Ecological effects of strong winds on forests

• Main Authors: Turton, Stephen M., Alamgir, Mohammed
• Other Authors: Peh, Kelvin S-H., Corlett, Richard T., Bergeron, Yves
• Format: Book Part
• Language: unknown
• Published: Routledge 2015
• Subjects: Indian; Pacific; North Atlantic
• Online Access: https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/42788/2/42788%20Turton%20and%20Alamgir%202015.pdf

[Extract] Natural and anthropogenic disturbances shape forest ecosystems by controlling their structure, species composition and functional processes (Dale et al., 2001). Forest ecosystem dynamics are largely dependent on natural disturbances (like strong winds), that reshape ecosystem structure and composition, modulate ecosystem functioning, and reset and accelerate succession (Franklin et al., 2002; Turton and Stork, 2008; Turner, 201 O; Thom et al., 2013). Strong winds - typically those above gale force or 61 km h⁻¹ - are among the most important exogenic disturbance agents affecting forest ecosystems across the world, at a range of scales (Proctor et al., 2001; Zhao et al., 2006; Lugo, 2008; Turton, 2008; Wang and Xu, 2009; Yoshida et al., 2011; Turton, 2012). Tropical cyclones - also known as hurricanes and typhoons - affect wet and dry tropical forest regions adjacent to eight tropical ocean basins around the world: 1) northwest Pacific; 2) north Indian; 3) southwest Indian; 4) southeast Indian; 5) southwest Pacific; 6) northeast Pacific; 7) north Atlantic/Caribbean; and 8) south Atlantic (Turton, 2013). Forests between about 5-7 degrees north and south of the equator do not experience tropical cyclones due to the weak Coriolis effect near the equator. Nonetheless, there are many anecdotal reports of severe damage to forests over several square kilometres outside the typhoon belt in Southeast Asia (e.g. Whitmore and Burslem, 1998), and there is evidence that these events are common enough to have an influence on the structure of many of the forests in the region (e.g. Proctor et al., 2001; Baker et al., 2005).