Forest dynamics and aboveground biomass balance of Atlantic Forest across an elevation gradient of the "Serra do Mar" state park

Orientadores: Carlos Alfredo Joly, Simone Aparecida VieiraTese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de BiologiaResumo: Compreender como a dinâmica da comunidade arbórea e a produtividade em florestas tropicais respondem a um gradiente de elevação pode auxiliar no entendimento de como as florestas tropicais se comportará sobre a influência de mudanças no clima no futuro. Nesta tese investigamos a dinâmica e a produtividade da floresta Atlântica ao longo do gradiente de elevação da Serra do Mar com foco na ecologia funcional, utilizando 13 parcelas permanentes de 1-ha. Representamos a dinâmica florestal como o crescimento, à mortalidade e o recrutamento da comunidade arbórea; e a produtividade como o incremento em biomassa dos indivíduos arbóreos vivos e sua mudança líquida. Utilizamos como atributo funcional chave a densidade da madeira, devido à sua capacidade de integrar o equilíbrio entre crescimento e sobrevivência de espécies arbóreas em florestas tropicais. Como utilizamos um enfoque funcional, no primeiro capítulo avaliamos o potencial da utilização de modelos contínuos de probabilidade para descrever um dos importantes aspectos da diversidade funcional: a divergência. Descobrimos que o melhor modelo de probabilidade para descrever o dado de densidade da madeira, dentre os testados, foi de Weibull e que seu parâmetro shape atuou como um importante descritor de tradicionais índices que descrevem a divergência funcional em comunidades florestais. No segundo capítulo avaliamos a convergência funcional e os padrões de divergência da densidade da madeira em resposta ao gradiente de elevação. Não encontramos convergência da densidade da madeira tanto com relação a elevação quanto com relação ao gradiente de inclinação encontrado ao longo do gradiente. O padrão de divergência na escala da comunidade, por outro lado, variou ao longo do gradiente e apresentou relação com a inclinação do terreno e o estágio de clareira - definido aqui como o regime natural de distúrbio local e regeneração subsequente. Encontramos comunidades com menor divergência funcional em áreas mais inclinadas e de estágio avançado de clareira. No terceiro capítulo avaliamos o crescimento em múltiplas escalas ao longo do gradiente de elevação. Testamos a relação entre a densidade da madeira e o crescimento no nível da espécie e encontramos que a relação foi site-específica, em apenas 4 das 13 parcelas permanentes. Investigamos também os determinantes do crescimento no nível da comunidade e encontramos um efeito do padrão de divergência da densidade da madeira sobre o crescimento absoluto e relativo da comunidade. As comunidades com menor divergência funcional da densidade da madeira cresceram menos quando comparada com as comunidades com maior divergência funcional. Por fim, no quarto e último capítulo avaliamos a mortalidade e o recrutamento em múltiplas escalas ao longo do gradiente de elevação. Além disso, avaliamos a influência do turnover ¿ a taxa com que árvores morrem e recrutam em uma comunidade florestal ¿ sobre a mudança líquida da biomassa acima do solo. Encontramos que a densidade da madeira foi um importante descritor da mortalidade no nível individual e de espécie, porém não na escala da comunidade. Nessa escala o estágio de clareira foi um importante descritor da mortalidade, do recrutamento e do turnover. Por fim, as áreas de menor turnover florestal foram às áreas que acumularam mais biomassa líquida acima do solo ao longo do gradiente. As áreas muito inclinadas do gradiente de elevação estão atuando como uma determinadora de nicho de espécies, abrigando comunidades menos dinâmicas e de estágio mais avançado de clareira. Consequentemente, essas comunidades apresentam menores taxas de crescimento, mortalidade e turnover e acumulam mais biomassa líquida acima do soloAbstract: Understanding how the dynamics and productivity of the tree community in tropical forests change with an elevation gradient can help to produce insights about how these ecosystems will behave under the influence of climate change in the future. This thesis assessed the dynamics and productivity of the Atlantic forest along the elevation gradient of the Serra do Mar with a focus on functional ecology, using 13 permanent plots of 1-ha. We represented the forest dynamics as growth, mortality and recruitment of tree community; and productivity as the increment in biomass of the living individual trees and their net change. We used wood density as a key functional trait due to its ability to integrate the trade-off between growth and survival of tree species in tropical forests. As we used a functional approach, we evaluate in the first chapter the potential of using continuous probability distributions to describe one of the important aspects of functional diversity: the functional divergence. We found that the best probability model to describe the wood density data, among the tested, was Weibull and its shape parameter was an important descriptor of traditional indices describing the functional divergence in forest communities. In the second chapter we evaluate the functional convergence and patterns of wood density divergence in response to the elevation gradient. We did not find convergence of wood density both with respect to elevation and slope gradient found along the gradient. The pattern of divergence in community scale, on the other hand, changed along the gradient and was related to the slope of the terrain and the gap phase - defined here as the natural regime of local disturbance and subsequent regeneration. We found communities with lower functional divergence in steep slopes and advanced gap phase. In the third chapter we assessed the growth at multiple scales along the elevation gradient. We tested the relationship between the wood density and growth at species level and it was site-specific, in only 4 of the 13 permanent plots. We also investigated the determinants of growth at the community-level and found an effect of SES.PW - the standardized effect of mean pairwise trait distance, a measure of divergence - on the absolute and relative growth at the community-level. Communities with lower functional divergence showed the lowest growth rates when compared to communities with greater functional divergence. Finally, in the fourth and final chapter we evaluated the mortality and recruitment at multiple scales along the elevation gradient. In addition, we evaluated the influence of turnover - the rate at which trees die and recruit in a forest community - on above-ground biomass net change. We found that the wood density was an important descriptor of mortality at the individual and species level, but not at community-level. At the community-level, the gap phase was an important descriptor of mortality, recruitment and turnover. Finally, we found that forest areas with the lowest turnover rates accumulated more above ground biomass across the elevation gradient. The very steep areas are acting as a determiner of species niche, harboring communities with low dynamics and with advanced gap phase. Consequently, these communities show lower mortality and turnover rates, grow slowly and accumulate more above ground biomassDoutoradoBiologia VegetalDoutor em Biologia Vegetal2011/11604-9FAPES

Can land use changes alter carbon, nitrogen and major ion transport in subtropical brazilian streams?

Diversos estudos têm sido desenvolvidos em bacias de drenagem tropicais no intuito de avaliar o impacto da urbanização e das práticas agrícolas na qualidade dos corpos d'água. No Brasil, as savanas (conhecidas regionalmente como Cerrado) representam 23% do território brasileiro, sendo uma região importante no crescimento nacional, especialmente devido às intensas atividades agrícolas. A finalidade deste trabalho é apresentar uma avaliação dos fluxos de carbono, nitrogênio e principais íons em córregos com diferentes usos do solo (vegetação, cana de açúcar e eucalipto) em uma região de Cerrado, SE Brasil. A cana de açúcar e o eucalipto alteram o transporte dos elementos investigados nessas pequenas bacias de drenagem. As concentrações mais elevadas de todos os parâmetros analisados (parâmetros abióticos, íons, carbono orgânico dissolvido e carbono inorgânico dissolvido) foram encontradas na bacia de cana de açúcar (SCW). As concentrações observadas para os cátions na bacia do eucalipto (EW) (Mg, Ca, K, Na), assim como Carbono Inorgânico Dissolvido (CID) e Carbono Orgânico Dissolvido (COD), apresentaram valores intermediários entre as bacias do Cerrado e da cana de açúcar, sugerindo um impacto moderado dessa plantação aos corpos d'água. Mesma tendência foi observada para os fluxos de íons e nutrientes, sendo, novamente, os maiores valores encontrados na bacia de cana-de-açúcar. Os autores sugerem que o cultivo da cana de açúcar representa um importante fator na modificação da química de pequenas bacias de drenagem.Several studies in tropical watersheds have evaluated the impact of urbanization and agricultural practices on water quality. In Brazil, savannas (known regionally as Cerrados) represent 23% of the country's surface, representing an important share to the national primary growth product, especially due to intense agriculture. The purpose of this study is to present a comprehensive evaluation, on a yearly basis, of carbon, nitrogen and major ion fluxes in streams crossing areas under different land use (natural vegetation, sugar cane and eucalyptus) in a savanna region of SE Brazil. Eucalyptus and sugar cane alter the transport of the investigated elements in small watersheds. The highest concentration of all parameters (abiotic parameters, ions, dissolved organic carbon DOC - and dissolved inorganic carbon - DIC) were found in Sugar Cane Watersheds (SCW). The observed concentrations of major cations in Eucalyptus Watersheds (EW) (Mg, Ca, K, Na), as well as DIN and DOC, were found frequently to be intermediate values between those of Savanna Watersheds (SW) and SCW, suggesting a moderate impact of eucalyptus plantations on the streamwater. Same trends were found in relation to ion and nutrient fluxes, where the higher values corresponded to SCW. It is suggested that sugar cane plantations might be playing an important role in altering the chemistry of water bodies

Drought-induced Amazonian wildfires instigate a decadal-scale disruption of forest carbon dynamics

Drought-induced wildfires have increased in frequency and extent over the tropics. Yet, the long-term (greater than 10 years) responses of Amazonian lowland forests to fire disturbance are poorly known. To understand post-fire forest biomass dynamics, and to assess the time required for fire-affected forests to recover to pre-disturbance levels, we combined 16 single with 182 multiple forest census into a unique large-scale and long-term dataset across the Brazilian Amazonia. We quantified biomass, mortality and wood productivity of burned plots along a chronosequence of up to 31 years post-fire and compared to surrounding unburned plots measured simultaneously. Stem mortality and growth were assessed among functional groups. At the plot level, we found that fire-affected forests have biomass levels 24.8 ± 6.9% below the biomass value of unburned control plots after 31 years. This lower biomass state results from the elevated levels of biomass loss through mortality, which is not sufficiently compensated for by wood productivity (incremental growth + recruitment). At the stem level, we found major changes in mortality and growth rates up to 11 years post-fire. The post-fire stem mortality rates exceeded unburned control plots by 680% (i.e. greater than 40 cm diameter at breast height (DBH); 5–8 years since last fire) and 315% (i.e. greater than 0.7 g cm−3 wood density; 0.75–4 years since last fire). Our findings indicate that wildfires in humid tropical forests can significantly reduce forest biomass for decades by enhancing mortality rates of all trees, including large and high wood density trees, which store the largest amount of biomass in old-growth forests. This assessment of stem dynamics, therefore, demonstrates that wildfires slow down or stall the post-fire recovery of Amazonian forests. This article is part of a discussion meeting issue ‘The impact of the 2015/2016 El Niño on the terrestrial tropical carbon cycle: patterns, mechanisms and implications’

Forest dynamics in lowland and coastal seasonally flooded Atlantic forest at Serra do Mar State Park, Brazil

As florestas tropicais exibem elevada biodiversidade e desempenham um importante papel no ciclo global do carbono. Porém, essas florestas têm sido impactadas aceleradamente nos últimos anos. No Brasil, a floresta tropical Atlântica está restrita a aproximadamente 7 % de sua extensão original e seus remanescentes ainda sofrem ameaças. Com isso, informações sobre a dinâmica da vegetação desse bioma são importantes para entender o funcionamento desse ecossistema e servem de subsídio para auxiliar em sua conservação e restauração. No presente estudo, os principais processos que regem a dinâmica de uma floresta (mortalidade, recrutamento e crescimento) foram estimados em duas fisionomias distintas da floresta tropical Atlântica. Além disso, a variação líquida da biomassa acima do solo (BAS) também foi estimada. Para o presente estudo foram utilizadas cinco (5) parcelas permanentes de um (1) hectare inseridas no projeto temático Gradiente Funcional, sendo: quatro (4) na floresta de Terras Baixas e uma (1) na floresta de Restinga. Os inventários foram realizados no momento da implantação das parcelas permanentes (2006) e após dois (2) anos. Os resultados obtidos demonstraram que a Restinga (1635 ind.ha-1) possui maior densidade total de indivíduos vivos com o DAP \'>OU=\'4,8 cm que a Terras Baixas (1221 ind.ha-1). O estoque de biomassa acima do solo (BAS) foi maior na Terras Baixas (212,3 Mg.ha-1) que na Restinga (166,3 Mg.ha-1) (DAP \'>OU=\'4,8 cm). A distribuição dos indivíduos nas classes de diâmetro influenciou essas diferenças estruturais: a Restinga possui maior densidade total de indivíduos na menor classe de diâmetro e a floresta de Terras Baixas possui maior densidade de indivíduos na maior classe. Tal fato também impactou a distribuição do estoque de BAS nas classes de diâmetro: a floresta de Restinga estoca mais biomassa na classe de 10-30 cm e a floresta de Terras Baixas na maior classe de DAP, \'>OU=\'50 cm. A mediana da taxa de incremento diamétrico da comunidade arbórea não diferiu entre os dois tipos de floresta, sendo igual a 1,0 mm.ano-1 na Restinga e 0,8 mm.ano-1 na Terras Baixas (DAP \'>OU=\'4,8 cm). Diferenças na taxa de incremento diamétrico com relação às formas de vida (árvores e palmeiras) foram observadas. A taxa de incremento diamétrico das árvores apresentou relação positiva com o aumento das classes de DAP e o índice de iluminação de copa. O mesmo padrão não foi observado para as palmeiras. A taxa de mortalidade da comunidade arbórea foi semelhante entre os dois tipos de floresta, sendo igual a 2,46 % na Restinga e 2,00 % na Terras Baixas (DAP \'>OU=\'4,8 cm). A taxa de recrutamento também foi semelhante entre as florestas, sendo igual a 1,42 % na Restinga e 1,36 % na floresta de Terras Baixas. A variação líquida da BAS foi maior nas Terras baixas (0,64 Mg.ha-1.ano-1) que na Restinga (0,32 Mg.ha-1.ano-1). Por fim, a floresta tropical Atlântica apresenta maior densidade de indivíduos vivos, menor estoque de BAS, menor taxa de incremento e reposição quando comparada com outras florestas tropicais, possivelmente devido à distribuição da precipitação ao longo do anoTropical forests display a biodiversity unmatched by any other vegetation type and play an important role in the global terrestrial carbon cycle. However, tropical forests have been severely impacted in the last years. In Brazil, the tropical Atlantic forest is restricted to approximately 7 % of its original extension and its fragments still remain threatened. Hence, information regarding the vegetation dynamic of this important biome is important to understand the functioning of this ecosystem and support conservation and restoration actions. Here, the principal processes that drive forest dynamics (mortality, recruitment and growth) were estimated for two tropical Atlantic forest types. Additionally, the net aboveground biomass change (AGB) also was estimated. In this study, five one-hectare permanent plots established by the Gradiente Funcional project were adopted: four (4) plots in lowland and one (1) in seasonally flooded Atlantic forest. The forestry inventories were performed in the same time of permanent plot establishment (2006) and after two (2) years (2008). The results showed that the seasonally flooded Atlantic forest has greater total stem density (DBH \'>OU=\'4.8 cm) than lowland Atlantic forest, equal to 1635 ind.ha-1 in seasonally flooded and 1221 ind.ha-1 in lowland forest. The aboveground biomass (AGB) was greater in lowland than in seasonally flooded forest, equal to 166.3 Mg.ha-1 in seasonally flooded and 212.3 Mg.ha-1 in lowland forest (4,8 cm DBH). The distribution of trees among DBH classes influenced these structural differences: the seasonally flooded forest has high stem density at smaller DBH size class while the lowland forest has high stem density at larger DBH size class. In addition, that variation in size structure also impacted the AGB distribution among DBH classes: the seasonally flooded Atlantic forest has more AGB in the 10-30 cm DBH class and the lowland Atlantic forest has more AGB in the large size class ( \'>OU=\'50 cm). The median growth rate of tree community did not differ between the two forest types, equal to 1.0 mm.yr-1 in seasonally flooded and 0.8 mm.yr-1 in lowland forest ( \'>OU=\'4.8 cm DBH). Differences in growth rates regarding the life forms (tree and palm) were observed. Tree growth rates showed positive relationship with crown illumination index and DBH classes. The same tendency was not observed for palm life form. The mortality rate of tree community did not differ between the two forest types, equal to 2.46 % in seasonally flooded and 2.00 % in lowland forest ( \'>OU=\'4.8 cm DBH). The recruitment rate also did not differ between the two forest types, equal to 1.42 % in seasonally flooded and 1.36 % in lowland forest (\'>OU=\'4.8 cm DBH). The lowland Atlantic forest AGB net change (0.64 Mg.ha-1.yr-1) was higher than seasonally flooded Atlantic forest (0.64 Mg.ha-1.yr-1). Finally, the tropical Atlantic forest has higher stem density, lower AGB, lower growth and turnover rates than other tropical forests probably due to rainfall distribution among yea

Height-diameter relationships of tropical Atlantic moist forest trees in southeastern Brazil

Site-specific height-diameter models may be used to improve biomass estimates for forest inventories where only diameter at breast height (DBH) measurements are available. In this study, we fit height-diameter models for vegetation types of a tropical Atlantic forest using field measurements of height across plots along an altitudinal gradient. To fit height-diameter models, we sampled trees by DBH class and measured tree height within 13 one-hectare permanent plots established at four altitude classes. To select the best model we tested the performance of 11 height-diameter models using the Akaike Information Criterion (AIC). The Weibull and Chapman-Richards height-diameter models performed better than other models, and regional site-specific models performed better than the general model. In addition, there is a slight variation of height-diameter relationships across the altitudinal gradient and an extensive difference in the stature between the Atlantic and Amazon forests. The results showed the effect of altitude on tree height estimates and emphasize the need for altitude-specific models that produce more accurate results than a general model that encompasses all altitudes. To improve biomass estimation, the development of regional height-diameter models that estimate tree height using a subset of randomly sampled trees presents an approach to supplement surveys where only diameter has been measured

Height-diameter relationships of tropical Atlantic moist forest trees in southeastern Brazil

Site-specific height-diameter models may be used to improve biomass estimates for forest inventories where only diameter at breast height (DBH) measurements are available. In this study, we fit height-diameter models for vegetation types of a tropical Atlantic forest using field measurements of height across plots along an altitudinal gradient. To fit height-diameter models, we sampled trees by DBH class and measured tree height within 13 one-hectare permanent plots established at four altitude classes. To select the best model we tested the performance of 11 height-diameter models using the Akaike Information Criterion (AIC). The Weibull and Chapman-Richards height-diameter models performed better than other models, and regional site-specific models performed better than the general model. In addition, there is a slight variation of height-diameter relationships across the altitudinal gradient and an extensive difference in the stature between the Atlantic and Amazon forests. The results showed the effect of altitude on tree height estimates and emphasize the need for altitude-specific models that produce more accurate results than a general model that encompasses all altitudes. To improve biomass estimation, the development of regional height-diameter models that estimate tree height using a subset of randomly sampled trees presents an approach to supplement surveys where only diameter has been measured6912637FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULO - FAPESP07/06821-

Estimating the multi-decadal carbon deficit of burned Amazonian forests

Wildfires in humid tropical forests have become more common in recent years, increasing the rates of tree mortality in forests that have not co-evolved with fire. Estimating carbon emissions from these wildfires is complex. Current approaches rely on estimates of committed emissions based on static emission factors through time and space, yet these emissions cannot be assigned to specific years, and thus are not comparable with other temporally-explicit emission sources. Moreover, committed emissions are gross estimates, whereas the long-term consequences of wildfires require an understanding of net emissions that accounts for post-fire uptake of CO2. Here, using a 30 year wildfire chronosequence from across the Brazilian Amazon, we calculate net CO2 emissions from Amazon wildfires by developing statistical models comparing post-fire changes in stem mortality, necromass decomposition and vegetation growth with unburned forest plots sampled at the same time. Over the 30 yr time period, gross emissions from combustion during the fire and subsequent tree mortality and decomposition were equivalent to 126.1 Mg CO2 ha−1 of which 73% (92.4 Mg CO2 ha−1) resulted from mortality and decomposition. These emissions were only partially offset by forest growth, with an estimated CO2 uptake of 45.0 Mg ha−1over the same time period. Our analysis allowed us to assign emissions and growth across years, revealing that net annual emissions peak 4 yr after forest fires. At present, Brazil's National Determined Contribution (NDC) for emissions fails to consider forest fires as a significant source, even though these are likely to make a substantial and long-term impact on the net carbon balance of Amazonia. Considering long-term post-fire necromass decomposition and vegetation regrowth is crucial for improving global carbon budget estimates and national greenhouse gases (GHG) inventories for tropical forest countries

Can land use changes alter carbon, nitrogen and major ion transport in subtropical brazilian streams? Modificações no uso da terra podem alterar o transporte fluvial de carbono, nitrogênio e íons maiores?

Several studies in tropical watersheds have evaluated the impact of urbanization and agricultural practices on water quality. In Brazil, savannas (known regionally as Cerrados) represent 23% of the country's surface, representing an important share to the national primary growth product, especially due to intense agriculture. The purpose of this study is to present a comprehensive evaluation, on a yearly basis, of carbon, nitrogen and major ion fluxes in streams crossing areas under different land use (natural vegetation, sugar cane and eucalyptus) in a savanna region of SE Brazil. Eucalyptus and sugar cane alter the transport of the investigated elements in small watersheds. The highest concentration of all parameters (abiotic parameters, ions, dissolved organic carbon DOC - and dissolved inorganic carbon - DIC) were found in Sugar Cane Watersheds (SCW). The observed concentrations of major cations in Eucalyptus Watersheds (EW) (Mg, Ca, K, Na), as well as DIN and DOC, were found frequently to be intermediate values between those of Savanna Watersheds (SW) and SCW, suggesting a moderate impact of eucalyptus plantations on the streamwater. Same trends were found in relation to ion and nutrient fluxes, where the higher values corresponded to SCW. It is suggested that sugar cane plantations might be playing an important role in altering the chemistry of water bodies.<br>Diversos estudos têm sido desenvolvidos em bacias de drenagem tropicais no intuito de avaliar o impacto da urbanização e das práticas agrícolas na qualidade dos corpos d'água. No Brasil, as savanas (conhecidas regionalmente como Cerrado) representam 23% do território brasileiro, sendo uma região importante no crescimento nacional, especialmente devido às intensas atividades agrícolas. A finalidade deste trabalho é apresentar uma avaliação dos fluxos de carbono, nitrogênio e principais íons em córregos com diferentes usos do solo (vegetação, cana de açúcar e eucalipto) em uma região de Cerrado, SE Brasil. A cana de açúcar e o eucalipto alteram o transporte dos elementos investigados nessas pequenas bacias de drenagem. As concentrações mais elevadas de todos os parâmetros analisados (parâmetros abióticos, íons, carbono orgânico dissolvido e carbono inorgânico dissolvido) foram encontradas na bacia de cana de açúcar (SCW). As concentrações observadas para os cátions na bacia do eucalipto (EW) (Mg, Ca, K, Na), assim como Carbono Inorgânico Dissolvido (CID) e Carbono Orgânico Dissolvido (COD), apresentaram valores intermediários entre as bacias do Cerrado e da cana de açúcar, sugerindo um impacto moderado dessa plantação aos corpos d'água. Mesma tendência foi observada para os fluxos de íons e nutrientes, sendo, novamente, os maiores valores encontrados na bacia de cana-de-açúcar. Os autores sugerem que o cultivo da cana de açúcar representa um importante fator na modificação da química de pequenas bacias de drenagem