Dr. Ir. L. (Lourens) Poorter

• MSc, Biology, Wageningen University (1991)
• Researcher, Department of Forestry, Wageningen University (1991-1992)
• Management assistant, Tropenbos foundation (1992)
• PhD, Plant Ecology, Utrecht University (1998)
• Senior researcher and subproject leader, ECOSYN project, Wageningen University (1999-2002)
• Veni Post doc researcher Tropical Forest Ecology (Bolivia), Wageningen University (2002- 2005)
• PE&RC Top Post doc researcher and Assistant Professor Tropical Forest Ecology, Wageningen University (2005- 2010)
• Associate Professor Tropical Forest Ecology, Wageningen University (2010-present)  

Current research projects 

• The functional value of biodiversity. Recovery of ecosystem processes during secondary succession in tropical wet forest of Mexico (PhD Madelon Lohbeck)
• Land use change influence on functional diversity and ecosystems processes in lowland Bolivia (PhD Geovana Carreño Rocabado)
• Functional ecology and functional biodiversity of tropical trees occurring along a rainfall gradient: implications for species coexistence and ecosystem properties 
• Functional biodiversity effects on changing ecosystem processes, ecosystem services and sustainability in the Americas: an interdisciplinary approach (DiverSus)  

• Spatial patterns in species composition, forest structure and dynamics along environmental gradients in lowland forests of Bolivia (PhD Marisol Toledo, graduated June 2010)
• Species-specific responses to climatic change in dry and wet tropical forests: is drought tolerance the clue? (PhD Lars Markesteijn, graduated February 2010)
• Functional differentiation among tree species in wet and dry tropical forests: its importance for species coexistence (Veni -project)
• Atlas of West African forests and woody plant species

Key publications
For a complete overview, click here

• Muturi, G.M.; Kariuki, J.G.; Poorter, L.; Mohren, G.M.J. (2012) Allometric equations for estimating biomass in naturally established Prosopis stands in Kenya. Journal of Horticulture and Forestry 4 (4). - p. 69 - 77.
• González-Moreno, P.; Quero, J.L.; Poorter, L.; Bonet, F.J.; Zamora, R.  (2011) Is spatial structure the key to promote plant diversity in Mediterranean forest plantations? Basic and Applied Ecology (Online first) doi:10.1016/j.baae.2011.02.012
• Markesteijn, L.; Poorter, L.; Paz, H.; Sack, L.; Bongers, F. (2011) Hydraulics and life-history of tropical dry forest tree species: coordination of species´ drought and shade tolerance. New Phytologist (Online first) doi: 10.1111/j.1469-8137.2011.03708.x
• Bakker, M.A.; Carreño-Rocabado, G.; Poorter, L. (2011) Leaf  economics traits predict litter decomposition rate of tropical plants and differ among land use types. Functional Ecology 25 (3). - p. 473 - 483
• Onoda, Y.; Westoby, M.; Adler, N.E.; Choong, A.M.L.; Clissold, F.J.; Cornelissen, J.H.C.; Diaz, S.; Dominy, N.J.; Elgart, A.; Markesteijn, L.; Poorter, L.; Kitajima, K. (2011) Global patterns of leaf mechanical properties Ecology Letters 14 (3). - p. 301 - 312.
• Maharjan , S.K.; Poorter, L., Holmgren, M.; Bongers, F.; Wieringa, J.J., ; Hawthorne, W.D. (2011) Plant functional traits and the distribution of West African rainforest trees along the rainfall gradient. Biotropica (in press). doi : 10.1111/j.1744-7429.2010.00747.x
• Lebrija Trejos, E.E.; Meave, J.; Poorter, L.; Pérez- García, E.A.; Bongers, F. (2010) Pathways, mechanisms and predictability of vegetation change during tropical dry forest succession. Perspectives in plant ecology, evolution and systematics 12 (4). - p. 267 - 275.
• Markesteijn, L.; Poorter, L.; Paz, H.; Sack, L.; Bongers, F. (2010)
  Ecological differentiation in xylem cavitation resistance is associated with stem and leaf structural traits . Plant, cell and environment 34: 137-148. 
• Van Geffen, K.G.; Poorter ,L.; Sass-Klaassen, U.; van Logtestijn, R.S.P.; Cornelissen, J.H.C. (2010) The trait contribution to wood decomposition rates of 15 neotropical tree species. Ecology 91(12): 3686-3697. 
• Baraloto, C.; Paine, C.E.T.; Poorter, L.; Beauchene, J.; Bonal, D.; Domenach, A.M.; Herault, B.; Patiño, S.; Roggy, J.C.; Chave, J. (2010)
  Decoupled leaf and stem economics in rain forest trees (Online first)
  Ecology Letters 13: 1338-1347.
• Toledo, M.; Poorter, L.; Peña-Claros, M.; Alarcón, A.; Balcázar, J.; Chuviña, J.; Leaño, C.; Licona, J.C.; Steege, H. ter; Bongers, F. (2010)Patterns and determinants of floristic variation across lowland forests of Bolivia. Biotropica (Online first) Biotropica
• Toledo, M.; Poorter, L.; Peña-Claros, M.; Alarcón, A.; Balcázar, J.; Leaño, C.; Licona, J.C.; Llanque, O.; Vroomans, V.; Zuidema, P.A.; Bongers, F. (2010) Climate is a stronger driver of tree and forest growth rates than soil and disturbance (Online first) Journal of Ecology . Nature Research Highlights
• Markesteijn, L.; Iraipi, J.; Bongers, F.; Poorter, L. (2010) Seasonal variation in soil and plant water potentials in a Bolivian tropical moist and dry forest. Journal of Ecology 26: 497-508
• Poorter, L.; Kitajima, K.; Mercado, P.; Chubina, J.; Melgar, I.; Prins, H.H.T. (2010) Resprouting as a persistence strategy in tropical forest trees: its relation with carbohydrate storage and shade tolerance. Ecology 91:2613-2627.
• Kitajima, K.; Poorter, L. (2010) Tissue-level leaf toughness, but not lamina thickness, predicts sapling leaf lifespan and shade tolerance of tropical tree species. New Phytologist 2010 (186). - p. 708 - 721
• Lebrija Trejos, E.E.; Perez-Garcia, A.E.; Meave, J.; Bongers, F.; Poorter, L. (2010) Functional traits and environmental filtering drive community assembly in a species-rich tropical system. Ecology 91 (2). - p. 386 - 398
• Poorter, L.; McDonald, I.; Alarco, A.; Fichtler, E.; Licona, J.C.; Pena-Claros, M.; Sterck, F.; Villegas, Z.; Sass-Klaassen, U. (2010) The importance of wood traits and hydraulic conductance for the performance and life history strategies of 42 rainforest tree species. New Phytologist 185: 481-492.
• Bongers, F.; Poorter, L.; Hawthorne, W.D.; Sheil, D.(2009) The intermediate disturbance hypothesis applies to tropical forests, but disturbance contributes little to tree diversityEcology Letters 12 . - p. 798 - 805.
• Powers, J.S.; Montgomery, R.A.; Adair, C.; Brearley, F.Q.; DeWalt, S.J.; Poorter, L. (2009)Decomposition in tropical forests: a pan-tropical study of the effects of litter type, litter placement and mesofaunal exclusion across a rainfall gradient. Journal of Ecology 97 (4). - p. 801 - 811.
• Causes and consequences of variation in leaf mass per area (LMA): a meta-analysis. New Phytologist 182 (3). - p. 565 - 588. 
• Markesteijn, L.; Poorter, L. (2009) Seedling root morphology and biomass allocation of 62 tropical tree species in relation to drought- and shade-tolerance. Journal of Ecology 97 (2). - p. 311 - 325.
• Poorter, L. (2009) Leaf traits show different relationships with shade tolerance in moist versus dry tropical forests. New Phytologist 181 (4). - p. 890 - 900.
• Castro-Díez, P.; González-Muñoz, N.; Alonso, A.; Gallardo, A.; Poorter, L. (2009) Effects of exotic invasive trees on nutrient cycling: a case study in central Spain. Biological Invasions 11:1973–1986.
• Poorter, L.; Rozendaal D.M.A. (2008) Leaf size and leaf display of 38 tropical tree species. Oecologia 158(1): 35-46.
• Kitajima, K. & Poorter, L. (2008). Functional basis for resource niche partitioning by tropical trees. Pp 160-181. In W.P. Carson & S.A. Schnitzer (Ed.),  --- Tropical forest community ecology. ---  (pp. 160-181). Oxford: Blackwell Publishing. 
• Poorter, L. (2008) The relationships of wood-, gas-, and water fractions of tree stems to performance and life history variation in tropical trees. Annals of Botany 102: 367-375.
• Cai, Z.Q.; Poorter, L.; Han, Q.; Bongers, F.J.J.M. (2008) Effects of light and nutrients on seedlings of tropical Bauhinia lianas and trees. Tree Physiology 28 (8). - p. 1277 - 1285.
• Poorter, L.; Hawthorne, W.D.; Sheil, D.; Bongers, F.J.J.M. (2008) Maximum size distributions in tropical forest communities; relationships with rainfall and disturbance (in press). Journal of Ecology 96 . - p. 495 - 504.
• Poorter, L.; Markesteijn, L. (2008) Seedling traits determine drought tolerance of tropical tree species. Biotropica 40 (3). - p. 321 - 331.
• Poorter, L.; Paz, H.; Wright, S.J.; Ackerly, D.D.; Condit, R.; Ibarra-Manríquez, G.; Harms, K.E.; Licona, J.C.; Martínez-Ramos, M.; Mazer, S.J.; Muller-Landau, H.C.; Peña-Claros, M.; Webb, C.O.; Wright, I.J. (2008) Are functional traits good predictors of demographic rates? Evidence from five neotropical forests. Ecology 89 (7). - p. 1908 - 1920. 
• Cai, Z.Q.; Poorter, L.; Cao, K.F.; Bongers, F.J.J.M. (2007) Seedling growth strategies in Bauhinia species: comparing lianas and trees. Annals of Botany 100(4) :831-838.
• Quero, J.L.; Villar, R.; Marañon, T.; Zamora, R.; Poorter, L. (2007)
  Seed-mass effects in four Mediterranean Quercus species (Fagaceae) growing in contrasting light environments. American Journal of Botany 94 . - p. 1795 - 1803.
• Slot, M.; Poorter, L.  (2007) Diversity of seedling responses to drought. Biotropica 39:683-690. 
• Peña-Claros, M.; Villegas, Z.; Poorter, L. (2007) Amazonia revealed: a perspective from the Amazon. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment 5 (5): 237.
• Holmgren, M.; Poorter, L. (2007). Does a ruderal strategy dominate the endemic flora of the West African forests? Journal of Biogeography 34 (6):1100 - 1111.
• Markesteijn, L.; Poorter, L.; Bongers, F.J.J.M. (2007). Light dependent leaf trait variation in 43 ropical dry forest tree species. American Journal of Botany 94 (4): 515 - 525.
• Poorter, L.; Kitajima, K. (2007). Carbohydrate storage and light requirements of tropical moist and dry forest tree species. Ecology 88(4):1000-1011. 
• Poorter, L.(2007) Are species adapted to their regeneration niche, adult niche, or both? Am. Nat. 2007, Vol. 169: 433-442.
• Wright I.J.; Ackerly, D.D.; Bongers, F.; Harms, K.E.; Ibarra-Manriquez, G.; Martinez-Ramos, M.; Mazer, S.J.; Muller-Landau, H.C.; Paz. H.; Pitman, N.C.A.; Poorter, L.'; Silman, M.; Vriesendorp, C.F.; Webb, C.O.; Westoby, M.;  Wright, S.J. (2007)  Relationships among ecologically important dimensions of plant trait variation in seven neotropical forests. Annals of Botany 99 (5):1003 - 1015.
• Sterck, F.J.; Gelder, H.A. van; Poorter, L. (2006) Mechanical branch constraints contribute to life-history variation across tree species in a Bolivian forest. Journal of Ecology 94: 1192-1200. 
• Gelder, H.A. van; Poorter, L.; Sterck, F.J. (2006) Wood mechanics, allometry, and life-history variation in a tropical rain forest tree community
  New Phytologist 171 (2006)2. - ISSN 0028-646X - p. 367 - 378.
• Rozendaal, D.M.A.; Hurtado, V.H.; Poorter, L. (2006) Plasticity in leaf traits of 38 tropical tree species in response to light; relationships with light demand and adult stature. Functional Ecology 20 (2006)2. - ISSN 0269-8463 - p. 207 - 216.
• Poorter, L.; Bongers, L; Bongers, F.J.J.M. (2006) Architecture of 54 moist forest species: traits, trade-offs, and functional groups. Ecology 87 (2006)5. - ISSN 0012-9658 - p. 1289 - 1301.
• Poorter, L.; Bongers, F.J.J.M. (2006) Leaf traits are good predictors of plant performance across 53 rain forest species. Ecology 87 (2006)7. - ISSN 0012-9658 - p. 1733 - 1743. Review by Reich
• Poorter, L. (2005) Resource capture and use by tropical forest tree seedlings and their consequences for competition. In: Biotic interactions in the tropics: their role in the maintenance of species diversity / Burslem, D.F.R.P., Pinard, M.A., Hartley, S.E., . - Cambridge : Cambridge University Press, 2005 - ISBN 0521847079 - p. 35 - 64.
• Poorter, L.; Bongers, F.J.J.M.; Sterck, F.J.; Wöll, H-J. (2005) Beyond the regeneration phase: differentiation of height-light trajectories among tropical species. Journal of Ecology 93 (2005). - ISSN 0022-0477 - p. 256 - 267.  

• Biodiversity of West African forests. An ecological atlas of woody plant species. Poorter, L.; F. Bongers; F.N. Kouame & W.D. Hawthorne (eds.) (2004). CABI Publishing, Oxford, UK, 528 pp. ISBN: 0851997341.

• Poorter, L.(1999)Growth responses of fifteen rain forest tree species to a light gradient : the relative importance of morphological and physiological traits
  Functional Ecology 13 (1999). - ISSN 0269-8463 - p. 396 - 410.
• Veneklaas, E.J.; Poorter, L.(1998)Growth and carbon partitioning of tropical tree seedlings in contrasting light environments. In: Inherent variation in plant growth : Physiological mechanisms and ecological consequences. / Lambers, H, Poorter, l, Vuuren, MMI van, . - Leiden : Backhuys Publishers, 1998 - p. 337 - 361.
• L. Poorter (1998). Seedling growth of Bolivian rain forest tree species in relation to light and water availability. PhD thesis, Utrecht University, Utrecht, 195 pp.