Ratnam J*, Tomlinson KW*, Rasquinha DN & Sankaran M. 2016. Savannahs in Asia: evidence for antiquity, biogeography, and an uncertain future. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B 371. (*Joint First Author)

http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/371/1703/20150305.

Abstract: The savannahs of Asia remain locally unrecognized as distinctive ecosystems, and continue to be viewed as degraded forests or seasonally dry tropical forests. These colonial-era legacies are problematic, because they fail to recognize the unique diversity of Asian savannahs and the critical roles of fire and herbivory maintaining ecosystem health and diversity. In this review, we show: the palaeo-historical evidence suggests that the savannahs of Asia have existed for at least 1 million years, long before widespread landscape modification by humans; savannah regions across Asia have levels of C4 grass endemism and diversity that are consistent with area-based expectations for non-Asian savannahs; there are at least three distinct Asian savannah communities, namely deciduous broadleaf savannahs, deciduous fine-leafed and spiny savannahs and evergreen pine savannahs, with distinct functional ecologies consistent with fire- and herbivory-driven community assembly. Via an analysis of savannah climate domains on other continents, we map the potential extent of savannahs across Asia. We find that the climates of African savannahs provide the closest analogues for those of Asian deciduous savannahs, but that Asian pine savannahs occur in climates different to any of the savannahs in the southern continents. Finally, we review major threats to the persistence of savannahs in Asia, including the mismanagement of fire and herbivory, alien woody encroachment, afforestation policies and future climate uncertainty associated with the changing Asian monsoon. Research agendas that target these issues are urgently needed to manage and conserve these ecosystems.

This article is part of the themed issue ‘Tropical grassy biomes: linking ecology, human use and conservation’.

http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/371/1703#articles

Monoy et al. Temporal changes in tree species and trait composition in a cyclone-prone Pacific dipterocarp forest. Ecosystems. 

http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10021-016-9983-0/fulltext.html

Abstract: Our understanding of the effects of tropical cyclones on species composition and dynamics of forest communities is mainly derived from studies that have considered single cyclonic events. Here we examined changes in the tree species and functional trait composition in an 8-ha Dipterocarp forest at Palanan in the northeastern Philippines that is subject to a high frequency of cyclonic disturbance (1–4 cyclones annually). The plot has been censused four times over a 16-year interval allowing us to consider the medium-term forest dynamics in response to repeated cyclones. We hypothesized that as the forest community in Palanan has been selected under frequent disturbance by cyclones, it should show little functional change across the census intervals. We analyzed changes in demography, species composition, and community-weighted functional traits (specific leaf area, leaf area, wood density, and specific growth rate) across the censuses and compared these against cyclone intensities during the census intervals. Demographic changes across census years suggest that the community responded to cyclonic disturbances through substantial turnover in the small- and medium-size individuals, and that there has been an increase in plot-level stem density and basal area across the measured period. Trait compositional changes from 1994 to 2010 were mostly small, but indicate a shift towards species with larger leaves and faster growth rates—traits that are associated with fast recovery after disturbance. These changes all coincide with a large intense cyclone between the second and third censuses, suggesting that cyclone strength, more than cyclone frequency, affects this forest.

Sreekar et al. 2016. Effects of forests, roads and mistletoe on bird diversity in monoculture rubber plantations. Scientific Reports.   http://www.nature.com/articles/srep21822

Abstract: Rising global demand for natural rubber is expanding monoculture rubber (Hevea brasilensis) at the expense of natural forests in the Old World tropics. Conversion of forests into rubber plantations has a devastating impact on biodiversity and we have yet to identify management strategies that can mitigate this. We determined the life-history traits that best predict bird species occurrence in rubber plantations in SW China and investigated the effects of surrounding forest cover and distance to roads on bird diversity. Mistletoes provide nectar and fruit resources in rubber so we examined mistletoe densities and the relationship with forest cover and rubber tree diameter. In rubber plantations, we recorded less than half of all bird species extant in the surrounding area. Birds with wider habitat breadths and low conservation value had a higher probability of occurrence. Species richness and diversity increased logarithmically with surrounding forest cover, but roads had little effect. Mistletoe density increased exponentially with rubber tree diameters, but was unrelated to forest cover. To maximize bird diversity in rubber-dominated landscapes it is therefore necessary to preserve as much forest as possible, construct roads through plantations and not forest, and retain some large rubber trees with mistletoes during crop rotations.

Congratulations to Guohualing and Sreekar who both received ‘excellent’ evaluations for their MSc theses, defended on 3 December.  Great going guys!

Thanks to the examination committee for taking the time to review Jiajia and Lingling’s theses, and especially to Dr Eben Goodale and Dr Rhett Harrison for travelling to  Xishuangbanna to participate in the theses defences.

Kyle Tomlinson was awarded a full NSFC grant for his project titled: Ecology and distribution of Spinescent Plants in Yunnan (Project code: C030102, Amount RMB 840,000) More on the project can be found here.

Ji Mingyue recently joined the lab as a research assistant. Mingyue received her MSc under the Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology at XTBG this year. Welcome Mingyue!

Congratulations to Jiajia and Lingling who both gave very interesting presentations to a packed room and faced down a tough and probing defence committee.  We are all very proud of you and wish you much success in your future academic careers.

A big thank you to the examination committee for taking the time to review Jiajia and Lingling’s theses, and especially to Dr Ferry Slik (Jiajia’s supervisor and Lingling’s mentor) for making the journey from Brunei for the defences.

The new website for the Community Ecology and Conservation Group is up and running.

Early days yet, but any feedback on layout and content is appreciated.