Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 11, 2026
06:27
Simulating Impacts of Ice Storms on Forest Ecosystems
Published on: June 30, 2020
7.5K
Landscape evolution and nutrient rejuvenation reflected in Amazon forest canopy chemistry
K Dana Chadwick1,2, Gregory P Asner1
1Department of Global Ecology, Carnegie Institution for Science, 260 Panama St., Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.
Ecology Letters
|April 17, 2018
Summary
Geomorphic processes like stream incision create nutrient variations in western Amazonian terra firme forests. These landscape dynamics influence plant chemistry and forest organization.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Geomorphology
- Biogeochemistry
Background:
- Terra firme forests in the western Amazon are often viewed as functionally uniform.
- However, underlying landforms undergo dynamic landscape evolution, potentially causing nutrient variability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how geomorphic processes influence nutrient status and foliar chemistry in western Amazonian terra firme forests.
- To understand the fine-scale spatial organization of these tropical ecosystems.
Main Methods:
- Utilized high-resolution airborne topographic and imaging spectroscopy data.
- Conducted directed field soil surveys across seven catchments within a single terrace formation.
Main Results:
- Active stream incision and soil/rock-derived nutrient availability were found to drive foliar canopy chemistry distributions.
- Fine-scale geomorphic processes directly impact biogeochemical cycles in the lowland western Amazon.
Conclusions:
- Geomorphic processes significantly affect nutrient availability and foliar chemistry at a local scale.
- Landscape evolution drives the fine-scale spatial organization of Amazonian forests, impacting their functional assembly and biogeography.
Related Concept Videos
02:55The Evidence for Evolution
48.4K
Genetic variations accumulating within populations over generations give rise to biological evolution. Evolutionary changes can result in the formation of novel varieties and entire new species. These changes are responsible for the diverse forms of life inhabiting the planet. The evidence for evolution suggests that all living organisms descended from common ancestors.
48.4K
01:54Convergent Evolution
33.1K
Evolution shapes the features of organisms over time, ensuring that they are suited for the environments in which they live. Sometimes, selection pressure leads to the rise of similar but unrelated adaptations in organisms with no recent common ancestors, a process known as convergent evolution.
33.1K
01:19Absorption of Nutrients
5.5K
Absorption refers to taking dietary nutrients from the intestinal lumen for transportation throughout the body. After digestion in the small intestine, carbohydrates, proteins, and fats are broken down into simpler forms. These essential macronutrients and other vital substances, such as vitamins, minerals, and water, are then prepared for absorption into the bloodstream.
Enterocytes, which are specialized polar epithelial cells, line the mucosa of the small intestinal walls. These cells...
Enterocytes, which are specialized polar epithelial cells, line the mucosa of the small intestinal walls. These cells...
5.5K
01:24Eukaryotic Evolution
42.4K
The endosymbiont theory is the most widely accepted theory of eukaryotic evolution; however, its progression is still somewhat debated. According to the nucleus-first hypothesis, the ancestral prokaryote first evolved a membrane to enclose DNA and form the nucleus. Conversely, the mitochondria-first hypothesis suggests that the nucleus was formed after endosymbiosis of mitochondria.
Contrary to the endosymbiont theory, the eukaryote-first hypothesis proposes that the simpler prokaryotic and...
Contrary to the endosymbiont theory, the eukaryote-first hypothesis proposes that the simpler prokaryotic and...
42.4K
02:31Synteny and Evolution
3.8K
John H. Renwick first coined the term “synteny” in 1971, which refers to the genes present on the same chromosomes, even if they are not genetically linked. The species with common ancestry tend to show conserved syntenic regions. Therefore, the concept of synteny is nowadays used to describe the evolutionary relationship between species.
Around 80 million years ago, the human and mice lineages diverged from the common ancestor. During the course of evolution, the ancestral...
Around 80 million years ago, the human and mice lineages diverged from the common ancestor. During the course of evolution, the ancestral...
3.8K
01:07Reflection of Waves
4.7K
When a wave travels from one medium to another, it gets reflected at the boundary of the second medium. A common example of this is when a person yells at a distance from a cliff and hears the echo of their voice. The sound waves (longitudinal waves) traveling in the air are reflected from the bounding cliff. Similarly, flipping one end of a string whose other end is tied to a wall causes a pulse (transverse wave) to travel through the string, which gets reflected upon reaching the wall. In...
4.7K