Lightning strike burns large forest tree in the Lopé Reserve, Gabon

Citation

Tutin CEG, White L & Mackanga-Missandzou A (1996) Lightning strike burns large forest tree in the Lopé Reserve, Gabon. Global Ecology and Biogeography Letters, 5 (1), pp. 36-41. http://www.jstor.org/stable/2997469

Abstract
Natural fires are assumed to occur in tropical forests and lightning is the most probable cause. However, while fires of man-made origin are widespread and have had an impact on past and present forest dynamics, no natural fires in moist tropical forest appear to have been documented. In October 1993, a large forest tree in the Lope Reserve, Gabon, burnt as a result of fires ignited by lightning. The circumstances of the fire are described and its implications discussed.

Keywords
Lightning; natural fire; charcoal; rain forest; Gabon

Journal
Global Ecology and Biogeography Letters: Volume 5, Issue 1