Cloud immersion and the future of tropical montane forests

热带山地森林是独特的生物多样性丰富的生态系统，为数千万人提供水，以及碳封存等其他服务。不幸的是，未来气温的升高，以及与之相关的云浸入量的减少，可能导致这些生态系统及其提供的服务的消失。然而，人们对云浸没如何在林分水平和宏观生态尺度上影响这些森林知之甚少，特别是在非洲。为了解决这个问题，我将把在三个非洲山脉的详细实地测量与对新创建的AfriMont绘图数据库的全大陆范围的分析结合起来，并使用最先进的分析方法从卫星图像和气候重新分析中模拟云浸泡。我将(1)确定云浸泡对维持年水分输入和树木生长的重要性，(2)量化云浸泡未来变化对碳储量和通量的影响，以及(3)评估不同优势树种如何响应云浸泡的变化。CLOUDFOR是一个高度跨学科的项目（气候科学、生态学、水文学），它将为这些森林的可持续管理产生广泛相关的关键信息——这要归功于一个有针对性的最终用户参与计划。该项目的高科学质量和明确的影响将使欧盟受益，不仅可以产生新的知识和高知名度的出版物，而且还可以促进欧盟在诸如爱知生物多样性目标和可持续发展目标等国际条约中的承诺。

Tropical montane forests are unique biodiversity rich ecosystems which provide water to tens of millions of people, alongside other services such as carbonsequestration. Unfortunately, future increases in temperature, and the associated reduction in cloud immersion, could lead to the disappearance of theseecosystems and the services they provide. However, little is known on how cloud immersion affects these forests at stand-level and macroecological scales,particularly in Africa.To address this, I will combine detailed field measurements in three African mountains with continent-wide analysis of the newly created AfriMont plotdatabase, and use state-of-the-art analysis methods to model cloud immersion from satellite images and climate re-analyses. I will (1) determine the importanceof cloud immersion for maintaining annual water inputs and tree growth, (2) quantify the consequences of future changes in cloud immersion for carbon stocksand fluxes, and (3) assess how different dominant tree species respond to changes in cloud immersion.CLOUDFOR is a highly interdisciplinary project (climate science, ecology, hydrology) which will generate key information of wide relevance for thesustainable management of these forests - thanks to a targeted end-user engagement plan.The high scientific quality and clear impact of the project will benefit the EU not only by generating new knowledge and high-profile publications, but also bycontributing to EU commitments within international treaties such as the Aichi Biodiversity targets and the Sustainable Development Goals.