Variation in wood density determines spatial patterns in Amazonian forest biomass

Uncertainty in biomass estimates is one of the greatest limitations to models of carbon flux in tropical forests. Previous comparisons of field-based estimates of the aboveground biomass (AGB) of trees greater than 10 cm diameter within Amazonia have been limited by the paucity of data for western Amazon forests, and the use of site-specific methods to estimate biomass from inventory data. In addition, the role of regional variation in stand-level wood specific gravity has not previously been considered. Using data from 56 mature forest plots across Amazonia, we consider the relative roles of species composition (wood specific gravity) and forest structure (basal area) in determining variation in AGB. Mean stand-level wood specific gravity, on a per stem basis, is 15.8% higher in forests in central and eastern, compared with northwestern Amazonia. This pattern is due to the higher diversity and abundance of taxa with high specific gravity values in central and eastern Amazonia, and the greater diversity and abundance of taxa with low specific gravity values in western Amazonia. For two estimates of AGB derived using different allometric equations, basal area explains 51.7% and 63.4%, and stand-level specific gravity 45.4% and 29.7%, of the total variation in AGB. The variation in specific gravity is important because it determines the regional scale, spatial pattern of AGB. When weighting by specific gravity is included, central and eastern Amazon forests have significantly higher AGB than stands in northwest or southwest Amazonia. The regional-scale pattern of species composition therefore defines a broad gradient of AGB across Amazonia.

Bibliographic Details

Main Authors:	45829 Baker, Timothy R. Max Planck Institut für Biogeochemie, Jena, Germany; University of Leeds, Leeds, UK, 105056 Phillips, Oliver L. (autor/a) University of Leeds, Leeds, UK, 89760 Malhi, Yadvinder (autor/a) University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK, 41680 Almeida, Samuel (autor/a) Museu Paraense Emilio Goeldi, Belém, Brazil, 44525 Arroyo, Luzmila (autor/a) Museo Noel Kempff Mercado, Santa Cruz, Bolivia, 62443 Di Fiore, Anthony (autor/a) New York University, New York, USA, 65263 Erwin, Terry (autor/a) Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, USA, 83026 Killeen, Timothy J. (autor/a) Center for Applied Biodiversity Science, Conservation International, Washington, DC, USA, 85298 Laurance, Susan G. (autor/a) Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Balboa, Panama, 85301 Laurance, William F. (autor/a) Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Balboa, Panama
Format:	Texto biblioteca
Language:	eng
Published:	Reino Unido 4 Blackwell Publishing Ltd 2004
Subjects:	BIOMASA, CARBONO, BOSQUE TROPICAL, ARBOLES, MEDICION, MODELOS, ALOMETRIA, DENSIDAD DE LA MADERA, CICLO DEL CARBONO, BIOMASA AEREA, ECUACIONES ALOMETRICAS, BIOMASS, CARBON, TROPICAL FORESTS, TREES, MEASUREMENT, MODELS, CARBON CYCLE,
Online Access:	https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1365-2486.2004.00751.x
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