Expanse Of Tropical Rain Forest Research Articles

Intermittent development of forest corridors in northeastern Brazil during the last deglaciation: Climatic and ecologic evidence

The semi-arid northeastern (NE) Brazil vegetation is largely dominated by Caatinga, one of the largest and richest dry forests in the world. Caatinga is a strategic biome, since it has borders with Cerrado, Atlantic forests and the Amazon, acting as a potential corridor (or barrier) for biotic interchange between these regions during evolutionary times. Therefore, accurate reconstructions of past vegetation, ecological and hydrological changes in this area are critical to understanding the dynamics of biome boundaries that may play an important role in dispersal and diversification mechanisms and, more specifically, the link between the long-term climate variability and tropical biodiversity. Here, we present high-resolution palynological and elemental data from marine core GeoB16205-4 retrieved off the Parnaíba River mouth (NE Brazil) mainly covering the Younger Dryas (YD). We show that the YD interval was predominantly wet in NE Brazil, yet it was not homogenous and two distinct phases could be distinguished. A marked intensification of wet conditions between ∼12.3 and 11.6 cal kyr BP was recorded by the expansion of tropical rainforest and tree ferns. These results are in agreement with the transient TraCE-21k coupled climate model simulation. We infer that the second pluvial phase of the YD is related to a weak AMOC due to meltwater pulses in the North Atlantic, which forces a southward shift of the Intertropical Convergence Zone and its associated rainfall. Our records provide new evidence on the establishment of an “eastern forest corridor” in the nowadays semi-arid Caatinga allowing for past biotic interchanges of plant species.

Impact of the hydraulic capacity of plants on water and carbon fluxes in tropical South America

Angiosperms (flowering plants) have higher transpirational capacities than any other plants. Here we use climate model simulation to test the hypothesis that the high transpirational capacity of angiosperms plays a unique role in the maintenance of tropical rainforest. Their elevated transpiration rates are shown to increase recycling of precipitation up to ∼300 mm/yr (∼20% of total precipitation) averaged over the whole of tropical South America and to increase the wet season duration over the Amazon basin. Transpiration triggers convection by increasing moisture in the boundary layer and thereby decreasing atmospheric stability. If the moisture content of the boundary layer is sufficient, a double Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) is generated in October around 60°W–50°W, as observed in present‐day climate, and the eastern part of the Amazon basin becomes wet (∼200 mm/month of precipitation). This double ITCZ is lost, however, and the region becomes dry (<50 mm/month of precipitation) in the absence of full angiosperm transpiration. Although higher water use efficiency is usually associated with plants with lower transpiration rates, water use efficiency actually increases with higher hydraulic capacity in our simulations as a result of the higher humidity and, thus, lower vapor pressure gradient between the intercellular air space within the leaf and the external atmosphere. We speculate that the high transpirational capacity of angiosperms played a significant role in the expansion of tropical rain forest.

Tree of rivers: the story of the Amazon

This enthralling book brilliantly describes the passionate struggles that have taken place in order to utilize, protect and understand the wonder that is the Amazon. Hemmings riveting account recalls the adventures and misadventures down the centuries of the explorers, missionaries, indigenous Indians, naturalists, rubber barons, scientists, anthropologists, archaeologists, political extremists, prospectors and many more, who have been in thrall to the Amazon, the largest river in the world, with the greatest expanse of tropical rain forest and most luxuriant biological diversity on earth.