Publications | Congo Biogeochemistry Observatory

Publications

2022

Conservative N cycling despite high atmospheric deposition in early successional African tropical lowland forests

I. A. Makelele, M. Bauters, K. Verheyen, M. Barthel, J. Six, T. Rütting, S. Bodé, L. C. Ntaboba, B. M. Bazirake, F. B. Bosela, F. Kimbesa, C. Ewango, P. Boeckx

Plant Soil, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-022-05473-7

Low N2O and variable CH4 fluxes from tropical forest soils of the Congo Basin

M. Barthel, M. Bauters, S. Baumgartner, T. W. Drake, N. Mokwele Bey, G. Bush, P. Boeckx, C. Ikene Botefa, N. Dériaz , G. Lompoko Ekamba, N. Gallarotti, F. M. Mbayu, J. Kalume Mugula, I. Ahanamungu Makelele, C. Ekamba Mbongo, J. Mohn, J. Zambo Mandea, D. Mata Mpambi, L. Cizungu Ntaboba, M. Bagalwa Rukeza, R. G. M. Spencer, L. Summerauer , B. Vanlauwe, K. Van Oost, B. Wolf, J. Six

Nature Communications, 13, 1–8, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-27978-6

2021

Global maps of soil temperature

J. J. Lembrechts et al.

Global Change Biology, https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.16060

Global maps and factors driving forest foliar elemental composition: the importance of evolutionary history

H. Vallicrosa, J. Sardans, J. Maspons, P. Zuccarini, M. Fernández-Martínez, M. Bauters, D. S. Goll, P. Ciais, M. Obersteiner, I. A. Janssens, J. Peñuelas

New Phytologist, 233, 169–181, https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.17771

The central African soil spectral library: a new soil infrared repository and a geographical prediction analysis

L. Summerauer, P. Baumann, L. Ramirez-Lopez, M. Barthel, M. Bauters, B. Bukombe, M. Reichenbach, P. Boeckx, E. Kearsley, K. Van Oost, B. Vanlauwe, D. Chiragaga, A. B. Heri-Kazi, P. Moonen, A. Sila, K. Shepherd, B. B. Mujinya, E. Van Ranst, G. Baert, S. Doetterl, and J. Six

Soil, 7, 693–715, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-7-693-2021

Heterotrophic soil respiration and carbon cycling in geochemically distinct African tropical forest soils

B. Bukombe, P. Fiener, A. M. Hoyt, L. K. Kidinda, S. Doetterl

Soil, 7, 639–651, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-7-639-2021

Mapping Canopy Heights in Dense Tropical Forests Using Low-Cost UAV-Derived Photogrammetric Point Clouds and Machine Learning Approaches

H. Zhang, M. Bauters, P. Boeckx, K. Van Oost

Remote Sensing, 13, 3777, https://doi.org/10.3390/rs13183777

Lianas and trees exhibit divergent intrinsic water-use efficiency along elevational gradients in South American and African tropical forests

F. M. Mumbanza, M. Bauters, F. Meunier, P. Boeckx, L. A. Cernusak, H. P. T. De Deurwaerder, M. Demol, C. Meeussen, B. Sercu, L. T. Verryckt, J. Pauwels, L. N. Cizungu, S. Báez, C. A. Lubini, H. Verbeeck

Global Ecology and Biogeography, 30, 2259–2272, https://doi.org/10.1111/geb.13382

Fire-derived phosphorus fertilization of African tropical forests

M. Bauters, T. W. Drake, S. Wagner, S. Baumgartner, I. A. Makelele, S. Bodé, K. Verheyen, H. Verbeeck, C. Ewango, L. Cizungu, K. Van Oost and P. Boeckx

Nature Communications, 12, 5129, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-25428-3

Organic matter cycling along geochemical, geomorphic, and disturbance gradients in forest and cropland of the African Tropics – project TropSOC database version 1.0

S. Doetterl, R. K. Asifiwe, G. Baert, F. Bamba, M. Bauters, P. Boeckx, B. Bukombe, G. Cadisch, M. Cooper, L. N. Cizungu, A. Hoyt, C. Kabaseke, K. Kalbitz, L. Kidinda, A. Maier, M. Mainka, J. Mayrock, D. Muhindo, B. B. Mujinya, S. M. Mukotanyi, L. Nabahungu, M. Reichenbach, B. Rewald, J. Six, A. Stegmann, L. Summerauer, R. Unseld, B. Vanlauwe, K. Van Oost, K. Verheyen, C. Vogel, F. Wilken, and P. Fiener

Earth System Science Data, 13, 4133–4153, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-13-4133-2021

High aboveground carbon stock of African tropical montane forests

Cuni-Sanchez, A., Sullivan, M.J.P., Platts, P.J. et al.

Nature, 596, 536–542, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-021-03728-4

Afrotropical secondary forests exhibit fast diversity and functional recovery, but slow compositional and carbon recovery after shifting cultivation

I. A. Makelele, K. Verheyen, P. Boeckx, L. C. Ntaboba, B. M. Bazirake, C. Ewango, M. Bauters

Journal of Vegetation Science, https://doi.org/10.1111/jvs.13071

Effects of Climate and Atmospheric Nitrogen Deposition on Early to Mid-Term Stage Litter Decomposition Across Biomes

T. O. Kwon et al.

Frontiers in Forests and Global Change, 4, 1–18, https://doi.org/10.3389/ffgc.2021.678480

In-depth analysis of N2O fluxes in tropical forest soils of the Congo Basin combining isotope and functional gene analysis

N. Gallarotti, M. Barthel, E. Verhoeven, E. I. P. Pereira, M. Bauters, S. Baumgartner, T. W. Drake, P. Boeckx, J. Mohn, M. Longepierre, J. K. Mugula, I. A. Makelele, L. C. Ntaboba & J. Six

The ISME Journal, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41396-021-01004-x

Taking the pulse of Earth’s tropical forests using networks of highly distributed plots

ForestPlots.net et al.

Biological Conservation, 260, 108849, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2020.108849

Global carbon dioxide efflux from rivers enhanced by high nocturnal emissions

L. Gómez-Gener, G. Rocher-Ros, T. Battin, M. J. Cohen, H. J. Dalmagro, K. J. Dinsmore, T. W. Drake, C. Duvert, A. Enrich-Prast, Å. Horgby, M. S. Johnson, L. Kirk, F. Machado-Silva, N. S. Marzolf, M. J. McDowell, W. H. McDowell, H. Miettinen, A. K. Ojala, H. Peter, J. Pumpanen, L. Ran, D. A. Riveros-Iregui, I. R. Santos, J. Six, E. H. Stanley, M. B. Wallin, S. A. White and R. A. Sponseller
Nature Geoscience, 14, 289–294, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561-021-00722-3

Spatial and seasonal patterns of rainfall erosivity in the Lake Kivu region: Insights from a meteorological observatory network

R.M. Bagalwa , C. Chartin , S. Baumgartner , S. Mercier , M. Syauswa , V.C. Samba , M.T. Zabona , K. Karume , N.L. Cizungu , M. Barthel , S. Doetterl , J. Six , P. Boeckx , K. Van Oost

Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment, https://doi.org/10.1177/03091333211001793

Soil Nutrient Depletion and Tree Functional Composition Shift Following Repeated Clearing in Secondary Forests of the Congo Basin

M. Bauters, P. Moonen, L. Summerauer, S. Doetterl, D. Wasner, M. Griepentrog, F.M. Mumbanza, E. Kearsley, C. Ewango, F. Boyemba, J. Six, B. Muys, B. Verbist, P. Boeckx & K. Verheyen

Ecosystems, 24, 1422–1435, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10021-020-00593-6

2020

Poverty and climate change challenges for sustainable intensification of cocoa systems

P. Boeckx, M. Bauters, K. Dewettinck

Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability, 47, 106–111, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cosust.2020.10.012

Liana communities exhibit different species composition, diversity and community structure across forest types in the Congo Basin

F. M. Mumbanza, M. Bauters, E. Kearsley, P. Boeckx, C. A. Lubini, H. Verbeeck

Biotropica, 52, 651–663, https://doi.org/10.1111/btp.12787

Du feu à l'eau: source and flux of dissolved black carbon from the Congo River

T.W. Drake, S. Wagner, A. Stubbins, J.N. Wabakanghanzi, J.B. Dinga, J. Six, and R.G.M. Spencer

Global Biogeochemical Cycles, 34, https://doi.org/10.1029/2020GB006560

SoilTemp: A global database of near-surface temperature

J. J. Lembrechts et al.

Global Change Biology, 26, 6616–6629, https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.15123

Seasonality, drivers, and isotopic composition of soil CO2 fluxes from tropical forests of the Congo Basin

S. Baumgartner, M. Barthel, T.W. Drake, M. Bauters, I.A. Makelele, J.K. Mugula, L. Summerauer, N. Gallarotti, L.C. Ntaboba, K. Van Oost, P. Boeckx, S. Doetterl, R.A. Werner, and J. Six

Biogeosciences, 17, 6207–6218, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-17-6207-2020.

Century-long apparent decrease in intrinsic water-use efficiency with no evidence of progressive nutrient limitation in African tropical forests

M. Bauters, S. Meeus, M. Barthel, P. Stoffelen, H.P.T. De Deurwaerder, F. Meunier, T.W. Drake, Q. Ponette, J. Ebuy, P. Vermeir, H. Beeckman, F. Wyffels, S. Bodé, H. Verbeeck, F. Vandelook, P. Boeckx

Global Change Biology, 26, 4449– 4461, https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.15145.

Environmental research in the heart of Africa: The Congo Biogeochemistry Observatory: The role of the changing Tropics for future global carbon dynamics

S. Dötterl, T. Drake, M. Bauters, K. Van Oost, M. Barthel and A. Hoyt

Open Access Government, 25, 328-329.

2019

TRY plant trait database – enhanced coverage and open access

J. Kattge et al.

Global Change Biology, 26, 119–188, https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.14904

Long‐term recovery of the functional community assembly and carbon pools in an African tropical forest succession

M. Bauters, O. Vercleyen, B. Vanlauwe, J. Six, B. Bonyoma, H. Badjoko, W. Hubau, A. Hoyt, M. Boudin, H. Verbeeck and P. Boeckx

Biotropica, 51, 319–329, https://doi.org/10.1111/btp.12647

Land‐use controls on carbon biogeochemistry in lowland streams of the Congo Basin

T.W. Drake, D.C. Podgorski, B. Dinga, J. Chanton, J. Six and R.G.M. Spencer

Global Change Biology, 26, 1347–1389, https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.14889

Understanding carbon cycling in tropical soil systems

S. Doetterl

EU Research, 37–37

Mobilization of aged and biolabile soil carbon by tropical deforestation

T.W. Drake, K. Van Oost, M. Barthel, M. Bauters, A.M. Hoyt, D.C. Podgorski, J. Six, P. Boeckx, S.E. Trumbore, L. Cizungu Ntaboba and R.G.M. Spencer

Nature Geoscience, 12, 541–46. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561-019-0384-9

Contrasting nitrogen fluxes in African tropical forests of the Congo Basin

M. Bauters, H. Verbeeck, T. Rütting, M. Barthel, B. Bazirake Mujinya, F. Bamba, S. Bodé, F. Boyemba, E. Bulonza, E. Carlsson, L. Eriksson, I. Makelele, J. Six, L. Cizungu Ntaboba and P. Boeckx

Ecological Monographs, 89, e01342, https://doi.org/10.1002/ecm.1342

2018

Phylogenetic Classification of the World’s Tropical Forests

J. W. F. Slik, J. Franklin, V. Arroyo-Rodríguez, R. Field, S. Aguilar, N. Aguirre, J. Ahumada et al.

PNAS, 115, 1837–1842, https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1714977115

High fire-derived nitrogen deposition on central African forests

M. Bauters, T. W. Drake, H. Verbeeck, S. Bodé, P. Hervé-Fernández, P. Zito, D. C. Podgorski, F. Boyemba, I. Makelele, L. Cizungu Ntaboba, R. G. M. Spencer, and P. Boeckx

PNAS, 115, 549–554, https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1714597115

2017

Parallel functional and stoichiometric trait shifts in South American and African forest communities with elevation

M. Bauters, H. Verbeeck, M. Demol, S. Bruneel, C. Taveirne, D. Van der Heyden, L. Cizungu and P. Boeckx

Biogeosciences, 14, 5313–5321, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-14-5313-2017

Spatial Distribution of Carbon Stored in Forests of the Democratic Republic of Congo

L. Xu, S. Saatchi, A. Shapiro, V. Meyer, A. Ferraz, Y. Yang, JF. Bastin, N. Banks, P. Boeckx, H. Verbeeck et al.

Scientific Reports, 7, 15030, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-15050-z

Functional Composition of Tree Communities Changed Topsoil Properties in an Old Experimental Tropical Plantation

M. Bauters, H. Verbeeck, S. Doetterl, E. Ampoorter, G. Baert, P. Vermeir, K. Verheyen and P. Boeckx

Ecosystems, 20, 861–871, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10021-016-0081-0

Congolese Rhizospheric Soils as a Rich Source of New Plant Growth-Promoting Endophytic Piriformospora Isolates

J. Venneman, K. Audenaert, J. Verwaeren, G. Baert, P. Boeckx, A. M. Moango, B. D. Dhed’a, D. Vereecke and G. Haesaert

Frontiers in Microbiology, 8, 212, https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2017.00212

2016

Origins, seasonality, and fluxes of organic matter in the Congo River

R. G. M. Spencer, P. J. Hernes, B. J. Dinga, J. N. Wabakanghanzi, T. W. Drake and J. Six

Global Biogeochemical Cycles, 30, 1105–1121, https://doi.org/10.1002/2016GB005427

Facultative nitrogen fixation by legumes in the central Congo basin is downregulated during late successional stages

M. Bauters, N. Mapenzi, E. Kearsley, B. Vanlauwe and P. Boeckx

Biotropica, 48, 281–284, https://doi.org/10.1111/btp.12312

An integrated pan‐tropical biomass map using multiple reference datasets

V. Avitabile, M. Herold, G. B. M. Heuvelink, S. L. Lewis, O. L. Phillips, G. P. Asner, J. Armston, P. S. Ashton, L. Banin, N. Bayol et al.

Global Change Biology, 22, 1406–1420, https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.13139

2015

Aboveground vs. Belowground Carbon Stocks in African Tropical Lowland Rainforest: Drivers and Implications

S. Doetterl, E. Kearsley, M. Bauters, K. Hufkens, J. Lisingo, G. Baert, H. Verbeeck and P. Boeckx

PLOS ONE, 10, e0143209, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0143209

Functional identity explains carbon sequestration in a 77-year-old experimental tropical plantation

M. Bauters, E. Ampoorter, D. Huygens, E. Kearsley, T. De Haulleville, G. Sellan, H. Verbeeck, P. Boeckx and K. Verheyen

Ecosphere, 6, 198, https://doi.org/10.1890/ES15-00342.1

Leaky nitrogen cycle in pristine African montane rainforest soil

T. Rütting, L. Cizungu Ntaboba, D. Roobroeck, M. Bauters, D. Huygens, and P. Boeckx

Global Biogeochemical Cycles, 29, 1754–1762, https://doi.org/10.1002/2015GB005144

An estimate of the number of tropical tree species

J. W. F. Slik, V. Arroyo-Rodríguez, SI. Aiba, P. Alvarez-Loayza, L. F. Alves, P. Ashton, P. Balvanera, M. L. Bastian et al.

PNAS, 112, 7472–7477, https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1423147112

2014

The biogeochemistry of carbon across a gradient of streams and rivers within the Congo Basin

P. J. Mann, R. G. M. Spencer, B. J. Dinga, J. R. Poulsen, P. J. Hernes, G. Fiske, M. E. Salter, Z. A. Wang, K. A. Hoering, J. Six and R. M. Holmes

Journal of Geophysical Research Biogeosciences, 119, 687–702, https://doi.org/10.1002/2013JG002442