Abstract

Host Prof. David Coomes

Abstract Globally drought-induced tree mortality is predicted to have a dramatic effect on the terrestrial carbon store, as future climates become hotter and drier. This is particularly the case in the tropics, which house the most carbon dense forests on earth, but where the largest trees are predicted to be most susceptible to drought. In this talk I explore what makes giant trees more susceptible to drought than smaller tropical trees. To explore this, I will showcase data from the world’s longest running tropical rain forest experiment in north east Amazonia, where a 50% reduction in rainfall has been imposed on a 1ha site for 22 years. Furthermore, I will explore the effects of tree size on the hydraulic functioning of the world tallest tropical trees.

Biography Professor Lucy Rowland started her career with a geography degree from the University of Oxford, followed by a PhD and post-doc at the University of Edinburgh focused on measuring and modelling the impact of drought on tropical rainforest. This led to an independent NERC fellowship, alongside a permanent position at the University of Exeter exploring the impact of climate change on our capacity to conserve and restore tropical ecosystems globally.

Please note the seminars are for University Of Cambridge members ONLY .