Hyperdominance in Amazonian forest carbon cycling.
While Amazonian forests are extraordinarily diverse, the abundance of trees is skewed strongly towards relatively few 'hyperdominant' species. In addition to their diversity, Amazonian trees are a key component of the global carbon cycle, assimilating and storing more carbon than any other ecosystem on Earth. Here we ask, using a unique data set of 530 forest plots, if the functions of storing and producing woody carbon are concentrated in a small number of tree species, whether the most abundant species also dominate carbon cycling, and whether dominant species are characterized by specific functional traits. We find that dominance of forest function is even more concentrated in a few species than is dominance of tree abundance, with only ≈1% of Amazon tree species responsible for 50% of carbon storage and productivity. Although those species that contribute most to biomass and productivity are often abundant, species maximum size is also influential, while the identity and ranking of dominant species varies by function and by region.
School of Geography, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK.
Sophie
S
Fauset
School of Geography, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK.
Michelle O
MO
Johnson
School of Geography, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK.
Manuel
M
Gloor
School of Geography, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK.
Timothy R
TR
Baker
1] Jardín Botánico de Missouri, Prolongacion Bolognesi Mz.e, Lote 6, Oxapampa, Pasco, Peru [2] Universidad Nacional de San Antonio Abad del Cusco, Av. de la Cultura No 733, Exeter Cusco, 733, Peru.
Abel
A
Monteagudo M
School of Geography, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK.
Roel J W
RJ
Brienen
Geography, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4RJ, UK.
Ted R
0000000266317962
TR
Feldpausch
School of Geography, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK.
Gabriela
G
Lopez-Gonzalez
Environmental Change Institute, School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QY, UK.
Yadvinder
Y
Malhi
1] Naturalis Biodiversity Centre, PO Box 9517, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands [2] Ecology and Biodiversity, Institute for Environmental Biology, Utrecht University, Utrecht 80125, 3508 TC, The Netherlands.
Hans
0000000287382659
H
ter Steege
1] Science and Education, The Field Museum, 1400 South Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60605-2496, USA [2] Center for Tropical Conservation, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Box 90381, Durham, North Carolina 27708, USA.
Nigel C A
NC
Pitman
1] INRA, UMR 'Ecologie des Forêts de Guyane', Kourou Cedex 97387, France [2] International Center for Tropical Botany, Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Miami FL 33199, USA.
Christopher
C
Baraloto
CNRS, UMR Ecologie des Forêts de Guyane, Kourou Cedex 97387, France.
Julien
J
Engel
CIRAD, UMR Ecologie des Forêts de Guyane, Kourou Cedex 97387, France.
Pascal
P
Pétronelli
Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia, Projeto Dinâmica Biológica de Fragmentos Florestais, Manaus, CEP 69080-971 AM, Brazil.
Ana
A
Andrade
Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia, Projeto Dinâmica Biológica de Fragmentos Florestais, Manaus, CEP 69080-971 AM, Brazil.
José Luís C
JL
Camargo
Centre for Tropical Environmental and Sustainability Science (TESS) and College of Marine and Environmental Sciences, James Cook University, Cairns, Queensland 4878, Australia.
Susan G W
SG
Laurance
Centre for Tropical Environmental and Sustainability Science (TESS) and College of Marine and Environmental Sciences, James Cook University, Cairns, Queensland 4878, Australia.
William F
WF
Laurance
Université Paul Sabatier CNRS, UMR 5174 Evolution et Diversité Biologique, Bâtiment 4R1, Toulouse 31062, France.
Jerôme
J
Chave
UAG, UMR Ecologie des Forêts de Guyane, Kourou Cedex 97387, France.
Elodie
E
Allie
Universidad Nacional de San Antonio Abad del Cusco, Av. de la Cultura No 733, Exeter Cusco, 733, Peru.
Percy Núñez
PN
Vargas
Center for Tropical Conservation, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Box 90381, Durham, North Carolina 27708, USA.
John W
JW
Terborgh
Department of Biology, University of Turku, Turku FI-20014, Finland.
Kalle
K
Ruokolainen
Museu Universitário, Universidade Federal do Acre, Rio Branco 69910-900, Brazil.
Marcos
M
Silveira
UNELLEZ-Guanare, Programa de Ciencias del Agro y el Mar, Herbario Universitario (PORT), Mesa de Cavacas, Estado Portuguesa 3350, Venezuela.
Gerardo A
GA
Aymard C
Museo de Historia Natural Noel Kempff Mercado, Universidad Autonoma Gabriel Rene Moreno, Casilla 2489, Av. Irala 565, Santa Cruz, Bolivia.
Luzmila
L
Arroyo
INRA, UMR EEF, Champenoux 54280, France.
Damien
D
Bonal
Universidad de Los Andes, Facultad de Ciencias Forestales y Ambientales, Mérida, Venezuela.
Hirma
H
Ramirez-Angulo
Museo de Historia Natural Noel Kempff Mercado, Universidad Autonoma Gabriel Rene Moreno, Casilla 2489, Av. Irala 565, Santa Cruz, Bolivia.
Alejandro
A
Araujo-Murakami
Universidad Estatal Amazónica, Facultad de Ingeniería Ambiental, Paso lateral km 2 1/2 via Napo, Puyo, Ecuador.
David
D
Neill
CIRAD, UMR Ecologie des Forêts de Guyane, Kourou Cedex 97387, France.
Bruno
B
Hérault
CIRAD, UMR Ecologie des Forêts de Guyane, Kourou Cedex 97387, France.
Aurélie
A
Dourdain
Universidad de Los Andes, Facultad de Ciencias Forestales y Ambientales, Mérida, Venezuela.
Armando
A
Torres-Lezama
Universidade do Estado de Mato Grosso, Campus de Nova Xavantina, Caixa Postal 08, CEP 78.690-000, Nova Xavantina, MT, Brazil.
Beatriz S
BS
Marimon
Museu Paraense Emilio Goeldi, C.P. 399, CEP 66040-170, Belém, Brazil.
Rafael P
RP
Salomão
Northeast Region Inventory and Monitoring Program, National Park Service, 120 Chatham Lane, Fredericksburg, Virginia 22405, USA.
James A
JA
Comiskey
Université Paul Sabatier CNRS, UMR 5174 Evolution et Diversité Biologique, Bâtiment 4R1, Toulouse 31062, France.
Maxime
M
Réjou-Méchain
1] Instituto Boliviano de Investigación Forestal, CP 6204, Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia [2] Facultad de Ciencias Agrícolas, Universidad Autónoma Gabriel René Moreno, Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia.
Marisol
M
Toledo
Instituto Boliviano de Investigación Forestal, CP 6204, Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia.
Juan Carlos
JC
Licona
Instituto Boliviano de Investigación Forestal, CP 6204, Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia.
Alfredo
A
Alarcón
Instituto de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Apartado 7945, Bogotá, Colombia.
Adriana
A
Prieto
Instituto de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Apartado 7945, Bogotá, Colombia.
Agustín
A
Rudas
1] Alterra, Wageningen University, and Research Centre, PO Box 47, Wageningen 6700 AA, The Netherlands [2] Van Hall Larenstein University of Applied Sciences, Velp, PO Box 9001, 6880 GB, The Netherlands.
Peter J
PJ
van der Meer
World Wildlife Fund, 1250 24th Street NW, Washington, DC 20037, USA.
Timothy J
TJ
Killeen
Universidade do Estado de Mato Grosso, Campus de Nova Xavantina, Caixa Postal 08, CEP 78.690-000, Nova Xavantina, MT, Brazil.
Ben-Hur
BH
Marimon Junior
Forest Ecology and Forest Management Group, Wageningen University, PO Box 47, Wageningen 6700 AA, The Netherlands.
Lourens
L
Poorter
1] Ecology and Biodiversity, Institute for Environmental Biology, Utrecht University, Utrecht 80125, 3508 TC, The Netherlands [2] Alterra, Wageningen University, and Research Centre, PO Box 47, Wageningen 6700 AA, The Netherlands.
Rene G A
RG
Boot
UNELLEZ-Guanare, Programa de Ciencias del Agro y el Mar, Herbario Universitario (PORT), Mesa de Cavacas, Estado Portuguesa 3350, Venezuela.
Basil
B
Stergios
Universidad de Los Andes, Facultad de Ciencias Forestales y Ambientales, Mérida, Venezuela.
Emilio Vilanova
EV
Torre
Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia, Manaus, AM, CEP 69080-971, Brazil.
Flávia R C
FR
Costa
Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia, Manaus, AM, CEP 69080-971, Brazil.
Carolina
C
Levis
Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia, Manaus, AM, CEP 69080-971, Brazil.
Juliana
J
Schietti
Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia, Manaus, AM, CEP 69080-971, Brazil.
Priscila
P
Souza
School of Geography, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK.
Nikée
N
Groot
Alterra, Wageningen University, and Research Centre, PO Box 47, Wageningen 6700 AA, The Netherlands.
Eric
0000000172099028
E
Arets
Universidad Nacional de San Antonio Abad del Cusco, Av. de la Cultura No 733, Exeter Cusco, 733, Peru.
Victor Chama
VC
Moscoso
Programa de Pós-Graduação Ecologia e Manejo de Recursos Naturais, Universidade Federal do Acre, Rio Branco AC 69910-900, Brazil.
Wendeson
W
Castro
Instituto de Investigaciones de la Amazonia Peruana, Apartado 784, Iquitos, Peru.
Euridice N Honorio
EN
Coronado
1] Instituto Boliviano de Investigación Forestal, CP 6204, Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia [2] Forest Ecology and Forest Management Group, Wageningen University, PO Box 47, Wageningen 6700 AA, The Netherlands.
Marielos
M
Peña-Claros
1] CIRAD, UMR Ecologie des Forêts de Guyane, Kourou Cedex 97387, France [2] INRA, UR 874, Research Unit on permanent grasslands, Clermont Ferrand 63100, France.
Clement
C
Stahl
Universidade Federal do Acre, Campus de Cruzeiro do Sul, CEP 69920-900, Rio Branco, Brazil.
Jorcely
J
Barroso
School of Geography, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK.
Joey
J
Talbot
Museu Paraense Emilio Goeldi, C.P. 399, CEP 66040-170, Belém, Brazil.
Ima Célia Guimarães
IC
Vieira
1] University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53211, USA [2] Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Apartado Postal 0843-03092, Panama.
Geertje
G
van der Heijden
Iwokrama International Centre for Rainforest Conservation and Development, 77 High Street Kingston, Georgetown, Guyana.
Raquel
R
Thomas
1] Universidad Autónama del Beni, Campus Universitario, Av. Ejército Nacional, Riberalta, Bolivia [2] Centro de Investigación y Promoción del Campesinado - Norte Amazanico, C/Nicanor Gonzalo Salvatierra Nu 362, Casilla 16, Riberalta, Bolivia.
Vincent A
VA
Vos
Instituto de Biodiversidade e Floresta, Universidade Federal do Oeste do Pará, Santarém, PA CEP: 68.035-110, Brazil.
Everton C
EC
Almeida
Servicios Ecosistémicos y Cambio Climático, Jardín Botánico de Medellín, Calle 73 N 51D - 14, Medellín, Colombia.
Esteban Álvarez
EÁ
Davila
1] Geography, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4RJ, UK [2] National Institute for Space Research, Avenida dos Astronautas, 1.758-Jd. Granja, São José dos Campos, SP CEP 12227-010, Brazil.
Luiz E O C
LE
Aragão
Smithsonian Institution, PO Box 37012, MRC 187, Washington, District of Columbia 20013-7012, USA.
Terry L
TL
Erwin
Universidade do Estado de Mato Grosso, Campus de Nova Xavantina, Caixa Postal 08, CEP 78.690-000, Nova Xavantina, MT, Brazil.
Paulo S
PS
Morandi
Universidade do Estado de Mato Grosso, Campus de Nova Xavantina, Caixa Postal 08, CEP 78.690-000, Nova Xavantina, MT, Brazil.
Edmar Almeida
EA
de Oliveira
Universidade do Estado de Mato Grosso, Campus de Nova Xavantina, Caixa Postal 08, CEP 78.690-000, Nova Xavantina, MT, Brazil.
Marco B X
MB
Valadão
Tropenbos International, PO Box 232, Wageningen 6700 AE, The Netherlands.
Roderick J
RJ
Zagt
Van der Hout Forestry Consulting, Jan Trooststraat 6, Rotterdam 3078 HP, The Netherlands.
Peter
P
van der Hout
Center for Tropical Conservation, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Box 90381, Durham, North Carolina 27708, USA.
Patricia Alvarez
PA
Loayza
UF-IFAS/Broward Co Extension Education, 3900 SW 100th Avenue, Davie, Florida, USA.
John J
JJ
Pipoly
School of Earth Sciences and Environmental Sustainability, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff AZ 86011, USA.
Ophelia
O
Wang
School of Anthropology and Conservation, Marlowe Building, University of Kent, Canterbury CT1 3EH, UK.
Miguel
M
Alexiades
Herbario Alfredo Paredes (QAP), Universidad Central del Ecuador, Ciudadela Universitaria, Av. América, Quito, Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador.
Carlos E
CE
Cerón
Universidad Nacional de San Antonio Abad del Cusco, Av. de la Cultura No 733, Exeter Cusco, 733, Peru.
Isau
I
Huamantupa-Chuquimaco
Department of Anthropology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, USA.
Anthony
A
Di Fiore
School of Geography, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK.
Julie
J
Peacock
Universidad Nacional de San Antonio Abad del Cusco, Av. de la Cultura No 733, Exeter Cusco, 733, Peru.
Nadir C Pallqui
NC
Camacho
Universidade do Estado de Mato Grosso, Campus de Nova Xavantina, Caixa Postal 08, CEP 78.690-000, Nova Xavantina, MT, Brazil.
Ricardo K
RK
Umetsu
Centro de Energia Nuclear na Agricultura, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, CEP 05508-070, SP, Brazil.
Plínio Barbosa
PB
de Camargo
Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, MI 48109, Ann Arbor, USA.
Robyn J
RJ
Burnham
1] Centro de Ecologia, Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Cientificas, Carretera Panamericana, Km 11, Altos de Pipe, IVIC, Caracas, Venezuela [2] ReforeST Group, DIHMA, Universidad Politécnica de Valencia, Valencia 46022 Spain.
Rafael
R
Herrera
Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia, Manaus, AM, CEP 69080-971, Brazil.
Carlos A
CA
Quesada
European Commission-DG Joint Research Centre, Institute for Environment and Sustainability, Via Enrico Fermi 274, Ispra 21010, Italy.
Juliana
J
Stropp
Núcleo de Estudos e Pesquisas Ambientais, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, SP CEP 13083-970, Brazil.
Simone A
SA
Vieira
Conservation International, 2011 Crystal Drive, Suite 500, Arlington, Virginia 22202, USA.
Marc
M
Steininger
Facultad de Ciencias Forestales, Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina, Lima, Peru.
Carlos Reynel
CR
Rodríguez
Servicios Ecosistémicos y Cambio Climático, Jardín Botánico de Medellín, Calle 73 N 51D - 14, Medellín, Colombia.
Zorayda
Z
Restrepo
School of Geography, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK.
Adriane Esquivel
AE
Muelbert
1] School of Geography, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK [2] Department of Geography, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK.
Simon L
SL
Lewis
School of Geography, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK.
Georgia C
GC
Pickavance
School of Geography, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK.
Oliver L
OL
Phillips