Tropical rainforests are facing challenges in adapting to climate change, according to a new study published in Science. Researchers from Wake Forest University and the University of Oxford have been examining forest plots across the Americas, from Mexico to southern Brazil, analyzing data from over 250,000 trees. The study was led by Jesús Aguirre-Gutiérrez of the University of Oxford’s Environmental Change Institute (ECI).
The research team, involving more than 100 scientists and local partners, assessed how different tree species respond to changing temperatures and rainfall patterns. “Our lab has been looking at climate change in tropical plant communities for a long time,” said Miles Silman, Andrew Sabin Presidential Chair of Conservation Biology at Wake Forest and a co-author.
Wake Forest established permanent forest plots in Peru through the Andes Biodiversity and Ecosystems Research Group (ABERG) over 20 years ago. “Our plot network is one of the most extensive elevational transects worldwide,” said William Farfan-Rios, biodiversity fellow with the Andrew Sabin Center for Environment and Sustainability at Wake Forest University.
The findings indicate that lowland Amazon forests are not adapting quickly enough to keep pace with climate change. Lead author Aguirre-Gutiérrez explained that while tropical forests are among Earth’s most diverse ecosystems, their ability to adapt is limited. “By looking at individual trees from different communities, we found some have suffered due to climate shifts, while others have thrived,” he said.
“If we know what species of trees are doing better or worse… it will help inform what conservation actions should be encouraged,” Aguirre-Gutiérrez added.
The study emphasizes the need for further research and conservation strategies to support these critical ecosystems’ resilience. Silman highlighted concerns about the loss of fauna necessary for ecological interactions: “We are rapidly removing the animals that disperse the plants.”
This article is based on a news release by the University of Oxford’s Environmental Change Institute.
