Bound by water: linking Amazonian diversity and climate vulnerability - Thiago Silva and Julia Tavares

Amazonia is the largest and most diverse tropical forest on Earth, is facing increasing water stress driven by rising temperatures, higher vapor pressure deficit (VPD), and shifts in hydrological regimes, including more frequent extreme climatic events. Yet Amazonia is not a single green mass on the map – the Amazonian biome comprises a mosaic of forest types, each with its own particularities and vulnerabilities.

In this lecture, Julia Tavares and Thiago Silva will explore how they are combining cutting-edge methods in plant morphology and functional ecology, environmental monitoring, drone remote sensing and 3D laser scanning (LiDAR) to address a central question: How are different Amazonian forests being affected by climate change?

They will present their latest findings on the responses of both upland (terra firme) and flooded forests to environmental change. 

About the speakers

National Geographic Explorers Thiago Silva and Julia Tavares co-lead the Floodscapes project, one of the seven expeditions that comprised the National Geographic and Rolex Perpetual Planet Amazon Expedition, investigating how alterations in hydrology and temperature in Amazonia may affect the structure, functioning, and diversity of its flooded forests.

Booking information

Monday night lectures are open to Fellows and Members and are included in the cost of membership.

Attending in-person

• All Fellows and Members wanting to attend in person must pre-book a free ticket. You will receive an e-ticket with a QR code that will be scanned on arrival. Your ticket can be shown on a mobile phone or printed. If you do not have a smartphone, we can find your name on the door list instead.
• Doors open at 5.30pm. Please use the Society's entrance on Exhibition Road. The lecture will begin at 6.30pm.
• Monday night lectures are held in person in the Ondaatje Theatre. The bar will be open in the Map Room before and after the lecture. Please be advised all payments are card only.
• The Ondaatje Theatre is fitted with a hearing loop. For the best quality sound we recommend sitting on the outside rows of the front seating section.
• There is step free access to the theatre. Wheelchair spaces can be booked in advance. If you have any questions about the venue, please contact events@rgs.org

Watch online

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• All Monday night lectures are livestreamed via our website so you can watch them from wherever you are.

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About Monday night lectures

Our Monday night lectures are exclusive to Fellows and Members and are included in the cost of membership. Members can book to attend the lectures in-person at the Society, or enjoy them live from the comfort of your own home.

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Accessibility at our events

We want everyone to feel welcome at our events. Key accessibility features of this event include:

• Step-free access to the event
• Accessible toilets
• Assistance dogs are welcome
• Hearing loop

For full details, please visit our accessibility page. If you have any questions or specific access requirements, feel free to get in touch with us on access@rgs.org