Ecuador), the Gobierno
Municipal de Zamora and the regional water fund
FORAGUA (Fondo Regional del Agua). Further,
sincere thanks are owed to the Ecuadorian Ministry of
the Environment (MAE) for permission to conduct
research in South Ecuador.
The Editors
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Keywords: |
sustainable land use |
Cross-scale Monitoring |
science-directed guidelines |
landscape restoration |
Oñate-Valdivieso, F.; Fries, A.; Mendoza, K.; Gonzales-Jaramillo, V.; Pucha Cofrep, F.; Rollenbeck, R. & Bendix, J. (2017): Temporal and spatial analysis of precipitation patterns in an Andean region of southern Ecuador using LAWR weather radar. Meteorology and Atmospheric Physics 129(295), 1-12.
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DOI: 10.1007/s00703-017-0535-8
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Abstract:
Abstract:
This paper focuses on the analysis of precipitation patterns, using a Local Area Weather Radar to collect information about the precipitation distribution in an Andean region of southern Ecuador (cities of Loja, Zamora and Catamayo). 54 representative events were selected to develop daily precipitation maps and to obtain their relevant characteristics, which were related to the topography and the season. The results showed that a strong correlation between the areas covered by precipitation (RA coefficient) and the season exists. In general, humid air masses come from the east (Amazon Basin), but during the main rainy season (December to April), humidity also frequently enters the study region from the west (Pacific Ocean). The rainy season is characterized by convective precipitation, associated with higher evaporation rates during austral summer. The relatively dry season is formed between May and November, but considerable precipitation amounts are registered, too, due to advective moisture transport from the Amazon Basin, a result of the predominant tropical easterlies carrying the humidity up the eastern escarpment of the Andes, generally following the natural course of the drainage systems.
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Keywords: |
Ecuador |
precipitation |
radar |