Global Change Colloquium: Trends in vegetation variations in moist forests: bioindicators of tipping points in Southwestern Amazonia. Dr. Galia Selaya (Tropical Conservation & Development Program, University of Florida, Gainesville, USA)

Abstract:

Scientists warn that anthropogenic impact and climate change can convert moist forests into savannas. This prediction considers deforestation and wildfires in the southeast of Amazonia, but it remains unclear how this trend will extend to the rest of Amazonia. Southwestern Amazonia, harboring the emblematic Brazil nuts tree species, at the border of Pando, Bolivia, Madre de Dios, Peru, and Acre, Brazil, has about ninety percent of forest cover. A question then arises, how resilient or vulnerable is this region to reach a tipping point? We discuss trends in forest dynamics and productivity through time using repeated measures from permanent monitoring plots and multitemporal remote sensing imagery to identify indicators of vulnerability or resilience of southwestern Amazonia to global environmental changes. We show the multifactorial nature of vegetation variations that requires detangling natural variation, anthropogenic and climate change impacts, and the urgent need for actions to reduce threats to this ecosystem.

Location: CIV 060, RPTU in Landau

or: https://uni-kl-de.zoom.us/j/69744839306?pwd=NnlYbmlXWlhUUE5BNW1yV0NHc2o0Zz09

Start: 18:00