Lightning‐caused disturbance frequency and severity varies with topography in an Afromontane forest

Lightning-caused disturbances in Nyungwe National Park, Rwanda, exhibit significant variation in frequency and severity based on topography. Ridges experience six times more lightning strikes (19) compared to valleys (2), yet valley disturbances cause greater tree-level damage and a higher mortality rate among affected trees, though the latter was not statistically significant due to limited sample size. This pattern contrasts with findings from tropical American forests, where lightning typically results in higher tree mortality rates. The study also suggests taxonomic differences in lightning tolerance, particularly for ridge-dominant Syzygium spp., which showed less damage compared to the community average. These insights imply that lightning disturbance severity may decline with increased frequency and highlight potential species-specific adaptations to lightning stress.

Gora, E. M., Ngute, A. S. K., Batumike, R., Cuni‐Sanchez, A., Imani, G., Kaplin, B. A., Bantlin, D., Bitariho, R., Zoletto, B., Petridis, N., Sheil, D., & Sullivan, M. J. P. (2026). Lightning‐caused disturbance frequency and severity varies with topography in an Afromontane forest. Journal of Ecology, 114(3). Portico. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2745.70278