Research On Tropical Rainforests
Tropical Forests May Not Be Saving Us From Global Warming After All: Study
A six-year experiment in a rainforest at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Panama, Central America, found that dead plant material that falls to the ground in a tropical forest triggers an effect called "priming" where fresh carbon from plant litterfall provides energy to micro-organisms, which in turn stimulates the decomposition of carbon stored in the soil.
All told, large quantities of the carbon absorbed by the trees large in tropical forests could be lost from the soil. A 30% increase in litterfall is projected to release about 0.6 tons of carbon per hectare from lowland tropical forest soils each year.
Lead author Dr. Emma Sayer from the UK's Centre for Ecology & Hydrology said in a press statement, "Most estimates of the carbon sequestration capacity of tropical forests are based on measurements of tree growth. Our study demonstrates that interactions between plants and soil can have a massive impact on carbon cycling. Models of climate change must take these feedbacks into account to predict future atmospheric carbon dioxide levels."
Increased tree growth in tropical forests has been long believed to help offset the human-based introduction of carbon dioxide into the earth's atmosphere, but the study points out that enhanced tree growth could be cancelling out some of the effects by producing more litterfall.
"Soils are thought to be a long-term store for carbon but we have shown that these stores could be diminished if elevated carbon dioxide levels and nitrogen deposition boost plant growth," Sayer said.
"This priming effect essentially means that older, relatively stable soil carbon is being replaced by fresh carbon from dead plant matter, which is easily decomposed," said Co-author Dr Edmund Tanner, from the University of Cambridge.
"We still don't know what consequences this will have for carbon cycling in the long term.
Research On Tropical Rainforests - News
A six-year experiment in a rainforest at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Panama, Central America, found that dead plant material that falls to the ground in a tropical forest triggers an effect called "priming" where fresh carbon from
In fact, it is ironical that countries manufacturing such products are not as well endowed with herbal plants as Malaysia with its renowned tropical rainforest. Prof Dr Suhaila Mohamed from the Bioscience Institute of Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM)
The loss of such a significant prey source, as amphibians represent in many communities (eg, tropical forests, wetlands), the ripple effects and trophic cascades are sure to be astonishing, as preliminary research is now indicating.
Analysing case studies from the three main tropical forest regions, Latin America, Africa and Asia, the study shows that the benefits of community-based management can be seen over the long term leading to greater conservation participation,
Do you remember how last week we concluded so often forest climate studies have something strangely nonsensical? Here's yet another piece of evidence to back that up. It turns out an increase of litterfall (triangles in graph) – due to a suspected
Visit La Selva Biological Station in Costa Rica: Lowland Tropical ...
La Selva consists of nearly 4,000 hectares of tropical forest in the eastern foothills of Costa Rica. One of three biological stations in Costa Rica owned and operated by the Organization of Tropical Studies, La Selva offers one of the most diverse ranges of species found nowhere.
The Organization for Tropical StudiesA nonprofit group of more than 60 universities and research centers, the Organization of Tropical Studies (OTS) is dedicated to the protection of tropical natural resources, education and research. Hundreds of scientists from more than 20 countries are involved at OTS sites each year, as well as thousands of students.
This emphasis on research and education has been expanded to include activities for school children, birders and other ecotourists, and those offered at La Selva are particularly attractive to visitors.
Costa Rica's La Selva Biological StationLa Selva Biological Station lies at the confluence of the Puerto Viejo and Sarapiqui rivers on the Caribbean side of Costa Rica. The reception area includes a dining hall, academic center, lodging, gift shop, library, laundry and an arboretum.Several miles of trails wind through ancient forests and along the two rivers. The trails are well signed and marked, and shelters are found throughout the region.
Overnight visitors to La Selva are provided comfortable accommodation, three meals a day and a daily guide service. The English-speaking guides are widely knowledgeable about the flora and fauna, and are experts in locating and identifying birds, other creatures and plants. Tourists are also allowed to explore the well marked trails on their own.
Accomodations at La Selva Biological StationThree types of lodging are provided at La Selva: cabins, family houses and dormitories. The cabins have twin beds, a private bathroom and a balcony. The current rate for cabins is $83 (U.S. dollars) per person for double occupancy, and includes all taxes, three daily meals and a half-day guided walk each day.
Research On Tropical Rainforests - Bookshelf
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With more than a million copies sole, this volume has stood the test of time and remains a valuable resource for writers and would-be writers.Daily Info Directory
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CSE's rainforest research focusses on the tropical rainforests located in the northern parts of Australia based at the CSIRO Tropical Forest Research Centre. ...
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