High aboveground carbon stock of African tropical montane forests

Tropical forests store 40–50 per cent of terrestrial vegetation carbon1. However, spatial variations in aboveground live tree biomass carbon (AGC) stocks remain poorly understood, in particular in tropical montane forests2. Owing to climatic and soil changes with increasing elevation3, AGC stocks are lower in tropical montane forests compared with lowland forests2. Here we assemble and analyse a dataset of structurally intact old-growth forests (AfriMont) spanning 44 montane sites in 12 African countries. We find that montane sites in the AfriMont plot network have a mean AGC stock of 149.4 megagrams of carbon per hectare (95% confidence interval 137.1–164.2), which is comparable to lowland forests in the African Tropical Rainforest Observation Network4 and about 70 per cent and 32 per cent higher than averages from plot networks in montane2,5,6 and lowland7 forests in the Neotropics, respectively. Notably, our results are two-thirds higher than the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change default values for these forests in Africa8. We find that the low stem density and high abundance of large trees of African lowland forests4 is mirrored in the montane forests sampled. This carbon store is endangered: we estimate that 0.8 million hectares of old-growth African montane forest have been lost since 2000. We provide country-specific montane forest AGC stock estimates modelled from our plot network to help to guide forest conservation and reforestation interventions. Our findings highlight the need for conserving these biodiverse9,10 and carbon-rich ecosystems

Co-limitation towards lower latitudes shapes global forest diversity gradients

The latitudinal diversity gradient (LDG) is one of the most recognized global patterns of species richness exhibited across a wide range of taxa. Numerous hypotheses have been proposed in the past two centuries to explain LDG, but rigorous tests of the drivers of LDGs have been limited by a lack of high-quality global species richness data. Here we produce a high-resolution (0.025° × 0.025°) map of local tree species richness using a global forest inventory database with individual tree information and local biophysical characteristics from ~1.3 million sample plots. We then quantify drivers of local tree species richness patterns across latitudes. Generally, annual mean temperature was a dominant predictor of tree species richness, which is most consistent with the metabolic theory of biodiversity (MTB). However, MTB underestimated LDG in the tropics, where high species richness was also moderated by topographic, soil and anthropogenic factors operating at local scales. Given that local landscape variables operate synergistically with bioclimatic factors in shaping the global LDG pattern, we suggest that MTB be extended to account for co-limitation by subordinate drivers

Social Perceptions of Forest Ecosystem Services in the Democratic Republic of Congo

The forests of the Albertine Rift are known for their high biodiversity and the important ecosystem services they provide to millions of inhabitants. However, their conservation and the maintenance of ecosystem service delivery is a challenge, particularly in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Our research investigates how livelihood strategy and ethnicity affects local perceptions of forest ecosystem services. We collected data through 25 focus-group discussions in villages from distinct ethnic groups, including farmers (Tembo, Shi, and Nyindu) and hunter-gatherers (Twa). Twa identify more food-provisioning services and rank bush meat and honey as the most important. They also show stronger place attachment to the forest than the farmers, who value other ecosystem services, but all rank microclimate regulation as the most important. Our findings help assess ecosystem services trade-offs, highlight the important impacts of restricted access to forests resources for Twa, and point to the need for developing alternative livelihood strategies for these communities

High above-ground carbon stock of African tropical montane forests

Tropical forests store 40–50 per cent of terrestrial vegetation carbon1. However, spatial variations in aboveground live tree biomass carbon (AGC) stocks remain poorly understood, in particular in tropical montane forests2. Owing to climatic and soil changes with increasing elevation3, AGC stocks are lower in tropical montane forests compared with lowland forests2. Here we assemble and analyse a dataset of structurally intact old-growth forests (AfriMont) spanning 44 montane sites in 12 African countries. We find that montane sites in the AfriMont plot network have a mean AGC stock of 149.4 megagrams of carbon per hectare (95% confidence interval 137.1–164.2), which is comparable to lowland forests in the African Tropical Rainforest Observation Network4 and about 70 per cent and 32 per cent higher than averages from plot networks in montane2,5,6 and lowland7 forests in the Neotropics, respectively. Notably, our results are two-thirds higher than the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change default values for these forests in Africa8. We find that the low stem density and high abundance of large trees of African lowland forests4 is mirrored in the montane forests sampled. This carbon store is endangered: we estimate that 0.8 million hectares of old-growth African montane forest have been lost since 2000. We provide country-specific montane forest AGC stock estimates modelled from our plot network to help to guide forest conservation and reforestation interventions. Our findings highlight the need for conserving these biodiverse9,10 and carbon-rich ecosystems

Co-limitation towards lower latitudes shapes global forest diversity gradients

The latitudinal diversity gradient (LDG) is one of the most recognized global patterns of species richness exhibited across a wide range of taxa. Numerous hypotheses have been proposed in the past two centuries to explain LDG, but rigorous tests of the drivers of LDGs have been limited by a lack of high-quality global species richness data. Here we produce a high-resolution (0.025° × 0.025°) map of local tree species richness using a global forest inventory database with individual tree information and local biophysical characteristics from ~1.3 million sample plots. We then quantify drivers of local tree species richness patterns across latitudes. Generally, annual mean temperature was a dominant predictor of tree species richness, which is most consistent with the metabolic theory of biodiversity (MTB). However, MTB underestimated LDG in the tropics, where high species richness was also moderated by topographic, soil and anthropogenic factors operating at local scales. Given that local landscape variables operate synergistically with bioclimatic factors in shaping the global LDG pattern, we suggest that MTB be extended to account for co-limitation by subordinate drivers

Co-limitation towards lower latitudes shapes global forest diversity gradients

The latitudinal diversity gradient (LDG) is one of the most recognized global patterns of species richness exhibited across a wide range of taxa. Numerous hypotheses have been proposed in the past two centuries to explain LDG, but rigorous tests of the drivers of LDGs have been limited by a lack of high-quality global species richness data. Here we produce a high-resolution (0.025° × 0.025°) map of local tree species richness using a global forest inventory database with individual tree information and local biophysical characteristics from ~1.3 million sample plots. We then quantify drivers of local tree species richness patterns across latitudes. Generally, annual mean temperature was a dominant predictor of tree species richness, which is most consistent with the metabolic theory of biodiversity (MTB). However, MTB underestimated LDG in the tropics, where high species richness was also moderated by topographic, soil and anthropogenic factors operating at local scales. Given that local landscape variables operate synergistically with bioclimatic factors in shaping the global LDG pattern, we suggest that MTB be extended to account for co-limitation by subordinate drivers

Lithospheric mantle structure and the diamond potential of kimberlites in southern D.R. Congo

Mantle-derived peridotitic garnet xenocrysts from kimberlites in the Mbuji Mayi and Kundelungu areas and from heavy-mineral concentrates collected in the Luebo area, D.R. Congo, have been analysed for major- and trace-element compositions in order to understand the structure and composition of the subcontinental lithospheric mantle (SCLM) and the diamond potential of the kimberlites. The lithosphere beneath the Kundelungu Plateau is ca 175 km thick and has been affected by pronounced melt metasomatism. Garnets from the Kundelungu Plateau indicate an initially cool geotherm (~ 35 mW/m²), which was disturbed by asthenospheric melts that penetrated the SCLM shortly before kimberlite intrusion ca 32 Ma ago. Harzburgitic garnets are very rare, but some lherzolitic garnets display compositions similar to garnets included in diamond. Garnets from the Mbuji Mayi region indicate a cool geotherm (35 mW/m²); the SCLM is ~ 210 km thick and was affected by melt-related and phlogopite-related metasomatisms. Harzburgitic garnets form about 33% of the analysed population. The garnets from the Luebo region indicate a cool lithospheric geotherm (35 mW/m²) typical of cratonic areas. The SCLM from which the garnets were derived was relatively thick (205 km), affected by melt-related and phlogopite-related metasomatisms and characterised by the presence of a ~ 80-km thick harzburgite-rich layer. In terms of peridotitic diamond potential, Mbuji Mayi and Luebo are more prospective than Kundelungu. The initially cool conductive geotherm, the presence of some garnets with compositions similar to garnets included in diamond and the presence of sporadic diamond in the Kundelungu Plateau suggest that diamond initially was present in the lithosphere and the observed paucity of diamond may be due to the melt-related metasomatism that affected the lithosphere in the region. We suggest that the lithospheric mantle beneath Kundelungu is a strongly modified Archean cratonic lithosphere that has survived beneath the area during Proterozoic tectonism.11 page(s

U-Pb and Hf-isotope analyses of zircon from the Kundelungu kimberlites, D.R. Congo : implications for crustal evolution

The Gungwania and Talala kimberlitic pipes on the Kundelungu Plateau (Katanga, SE Congo) have been used as drillholes, to obtain crustal zircons for a study of crustal evolution in the region and to constrain the age of the basement and the sedimentary provenance of the Katangan Supergroup. Two hundred and twenty-nine zircon grains were analysed for U–Pb ages and Hf-isotope compositions. Juvenile Mesoarchean (~3.4–3.3 Ga) crust in the region underwent recycling during Neoarchean and Paleoproterozoic time. The Paleoproterozoic event involved little production of juvenile crust, and this Paleoproterozoic crust was recycled during Mesoproterozoic and Neoproterozoic time. Both the Mesoproterozoic and Neoproterozoic were characterised by bimodal magmatism reflecting extension, linked with the break up of Rodinia and the opening of the Katangan basin, and the development of juvenile crust. Detailed studies of the external morphology of the zircons in different age groups suggest that the basement beneath the Kundelungu region is predominantly Paleoproterozoic in age; other zircon populations may be derived from the Katangan sediments. The absence of any zircons younger than 560 Ma supports deposition of the Biano Subgroup, which hosts the kimberlites, during the Pan-African Lufilian orogeny. The Archean Congo and Zimbabwe cratons, the Paleoproterozoic Ubendian Belt (Bangweulu Block), the Paleo-to-Mesoproterozoic Irumide Belt, the Mesoproterozoic Kibaran Belt and the Choma Kalomo Block may all have contributed material to the sediments of the Katangan Supergroup.31 page(s

Crustal evolution in the central Congo-Kasai Craton, Luebo, D.R. Congo : insights from zircon U-Pb ages, Hf-isotope and trace-element data

Analysis of U–Pb ages, Hf isotopes and trace-element compositions in zircon collected from modern drainages is a robust methodology for tracking crustal and magmatic evolution. The application of the technique to zircons from the Luebo area in the central part of the Congo-Kasai Craton indicates the presence of a ~3.6 Ga crust that underwent late Archean (2.9–2.5 Ga) reworking. Very low initial Hf-isotope ratios in zircons with U–Pb ages between 1.9 and 2.6 Ga suggest the presence of crust even older than 3.6 Ga at depth. The Archean crust underwent further reworking during Paleoproterozoic, Mesoproterozoic and Neoproterozoic thermal events. Post-Archean generation of juvenile crust appears to have occurred only sporadically during Meoproterozoic–Neoproterozoic time. The magmatic activity and tectonic events observed in the Neoproterozoic Katangan Belt had a regional extent as they also impacted the Congo-Kasai Craton where alkaline magmatism has occurred from late Archean to early Cambrian time. The ages of zircons with low HREE and U contents suggest three separate episodes of kimberlite magmatism in the central part of the Congo-Kasai Craton, in late Archean (2.8–2.6 Ga), Neoproteorozoic (850–582 Ma) and Cretaceous (116–70 Ma) time.9 page(s

LAM-ICPMS U-Pb dating of kimberlitic perovskite: Eocene-Oligocene kimberlites from the Kundelungu Plateau, DR Congo

Kimberlites are small-volume melts whose eruption is related to weak extension of the lithosphere, and their ages can carry important tectonic information. We have carried out in situ LAM-ICPMS U-Pb dating of groundmass perovskite in two kimberlitic pipes (Kambeli and Msipashi) in Kundelungu Plateau (SE Congo). The method is validated by the analysis of perovskites from four previously dated South African Group I kimberlites. Intercepts of regression lines on inverse-Concordia plots yield precise U-Pb ages (2σ = 2-6 Ma) and a well-constrained value for the 207Pb/206Pb of the common-Pb component. The ages of Group I kimberlites in Kimberley District cluster around 87 Ma, similar to those determined by other techniques demonstrating the robustness of the technique. The perovskites from the Kundelungu kimberlites that are intrusive into the Biano Subgroup (Neoproterozoic Katangan Supergroup) yield an age of 32.3 ± 2.2 Ma. The Eocene-Oligocene age of the Kundelungu kimberlites corresponds to the opening of the northern part of the East African Rift and implies the southward prolongation of this extension. Considering the position of the Kundelungu Plateau and gravity data for the region, the kimberlite intrusion may reflect extension on the Lake Mweru-Luapula graben. The Luizi impact structure in the Kundelungu Plateau, previously described as Pleistocene, pre-dates the kimberlitic event.11 page(s