Geological substrates shape tree species and trait distributions in African moist forests

Fayolle Adeline, Engelbrecht Bettina, Freycon Vincent, Mortier Frédéric, Swaine Michael, Rejou-Mechain Maxime, Doucet Jean-Louis, Fauvet Nicolas, Cornu Guillaume, Gourlet-Fleury Sylvie. 2012. Geological substrates shape tree species and trait distributions in African moist forests. PloS One, 7 (8):e42381, 10 p.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0042381

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Quartile : Q1, Sujet : MULTIDISCIPLINARY SCIENCES

Liste HCERES des revues (en SHS) : oui

Thème(s) HCERES des revues (en SHS) : Psychologie-éthologie-ergonomie; Staps

Résumé : Background: Understanding the factors that shape the distribution of tropical tree species at large scales is a central issue in ecology, conservation and forest management. The aims of this study were to (i) assess the importance of environmental factors relative to historical factors for tree species distributions in the semi-evergreen forests of the northern Congo basin; and to (ii) identify potential mechanisms explaining distribution patterns through a trait-based approach. Methodology/Principal Findings: We analyzed the distribution patterns of 31 common tree species in an area of more than 700,000 km2 spanning the borders of Cameroon, the Central African Republic, and the Republic of Congo using forest inventory data from 56,445 0.5-ha plots. Spatial variation of environmental (climate, topography and geology) and historical factors (human disturbance) were quantified from maps and satellite records. Four key functional traits (leaf phenology, shade tolerance, wood density, and maximum growth rate) were extracted from the literature. The geological substrate was of major importance for the distribution of the focal species, while climate and past human disturbances had a significant but lesser impact. Species distribution patterns were significantly related to functional traits. Species associated with sandy soils typical of sandstone and alluvium were characterized by slow growth rates, shade tolerance, evergreen leaves, and high wood density, traits allowing persistence on resource-poor soils. In contrast, fast-growing pioneer species rarely occurred on sandy soils, except for Lophira alata. Conclusions/Significance: The results indicate strong environmental filtering due to differential soil resource availability across geological substrates. Additionally, long-term human disturbances in resource-rich areas may have accentuated the observed patterns of species and trait distributions. Trait differences across geological substrates imply pronounced differences in population and ecosystem processes, and call for different conservation and management strategies.

Mots-clés Agrovoc : forêt tropicale humide, arbre forestier, espèce, dynamique des populations, distribution géographique, facteur climatique, facteur du milieu, impact sur l'environnement, histoire, géologie

Mots-clés géographiques Agrovoc : République centrafricaine, Congo, Cameroun

Classification Agris : K01 - Foresterie - Considérations générales
F40 - Écologie végétale
P30 - Sciences et aménagement du sol

Champ stratégique Cirad : Axe 6 (2005-2013) - Agriculture, environnement, nature et sociétés

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