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The seasonal cycle of productivity, metabolism and carbon dynamics in a wet aseasonal forest in north-west Amazonia (Iquitos, Peru)

del Aguila-Pasquel, Jhon ; Doughty, Christopher E. ; Metcalfe, Dan LU ; Silva-Espejo, Javier E. ; Girardin, Cecile A. J. ; Chung Gutierrez, Jack A. ; Navarro-Aguilar, Gilberto E. ; Quesada, Carlos A. ; Hidalgo, Carlos G. and Reyna Huaymacari, Jose M. , et al. (2014) In Plant Ecology & Diversity 7(1-2). p.71-83
Abstract
Background: The forests of north-west Amazonia are characterised by the highest levels of tree diversity in the world, high rainfall and relatively fertile soils. Aims: Here we present a comprehensive description of the carbon cycle of two 1 ha forests plots in Allpahuayo, near Iquitos, Peru, one on an occasionally inundated alisol/gleysol landscape, the other on an arenosol (sandy soil). Methods: Data on the components of net primary productivity (NPP) and autotrophic respiration were collected over the period 2009-2011, and summed to estimate gross primary productivity (GPP) and carbon use efficiency (CUE). Results: Overall, these forests showed high values of GPP (39.05 +/- 4.59 and 41.88 +/- 4.60 Mg C ha(-1) year(-1)). Despite the lack... (More)
Background: The forests of north-west Amazonia are characterised by the highest levels of tree diversity in the world, high rainfall and relatively fertile soils. Aims: Here we present a comprehensive description of the carbon cycle of two 1 ha forests plots in Allpahuayo, near Iquitos, Peru, one on an occasionally inundated alisol/gleysol landscape, the other on an arenosol (sandy soil). Methods: Data on the components of net primary productivity (NPP) and autotrophic respiration were collected over the period 2009-2011, and summed to estimate gross primary productivity (GPP) and carbon use efficiency (CUE). Results: Overall, these forests showed high values of GPP (39.05 +/- 4.59 and 41.88 +/- 4.60 Mg C ha(-1) year(-1)). Despite the lack of a dry season, the forests showed distinct seasonality in tree growth, litterfall, flowering and fine root productivity. This showed that tropical forests with little seasonality in water supply can still exhibit distinct seasonality in NPP and carbon use, apparently synchronised to the solar radiation cycle. We found remarkably little difference in productivity between the alisol/gleysol plot and the arenosol plot. Conclusions: The GPP was higher than those reported for forests in Brazilian Amazonia on more infertile soils. The CUE was also higher, which may be related to the high forest dynamism and natural disturbance rate. These two factors combined to result in amongst the highest NPP values reported for Amazonia. (Less)
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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
CUE, GPP, NPP, respiration, spatial variation, tropical forests, white, sand soil
in
Plant Ecology & Diversity
volume
7
issue
1-2
pages
71 - 83
publisher
Taylor & Francis
external identifiers
  • wos:000336082900006
  • scopus:84893247132
ISSN
1755-0874
DOI
10.1080/17550874.2013.798365
language
English
LU publication?
no
id
a6aa2b8e-cd2c-4f1b-8ef1-1235bd3991a7 (old id 4643758)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 09:53:02
date last changed
2022-01-25 17:35:58
@article{a6aa2b8e-cd2c-4f1b-8ef1-1235bd3991a7,
  abstract     = {{Background: The forests of north-west Amazonia are characterised by the highest levels of tree diversity in the world, high rainfall and relatively fertile soils. Aims: Here we present a comprehensive description of the carbon cycle of two 1 ha forests plots in Allpahuayo, near Iquitos, Peru, one on an occasionally inundated alisol/gleysol landscape, the other on an arenosol (sandy soil). Methods: Data on the components of net primary productivity (NPP) and autotrophic respiration were collected over the period 2009-2011, and summed to estimate gross primary productivity (GPP) and carbon use efficiency (CUE). Results: Overall, these forests showed high values of GPP (39.05 +/- 4.59 and 41.88 +/- 4.60 Mg C ha(-1) year(-1)). Despite the lack of a dry season, the forests showed distinct seasonality in tree growth, litterfall, flowering and fine root productivity. This showed that tropical forests with little seasonality in water supply can still exhibit distinct seasonality in NPP and carbon use, apparently synchronised to the solar radiation cycle. We found remarkably little difference in productivity between the alisol/gleysol plot and the arenosol plot. Conclusions: The GPP was higher than those reported for forests in Brazilian Amazonia on more infertile soils. The CUE was also higher, which may be related to the high forest dynamism and natural disturbance rate. These two factors combined to result in amongst the highest NPP values reported for Amazonia.}},
  author       = {{del Aguila-Pasquel, Jhon and Doughty, Christopher E. and Metcalfe, Dan and Silva-Espejo, Javier E. and Girardin, Cecile A. J. and Chung Gutierrez, Jack A. and Navarro-Aguilar, Gilberto E. and Quesada, Carlos A. and Hidalgo, Carlos G. and Reyna Huaymacari, Jose M. and Halladay, Kate and del Castillo Torres, Dennis and Phillips, Oliver and Malhi, Yadvinder}},
  issn         = {{1755-0874}},
  keywords     = {{CUE; GPP; NPP; respiration; spatial variation; tropical forests; white; sand soil}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1-2}},
  pages        = {{71--83}},
  publisher    = {{Taylor & Francis}},
  series       = {{Plant Ecology & Diversity}},
  title        = {{The seasonal cycle of productivity, metabolism and carbon dynamics in a wet aseasonal forest in north-west Amazonia (Iquitos, Peru)}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17550874.2013.798365}},
  doi          = {{10.1080/17550874.2013.798365}},
  volume       = {{7}},
  year         = {{2014}},
}