Contrasting carbon cycle along tropical forest aridity gradients in W Africa and Amazonia

• DOI: 10.1101/2023.07.02.547401
• Publication Date: 2023-07-04T00:30:16Z
• Authors: Huanyuan Zhang-Zheng; Stephen Adu Bredu; Akwasi Duah-Gyamfi; Sam Moore; Shalom D. Addo-Danso; Forzia Ibrahim; Lucy Amissah; Riccardo Valentini; Gloria Djagbletey; Kelvin Anim-Adjei; Kennedy Owusu-Afr...; Agne Gvozdevaite; Maria C. Ruiz-Jaen; Cécile A.J. Girardin; Sami Rifai; Cecilia Dahlsjö; Terhi Riutta; Xiongjie Deng; Minxue Tang; Yuheng Sun; Iain Colin Prentice; Imma Oliveras Menor; Yadvinder Malhi

2 Abstract Tropical forests cover large areas of equatorial Africa and play a significant role in the global carbon cycle. However, there has been lack in-situ measurements to understand forests’ gross net primary productivity (GPP NPP) their allocation. Here we present first detailed field assessment budget multiple forest sites Africa, by monitoring 14 one-hectare plots along an aridity gradient Ghana. When compared with equivalent Amazonia using same measurement protocol, studied West African generally had higher GPP NPP lower use efficiency (CUE). The consistently shows highest NPP, CUE, GPP, autotrophic respiration at medium-aridity site, Bobiri. Notably, site are yet reported anywhere tropics similar methods. Widely used data products (MODIS FLUXCOM) substantially underestimate when situ measurements, especially Africa. Our analysis suggests that high is linked allocation canopy semi-deciduous characteristics, which may be result seasonal climate coupled soil fertility.