Climate and large-sized trees, but not diversity, drive above-ground biomass in subtropical forests
Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
Standard
In: Forest Ecology and Management, Vol. 490, 119126, 15.06.2021.
Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
Harvard
APA
Vancouver
Bibtex
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
T1 - Climate and large-sized trees, but not diversity, drive above-ground biomass in subtropical forests
AU - Bordin, Kauane Maiara
AU - Esquivel-Muelbert, Adriane
AU - Bergamin, Rodrigo Scarton
AU - Klipel, Joice
AU - Picolotto, Rayana Caroline
AU - Frangipani, Marcelo Araújo
AU - Zanini, Katia Janaina
AU - Cianciaruso, Marcus Vinicius
AU - Jarenkow, Joao André
AU - Follmann Jurinitz, Cristiane
AU - Molz, Martin
AU - Higuchi, Pedro
AU - da Silva, Ana Carolina
AU - Müller, Sandra Cristina
N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2021 Elsevier B.V.
PY - 2021/6/15
Y1 - 2021/6/15
N2 - Subtropical forests certainly contribute to terrestrial global carbon storage, but we have limited understanding about the relative amounts and of the drivers of above-ground biomass (AGB) variation in their region. Here we assess the spatial distribution and drivers of AGB in 119 sites across the South American subtropical forests. We applied a structural equation modelling approach to test the causal relationships between AGB and environmental (climate and soil), structural (proportion of large-sized trees) and community (functional and species diversity and composition) variables. The AGB on subtropical forests is on average 246 Mg ha−1. Biomass stocks were driven directly by temperature annual range and the proportion of large-sized trees, whilst soil texture, community mean leaf nitrogen content and functional diversity had no predictive power. Temperature annual range had a negative effect on AGB, indicating that communities under strong thermal amplitude across the year tend to accumulate less AGB. The positive effect of large-sized trees indicates that mature forests are playing a key role in the long-term persistence of carbon storage, as these large trees account for 64% of total biomass stored in these forests. Our study reinforces the importance of structurally complex subtropical forest remnants for maximising carbon storage, especially facing future climatic changes predicted for the region.
AB - Subtropical forests certainly contribute to terrestrial global carbon storage, but we have limited understanding about the relative amounts and of the drivers of above-ground biomass (AGB) variation in their region. Here we assess the spatial distribution and drivers of AGB in 119 sites across the South American subtropical forests. We applied a structural equation modelling approach to test the causal relationships between AGB and environmental (climate and soil), structural (proportion of large-sized trees) and community (functional and species diversity and composition) variables. The AGB on subtropical forests is on average 246 Mg ha−1. Biomass stocks were driven directly by temperature annual range and the proportion of large-sized trees, whilst soil texture, community mean leaf nitrogen content and functional diversity had no predictive power. Temperature annual range had a negative effect on AGB, indicating that communities under strong thermal amplitude across the year tend to accumulate less AGB. The positive effect of large-sized trees indicates that mature forests are playing a key role in the long-term persistence of carbon storage, as these large trees account for 64% of total biomass stored in these forests. Our study reinforces the importance of structurally complex subtropical forest remnants for maximising carbon storage, especially facing future climatic changes predicted for the region.
KW - Ecosystems Research
KW - Brazilian Atlantic Forest
KW - carbon stocks
KW - climate change
KW - functional diversity
KW - functional traits
KW - soil texture
KW - structural equation model
KW - temperature annual range
KW - Brazilian Atlantic Forest
KW - carbon stocks
KW - Climate change
KW - Functional diversity
KW - Functional traits
KW - soil texture
KW - Structural equation model
KW - temperature annual range
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85103089278&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - https://www.mendeley.com/catalogue/11794c4c-8314-38d5-afda-0bd8f9fc1f32/
U2 - 10.1016/j.foreco.2021.119126
DO - 10.1016/j.foreco.2021.119126
M3 - Journal articles
VL - 490
JO - Forest Ecology and Management
JF - Forest Ecology and Management
SN - 0378-1127
M1 - 119126
ER -