Overall, the long-term biomass increase of these forests was reduced due to the El Niño event, but these plots remained a live biomass carbon sink (0.51 ± 0.40 Mg C ha −1 y −1) despite extreme environmental conditions. The record temperature did not significantly reduce carbon gains from tree growth or significantly increase carbon losses from tree mortality, but the record drought did significantly decrease net carbon uptake. These plots experienced the highest temperatures and driest conditions on record. We use 100 long-term inventory plots from six countries each measured at least twice prior to and once following the 2015–2016 El Niño event. Here, we report responses of structurally intact old-growth lowland tropical forests inventoried within the African Tropical Rainforest Observatory Network (AfriTRON). African tropical forests may be particularly sensitive because they exist in relatively dry conditions compared with Amazonian or Asian forests, or they may be more resistant because of an abundance of drought-adapted species. The role of African tropical forests is uncertain as their responses to short-term drought and temperature anomalies have yet to be determined using on-the-ground measurements. The positive phase of the 2015–2016 El Niño Southern Oscillation resulted in unprecedented heat and low precipitation in the tropics with substantial impacts on the global carbon cycle. The responses of tropical forests to environmental change are critical uncertainties in predicting the future impacts of climate change. Umunay, Hans Verbeeck, Jason Vleminckx, Lee J.

Sunderland, Hermann Taedoumg, Joey Talbot, Darlington S. Poulsen, Jan Reitsma, Bonaventure Sonké, Terry C. Medjibe, Vianet Mihindu, Sam Moore, Natacha Nssi Begone, Georgia C. Jeffery, Elizabeth Kearsley, Miguel Leal, Aurora Levesley, Jean-Remy Makana, Faustin Mbayu Lukasu, Vincent P. Foli, Christelle Gonmadje, Jefferson S. Daniels, Thales de Haulleville, Marie-Noël Djuikouo Kamdem, Jean-Louis Doucet, Fidèle Evouna Ondo, Corneille E. Bocko, Pascal Boeckx, Jan Bogaert, Terry Brncic, Eric Chezeaux, Connie J.

Cooper, Stephen Adu-Bredu, Kofi Affum-Baffoe, Christian A.

Dargie, Aida Cuni-Sanchez, +57, John Tshibamba Mukendi, Wannes Hubau, Jacques M.

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