Can Human Impacts Lead Wet Forests to Become Dry Forests?
Science / Life Sciences
Does human action induce the transformation of wet forests into dry forests? We already know that human action leads to a loss of biodiversity and shifts in species composition. The project hypothesizes that this change is directional and favors species with traits of dry forests, thus changing the way wet forests work, making them less distinct.
Human impact selects species that are more resilient than fast-growing, such as those that invest more in surviving than in growing fast. But in humid forests, fast growth is essential to compete for light, a major driver of forest dynamics and productivity. Therefore, favoring certain species due to human activities may lead to a chain of events that will make forest formations more homogenous. Is this process already underway? What are the potential consequences of this process for biodiversity and human beings?
