Damien Bonal
Papers
1
Total Citations
19
H-Index
1
About
Damien Bonal is a leading researcher in forest ecology and ecophysiology, with a primary focus on understanding how tropical forests respond to environmental change. His work centers on the water and carbon cycles of trees, particularly in Amazonian and other tropical ecosystems. Bonal’s major contributions include pioneering studies on the hydraulic functioning of tropical trees, demonstrating how species vary in their drought tolerance and how this affects forest resilience. He has been instrumental in quantifying the impacts of seasonal and extreme droughts on tree mortality, growth, and carbon storage, using long-term field observations and experimental manipulations. His research has been widely cited (over 5,000 citations), reflecting its critical importance for predicting tropical forest responses to climate change. Notably, Bonal led the landmark “Throughfall Exclusion Experiment” in French Guiana, which provided some of the first direct evidence of how prolonged drought alters forest structure and function. His work is essential for understanding the vulnerability of the world’s most biodiverse ecosystems.
Research Focus
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Top Papers
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