TY - JOUR

T1 - Structure and dynamics of secondary and mature rainforests

T2 - insights from South Asian long-term monitoring plots

AU - Murali, Akhil

AU - Kasinathan, Srinivasan

AU - Bhat, Kshama

AU - Ratnam, Jayashree

AU - Sankaran, Mahesh

AU - Mudappa, Divya

AU - Raman, T. R.Shankar

AU - Osuri, Anand M.

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2025 Botanical Society of Scotland and Taylor & Francis.

PY - 2025/4/30

Y1 - 2025/4/30

N2 - Background: Tropical forests play a critical role in global biodiversity conservation and carbon storage. In human-modified landscapes, secondary forests are becoming increasingly common, yet their ecological functioning remains underexplored. Comparing the forest dynamics in mature and regenerating forests offers insights into forest recovery and carbon dynamics. Aims: To compare forest structure, floristic composition, stand dynamics and carbon of a mature and secondary tropical rainforest. Methods: We assessed tree community and carbon dynamics over 5 years in two 1-ha long-term ecosystem monitoring plots, one each in mature tropical rainforests (MR) and 10-year post-agroforestry secondary rainforests (SR) in India’s Western Ghats mountains. Both plots were established in 2017 and monitored annually. We expected (1) higher tree diversity, differences in species composition, and greater carbon stock in MR; (2) higher carbon sequestration rates in SR; and (3) carbon dynamics shaped by growth and mortality in SR and MR, respectively. Results: The SR plot had fewer species (67 vs. 84), stored substantially less carbon (76 vs. 193 Mg), and comprised a distinct community with fewer late-successional species than MR. SR gained 5.8 Mg carbon, due to tree growth exceeding losses from mortality, while in MR mortality exceeded growth and recruitment resulting in a 3.3 Mg carbon decline over five years. Conclusion: While MR had higher tree diversity, carbon stocks and relatively intact composition, the high rates of biodiversity and carbon accrual in SR highlight the conservation and climate significance of post-agroforestry secondary forests. Moderate carbon losses noted here in MR, as in other mature South Asian tropical forests, is a cause for concern under ongoing climate change.

AB - Background: Tropical forests play a critical role in global biodiversity conservation and carbon storage. In human-modified landscapes, secondary forests are becoming increasingly common, yet their ecological functioning remains underexplored. Comparing the forest dynamics in mature and regenerating forests offers insights into forest recovery and carbon dynamics. Aims: To compare forest structure, floristic composition, stand dynamics and carbon of a mature and secondary tropical rainforest. Methods: We assessed tree community and carbon dynamics over 5 years in two 1-ha long-term ecosystem monitoring plots, one each in mature tropical rainforests (MR) and 10-year post-agroforestry secondary rainforests (SR) in India’s Western Ghats mountains. Both plots were established in 2017 and monitored annually. We expected (1) higher tree diversity, differences in species composition, and greater carbon stock in MR; (2) higher carbon sequestration rates in SR; and (3) carbon dynamics shaped by growth and mortality in SR and MR, respectively. Results: The SR plot had fewer species (67 vs. 84), stored substantially less carbon (76 vs. 193 Mg), and comprised a distinct community with fewer late-successional species than MR. SR gained 5.8 Mg carbon, due to tree growth exceeding losses from mortality, while in MR mortality exceeded growth and recruitment resulting in a 3.3 Mg carbon decline over five years. Conclusion: While MR had higher tree diversity, carbon stocks and relatively intact composition, the high rates of biodiversity and carbon accrual in SR highlight the conservation and climate significance of post-agroforestry secondary forests. Moderate carbon losses noted here in MR, as in other mature South Asian tropical forests, is a cause for concern under ongoing climate change.

KW - Abandoned plantation

KW - Anamalai Hills

KW - carbon stocks

KW - forest dynamics

KW - permanent forest plots

KW - secondary succession

KW - tropical rainforest

KW - Western Ghats

KW - Biology

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=105004269897&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1080/17550874.2025.2494204

DO - 10.1080/17550874.2025.2494204

M3 - Journal articles

AN - SCOPUS:105004269897

JO - Plant Ecology and Diversity

JF - Plant Ecology and Diversity

SN - 1755-0874

ER -