scholarly journals Fire-derived phosphorus fertilization of African tropical forests

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marijn Bauters ◽  
Travis W. Drake ◽  
Sasha Wagner ◽  
Simon Baumgartner ◽  
Isaac A. Makelele ◽  
...  

AbstractCentral African tropical forests face increasing anthropogenic pressures, particularly in the form of deforestation and land-use conversion to agriculture. The long-term effects of this transformation of pristine forests to fallow-based agroecosystems and secondary forests on biogeochemical cycles that drive forest functioning are poorly understood. Here, we show that biomass burning on the African continent results in high phosphorus (P) deposition on an equatorial forest via fire-derived atmospheric emissions. Furthermore, we show that deposition loads increase with forest regrowth age, likely due to increasing canopy complexity, ranging from 0.4 kg P ha−1 yr−1 on agricultural fields to 3.1 kg P ha−1 yr−1 on old secondary forests. In forest systems, canopy wash-off of dry P deposition increases with rainfall amount, highlighting how tropical forest canopies act as dynamic reservoirs for enhanced addition of this essential plant nutrient. Overall, the observed P deposition load at the study site is substantial and demonstrates the importance of canopy trapping as a pathway for nutrient input into forest ecosystems.

2016 ◽  
Vol 412 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 97-114 ◽  
Author(s):  
Haixiao Li ◽  
Alain Mollier ◽  
Noura Ziadi ◽  
Yichao Shi ◽  
Leon-Étienne Parent ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Vol 345 ◽  
pp. 101-102
Author(s):  
Andes Hamuraby ROZAK

Tropical forests are a major reservoir of biodiversity and carbon (C), playing a pivotal role in global ecosystem function and climate regulation. However, most tropical forests, especially Borneo's forests in Southeast Asia, are under intense pressure and threatened by human activities such as logging, mining, agriculture and conversion to industrial plantations. Selective logging is known to reduce both above- and below-ground biomass by removing selected large trees, while increasing deadwood stocks through collateral logging damage and creating large gaps in the canopy. The extent of incidental damage, canopy opening and the rate of C recovery were shown to be primarily related to logging intensity. This thesis assesses the long-term effects of logging intensity on five main C pools in Dipterocarp forests in northern Borneo (Malinau District, North Kalimantan) along a logging intensity gradient ranging from 0 to 57% of initial biomass removed in 1999/2000. Our results showed that total C stocks 16 years after logging ranged from 218-554 Mg C/ha with an average of 314 Mg C/ha. A difference of 95 Mg C/ha was found between low logging intensity (< 2.1% of initial biomass lost) and high logging intensity (> 19%). Most C (approx. 77%) was found in living trees, followed by soil (15%), deadwood (6%) and a small fraction in litter (1%). The imprint of logging intensity was still detectable 16 years after logging. Logging intensity was thus shown to be the main driver explaining the reduction of AGC>20, BGC>20, in deadwood and total C stocks and an increase in deadwood. Our results quantify the long-term effects of logging on forest C stocks, especially in AGC and deadwood. High logging intensity (50% reduction of initial biomass) reduced total C stocks by 27%. AGC recovery was lower in high logging intensity plots, suggesting lowered forest resilience to logging. Our study showed that keeping logging intensity below 20% of the initial biomass can limit the long-term effects of logging on AGC and deadwood stocks.


Author(s):  
T. M. Seed ◽  
M. H. Sanderson ◽  
D. L. Gutzeit ◽  
T. E. Fritz ◽  
D. V. Tolle ◽  
...  

The developing mammalian fetus is thought to be highly sensitive to ionizing radiation. However, dose, dose-rate relationships are not well established, especially the long term effects of protracted, low-dose exposure. A previous report (1) has indicated that bred beagle bitches exposed to daily doses of 5 to 35 R 60Co gamma rays throughout gestation can produce viable, seemingly normal offspring. Puppies irradiated in utero are distinguishable from controls only by their smaller size, dental abnormalities, and, in adulthood, by their inability to bear young.We report here our preliminary microscopic evaluation of ovarian pathology in young pups continuously irradiated throughout gestation at daily (22 h/day) dose rates of either 0.4, 1.0, 2.5, or 5.0 R/day of gamma rays from an attenuated 60Co source. Pups from non-irradiated bitches served as controls. Experimental animals were evaluated clinically and hematologically (control + 5.0 R/day pups) at regular intervals.


Author(s):  
D.E. Loudy ◽  
J. Sprinkle-Cavallo ◽  
J.T. Yarrington ◽  
F.Y. Thompson ◽  
J.P. Gibson

Previous short term toxicological studies of one to two weeks duration have demonstrated that MDL 19,660 (5-(4-chlorophenyl)-2,4-dihydro-2,4-dimethyl-3Hl, 2,4-triazole-3-thione), an antidepressant drug, causes a dose-related thrombocytopenia in dogs. Platelet counts started to decline after two days of dosing with 30 mg/kg/day and continued to decrease to their lowest levels by 5-7 days. The loss in platelets was primarily of the small discoid subpopulation. In vitro studies have also indicated that MDL 19,660: does not spontaneously aggregate canine platelets and has moderate antiaggregating properties by inhibiting ADP-induced aggregation. The objectives of the present investigation of MDL 19,660 were to evaluate ultrastructurally long term effects on platelet internal architecture and changes in subpopulations of platelets and megakaryocytes.Nine male and nine female beagle dogs were divided equally into three groups and were administered orally 0, 15, or 30 mg/kg/day of MDL 19,660 for three months. Compared to a control platelet range of 353,000- 452,000/μl, a doserelated thrombocytopenia reached a maximum severity of an average of 135,000/μl for the 15 mg/kg/day dogs after two weeks and 81,000/μl for the 30 mg/kg/day dogs after one week.


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