introduction Three groups of people inhabit Ecuador’s amazonian ecosystems: indigenous peoples, s... more introduction Three groups of people inhabit Ecuador’s amazonian ecosystems: indigenous peoples, settlers and a migratory population. indigenous peoples are the original inhabitants of the region and live mostly in vast areas of tropical rainforest. They belong to 13 different nations. Together, indigenous groups and settlers own about 60% of the remaining forest area (palacios and Freire 2004); 40% is within protected areas (pas). shifting cultivation has traditionally been practised in harmony with natural forest dynamics. with the construction of roads and the involvement of indigenous people in the market, however, the possibilities and need for income have increased (Fundación natura 2010).
Most discussion of biodiversity focuses on species, but an increased emphasis on the ecosystem le... more Most discussion of biodiversity focuses on species, but an increased emphasis on the ecosystem level could bring considerable benefits for biodiversity conservation and its assessment in managed forests. Ecosystems are most usefully described according to their species composition, structure and physical environment, including disturbance regime: ecosystem therefore becomes a synonym of forest type. Ecosystem biodiversity is the number, variety and spatial arrangement of different forest types at a given scale, within the immediately superior hierarchical level of scale; the example of neotropical lowland moist forests shows it to be ubiquitous, arising due to varied causes. Sustainable forest management must be based on understanding of ecological differences between forest types in forest management units (FMUs), and the conservation of representative samples of forest types should be a management objective, thus conserving not only ecosystems, but also - through the 'coarse filter' principle - most of the species which make them up. Criteria and indicators (C&I) sets usually make some reference to ecosystem-level biodiversity and its evaluation, though the emphasis on this aspect in some sets seems insufficient. We suggest that the focus of ecosystem-level biodiversity C&I should run from the conservation of forest cover and the patterns formed by forest types in landscapes, to evaluation of the proportion of the area of each forest type within the FMU which is modified, and how, by management. Where necessary, programmes for the development of national or regional vegetation classifications could make an important contribution to capacity for the assessment of sustainable management and biodiversity conservation in FMUs.
Four new tree species of Ecuador belonging to four families are described: Carapa amorphocarpa (M... more Four new tree species of Ecuador belonging to four families are described: Carapa amorphocarpa (Meliaceae) and Hasseltia crassa (Salicaceae) from the slopes of the Cerro Golondrinas, near the border with Colombia; Gloeospermum crassicarpum (Violaceae) from shared border of Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru; and Gyranthera amphibiolepis (Malvaceae) from the foothills of eastern Ecuador. Carapa amorphocarpa is distinguished easily by its thick leaflets with rounded or shortly emarginated apices and especially by its enormous amorphous fruits. Hasseltia crassa is distinguished by its large, coriaceous, thick leaves with deeply impressed venation and the inflorescence, which is relatively short and robust. Gloeospermum crassicarpum is characterized by the corolla, which is orange and apically curved, and the fruit, which has a thick mesocarp. Gyranthera amphibiolepis is characterized by the digitate leaves and the flowers, which are up to 8 cm in length, and have a staminal tube that shows the anthers in a similar arrangement to that of Ochroma (Malvaceae).
ABSTRACT: The sensitivity of tropical forest carbon to climate is a key uncertainty in predicting... more ABSTRACT: The sensitivity of tropical forest carbon to climate is a key uncertainty in predicting global climate change. Although short-term drying and warming are known to affect forests, it is unknown if such effects translate into long-term responses. Here, we analyze 590 permanent plots measured across the tropics to derive the equilibrium climate controls on forest carbon. Maximum temperature is the most important predictor of aboveground biomass (−9.1 megagrams of carbon per hectare per degree Celsius), primarily by reducing woody productivity, and has a greater rate of decline in the hottest forests (>32.2°C). Our results nevertheless reveal greater thermal resilience than observations of short-term variation imply. To realize the long-term climate adaptation potential of tropical forests requires both protecting them and stabilizing Earth's climate.
We compiled a data set for all tree species collected to date in lowland Amazonian Ecuador in ord... more We compiled a data set for all tree species collected to date in lowland Amazonian Ecuador in order to determine the number of tree species in the region. This data set has been extensively verified by taxonomists and is the most comprehensive attempt to evaluate the tree diversity in one of the richest species regions of the Amazon. We used four main sources of data: mounted specimens deposited in Ecuadorian herbaria only, specimen records of a large‐scale 1‐hectare‐plot network (60 plots in total), data from the Missouri Botanical Garden Tropicos® database (MO), and literature sources. The list of 2,296 tree species names we provide in this data set is based on 47,486 herbarium records deposited in the following herbaria: Alfredo Paredes Herbarium (QAP), Catholic University Herbarium (QCA), Herbario Nacional del Ecuador (QCNE), Missouri Botanical Garden (MO), and records from an extensive sampling of 29,768 individuals with diameter at breast height (dbh) ≥10 cm recorded in our pl...
A new Cedrela (Meliaceae) species, Cedrela angusticarpa, is described through a combination of ta... more A new Cedrela (Meliaceae) species, Cedrela angusticarpa, is described through a combination of taxonomic, morphological, and molecular analyses. Cedrela kuelapensis, originally described as an endemic species of northern Peru, is also reported here as a new record for Ecuador. Cedrela angusticarpa has oblong or oblong-lanceolate glabrous leaflets, rounded at the base. Inflorescences are up to 70 cm long, and flowers present a cupuliform calyx with five regular teeth. Fruits are narrowly obovoid capsules. Through molecular analyses using nine microsatellite loci, it is evident that samples from C. angusticarpa form their own genetic cluster when compared to the most morphologically similar species, C. odorata, suggesting that they belong to a new separate species. Additionally, here we report that C. angusticarpa has a very narrow geographic range, recorded between 550 and 1300 m in elevation, and restricted to the relatively small areas of northwestern Ecuador. Climatic niche modell...
ABSTRACT: The sensitivity of tropical forest carbon to climate is a key uncertainty in predicting... more ABSTRACT: The sensitivity of tropical forest carbon to climate is a key uncertainty in predicting global climate change. Although short-term drying and warming are known to affect forests, it is unknown if such effects translate into long-term responses. Here, we analyze 590 permanent plots measured across the tropics to derive the equilibrium climate controls on forest carbon. Maximum temperature is the most important predictor of aboveground biomass (−9.1 megagrams of carbon per hectare per degree Celsius), primarily by reducing woody productivity, and has a greater rate of decline in the hottest forests (>32.2°C). Our results nevertheless reveal greater thermal resilience than observations of short-term variation imply. To realize the long-term climate adaptation potential of tropical forests requires both protecting them and stabilizing Earth's climate.
Thermal sensitivity of tropical treesA key uncertainty in climate change models is the thermal se... more Thermal sensitivity of tropical treesA key uncertainty in climate change models is the thermal sensitivity of tropical forests and how this value might influence carbon fluxes. Sullivanet al.measured carbon stocks and fluxes in permanent forest plots distributed globally. This synthesis of plot networks across climatic and biogeographic gradients shows that forest thermal sensitivity is dominated by high daytime temperatures. This extreme condition depresses growth rates and shortens the time that carbon resides in the ecosystem by killing trees under hot, dry conditions. The effect of temperature is worse above 32°C, and a greater magnitude of climate change thus risks greater loss of tropical forest carbon stocks. Nevertheless, forest carbon stocks are likely to remain higher under moderate climate change if they are protected from direct impacts such as clearance, logging, or fires.Science, this issue p.869
A delineation of the nature and obligation of morality with reflexions upon Mr Hume's book en... more A delineation of the nature and obligation of morality with reflexions upon Mr Hume's book entitled "An Inquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals" (1753), James Balfour letters of eminent persons addressed to David Hume (1849), edited by John Hill Burton David Hume (1898), Henry Calderwood an essay on philosophical necessity (1793), Alexander Crombie critique de la philosophie de Thomas Reid (1840), Adolfe Garnier thoughts on laughter and observations on the "Fable of the Bees" in six letters (1758), F. Hutcheson an inquiry into the grounds and nature of the several species of ratiocination (1750), Owen Manning Price Gibbon's account of Christianity considered together with some strictures on Hume's dialogues concerning natural religion (1781).
introduction Three groups of people inhabit Ecuador’s amazonian ecosystems: indigenous peoples, s... more introduction Three groups of people inhabit Ecuador’s amazonian ecosystems: indigenous peoples, settlers and a migratory population. indigenous peoples are the original inhabitants of the region and live mostly in vast areas of tropical rainforest. They belong to 13 different nations. Together, indigenous groups and settlers own about 60% of the remaining forest area (palacios and Freire 2004); 40% is within protected areas (pas). shifting cultivation has traditionally been practised in harmony with natural forest dynamics. with the construction of roads and the involvement of indigenous people in the market, however, the possibilities and need for income have increased (Fundación natura 2010).
Most discussion of biodiversity focuses on species, but an increased emphasis on the ecosystem le... more Most discussion of biodiversity focuses on species, but an increased emphasis on the ecosystem level could bring considerable benefits for biodiversity conservation and its assessment in managed forests. Ecosystems are most usefully described according to their species composition, structure and physical environment, including disturbance regime: ecosystem therefore becomes a synonym of forest type. Ecosystem biodiversity is the number, variety and spatial arrangement of different forest types at a given scale, within the immediately superior hierarchical level of scale; the example of neotropical lowland moist forests shows it to be ubiquitous, arising due to varied causes. Sustainable forest management must be based on understanding of ecological differences between forest types in forest management units (FMUs), and the conservation of representative samples of forest types should be a management objective, thus conserving not only ecosystems, but also - through the 'coarse filter' principle - most of the species which make them up. Criteria and indicators (C&I) sets usually make some reference to ecosystem-level biodiversity and its evaluation, though the emphasis on this aspect in some sets seems insufficient. We suggest that the focus of ecosystem-level biodiversity C&I should run from the conservation of forest cover and the patterns formed by forest types in landscapes, to evaluation of the proportion of the area of each forest type within the FMU which is modified, and how, by management. Where necessary, programmes for the development of national or regional vegetation classifications could make an important contribution to capacity for the assessment of sustainable management and biodiversity conservation in FMUs.
Four new tree species of Ecuador belonging to four families are described: Carapa amorphocarpa (M... more Four new tree species of Ecuador belonging to four families are described: Carapa amorphocarpa (Meliaceae) and Hasseltia crassa (Salicaceae) from the slopes of the Cerro Golondrinas, near the border with Colombia; Gloeospermum crassicarpum (Violaceae) from shared border of Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru; and Gyranthera amphibiolepis (Malvaceae) from the foothills of eastern Ecuador. Carapa amorphocarpa is distinguished easily by its thick leaflets with rounded or shortly emarginated apices and especially by its enormous amorphous fruits. Hasseltia crassa is distinguished by its large, coriaceous, thick leaves with deeply impressed venation and the inflorescence, which is relatively short and robust. Gloeospermum crassicarpum is characterized by the corolla, which is orange and apically curved, and the fruit, which has a thick mesocarp. Gyranthera amphibiolepis is characterized by the digitate leaves and the flowers, which are up to 8 cm in length, and have a staminal tube that shows the anthers in a similar arrangement to that of Ochroma (Malvaceae).
ABSTRACT: The sensitivity of tropical forest carbon to climate is a key uncertainty in predicting... more ABSTRACT: The sensitivity of tropical forest carbon to climate is a key uncertainty in predicting global climate change. Although short-term drying and warming are known to affect forests, it is unknown if such effects translate into long-term responses. Here, we analyze 590 permanent plots measured across the tropics to derive the equilibrium climate controls on forest carbon. Maximum temperature is the most important predictor of aboveground biomass (−9.1 megagrams of carbon per hectare per degree Celsius), primarily by reducing woody productivity, and has a greater rate of decline in the hottest forests (>32.2°C). Our results nevertheless reveal greater thermal resilience than observations of short-term variation imply. To realize the long-term climate adaptation potential of tropical forests requires both protecting them and stabilizing Earth's climate.
We compiled a data set for all tree species collected to date in lowland Amazonian Ecuador in ord... more We compiled a data set for all tree species collected to date in lowland Amazonian Ecuador in order to determine the number of tree species in the region. This data set has been extensively verified by taxonomists and is the most comprehensive attempt to evaluate the tree diversity in one of the richest species regions of the Amazon. We used four main sources of data: mounted specimens deposited in Ecuadorian herbaria only, specimen records of a large‐scale 1‐hectare‐plot network (60 plots in total), data from the Missouri Botanical Garden Tropicos® database (MO), and literature sources. The list of 2,296 tree species names we provide in this data set is based on 47,486 herbarium records deposited in the following herbaria: Alfredo Paredes Herbarium (QAP), Catholic University Herbarium (QCA), Herbario Nacional del Ecuador (QCNE), Missouri Botanical Garden (MO), and records from an extensive sampling of 29,768 individuals with diameter at breast height (dbh) ≥10 cm recorded in our pl...
A new Cedrela (Meliaceae) species, Cedrela angusticarpa, is described through a combination of ta... more A new Cedrela (Meliaceae) species, Cedrela angusticarpa, is described through a combination of taxonomic, morphological, and molecular analyses. Cedrela kuelapensis, originally described as an endemic species of northern Peru, is also reported here as a new record for Ecuador. Cedrela angusticarpa has oblong or oblong-lanceolate glabrous leaflets, rounded at the base. Inflorescences are up to 70 cm long, and flowers present a cupuliform calyx with five regular teeth. Fruits are narrowly obovoid capsules. Through molecular analyses using nine microsatellite loci, it is evident that samples from C. angusticarpa form their own genetic cluster when compared to the most morphologically similar species, C. odorata, suggesting that they belong to a new separate species. Additionally, here we report that C. angusticarpa has a very narrow geographic range, recorded between 550 and 1300 m in elevation, and restricted to the relatively small areas of northwestern Ecuador. Climatic niche modell...
ABSTRACT: The sensitivity of tropical forest carbon to climate is a key uncertainty in predicting... more ABSTRACT: The sensitivity of tropical forest carbon to climate is a key uncertainty in predicting global climate change. Although short-term drying and warming are known to affect forests, it is unknown if such effects translate into long-term responses. Here, we analyze 590 permanent plots measured across the tropics to derive the equilibrium climate controls on forest carbon. Maximum temperature is the most important predictor of aboveground biomass (−9.1 megagrams of carbon per hectare per degree Celsius), primarily by reducing woody productivity, and has a greater rate of decline in the hottest forests (>32.2°C). Our results nevertheless reveal greater thermal resilience than observations of short-term variation imply. To realize the long-term climate adaptation potential of tropical forests requires both protecting them and stabilizing Earth's climate.
Thermal sensitivity of tropical treesA key uncertainty in climate change models is the thermal se... more Thermal sensitivity of tropical treesA key uncertainty in climate change models is the thermal sensitivity of tropical forests and how this value might influence carbon fluxes. Sullivanet al.measured carbon stocks and fluxes in permanent forest plots distributed globally. This synthesis of plot networks across climatic and biogeographic gradients shows that forest thermal sensitivity is dominated by high daytime temperatures. This extreme condition depresses growth rates and shortens the time that carbon resides in the ecosystem by killing trees under hot, dry conditions. The effect of temperature is worse above 32°C, and a greater magnitude of climate change thus risks greater loss of tropical forest carbon stocks. Nevertheless, forest carbon stocks are likely to remain higher under moderate climate change if they are protected from direct impacts such as clearance, logging, or fires.Science, this issue p.869
A delineation of the nature and obligation of morality with reflexions upon Mr Hume's book en... more A delineation of the nature and obligation of morality with reflexions upon Mr Hume's book entitled "An Inquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals" (1753), James Balfour letters of eminent persons addressed to David Hume (1849), edited by John Hill Burton David Hume (1898), Henry Calderwood an essay on philosophical necessity (1793), Alexander Crombie critique de la philosophie de Thomas Reid (1840), Adolfe Garnier thoughts on laughter and observations on the "Fable of the Bees" in six letters (1758), F. Hutcheson an inquiry into the grounds and nature of the several species of ratiocination (1750), Owen Manning Price Gibbon's account of Christianity considered together with some strictures on Hume's dialogues concerning natural religion (1781).
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