FoRCE

Our recently published global analysis shows that lianas outcompete trees in disturbed, warm, dry, lowland forests. Disturbance-temperature interaction suggests a tipping point of 27.8 degrees C, when lianas become more dominant. doi.org/10.1111/gcb.17140 – at Sunshine Coast, Queensland

The first research output from our Australian permanent sample plot network, led by @EmmaMackintosh4, shows that forests struggling to recover from cyclones are not recovering biomass and overwhelmed by liana infestations. shorturl.at/NpFM7

Monitoring of litterfall and herbivory in one of our vegetation plots has been combined with similar data from 73 other sites worldwide, showing that plant-herbivore interactions and associated nutrient fluxes, are affected by climate.

Mounting evidence supporting our hypothesis for alternative stable states within moist African (and tropical) forests: doi.org/10.3389/ffgc.2020.00… – at Sunshine Coast, Queensland

Another step towards identifying critical thresholds for tropical forest recovery from disturbance. – at Sunshine Coast, Queensland

This article summarises our use of millipedes to test for “bandage effects” of vine infestations. While they harm trees and stall forest succession, we expect that dense vine thickets also preserve microclimates for wildlife and future forest recovery. tinyurl.com/3bana6f9 – at Sunshine Coast, Queensland

PhD graduate, @askngute, interviewed about his work under our project. Great work Alain! – at Sunshine Coast, Queensland

More on our recent work identifying disturbance-climate interactions that shape global liana competition with trees news.mongabay.com/2024/03/co… – at Sunshine Coast, Queensland

We are recruiting for a new postdoc to join our team for 18 months, modelling the global and regional impact of vines on tree growth and forest recovery from disturbance. seek.com.au/job/69971824 – at Sunshine Coast, Queensland

We are seeking field assistants to help with our research into forest recovery from cyclones in North Queensland. Please circulate 😊. bitly.ws/I2oY

Secondary forest recovery in the neotropics. They appear to be behaving differently to the vine-dominated forests where we work, where recovery can be stalled for decades.

Our wonderful new field team in Vietnam has just finished establishing our latest pilot vegetation plots, our first expansion into Asia. Hopefully lots more work to follow, to determine how disturbed forests can be restored through control of plants competing with trees.

This month we begin expansion of our network of permanent vegetation plots into Colombia and Vietnam. We are establishing new pilot plots and exploring forest elevation gradients to plan for future work. Partners: @inst_humboldt and the Vietnamese Academy of Forest Sciences.