Under electric skies: the role of lightning and atmospheric electrical phenomena in tropical forests in Central Africa

Tropical forests in Central Africa experience some of the world's highest lightning activity, yet we know very little about how lightning affects them. This thesis investigates how lightning shapes tropical forests, from where it strikes to how trees respond. It shows that lightning scars on tree trunks are more common than previously thought and can be used to identify lightning strikes. The research indicates that trees growing on ridges, taller trees, and trees with larger crowns are more likely to be struck, and that some tree species are more vulnerable than others. Once struck, larger trees generally survive better, but damage severity varies considerably among species. Finally, this thesis demonstrates that thunderstorms influence the electrical activity inside living trees, suggesting a previously unknown connection between atmospheric electricity and plant physiology. Together, these findings highlight lightning as an important, but often overlooked, influence on tropical forest ecosystems.