The productivity, metabolism and carbon cycle of two lowland tropical forest plots in south-western Amazonia, Peru

Yadvinder Malhi*, Filio Farfán Amézquita, Christopher E. Doughty, Javier E. Silva-Espejo, Cécile A.J. Girardin, Daniel B. Metcalfe, Luiz E.O.C. Aragão, Lidia P. Huaraca-Quispe, Ivonne Alzamora-Taype, Luzmilla Eguiluz-Mora, Toby R. Marthews, Kate Halladay, Carlos A. Quesada, Amanda L. Robertson, Joshua B. Fisher, Joana Zaragoza-Castells, Clara M. Rojas-Villagra, Yulina Pelaez-Tapia, Norma Salinas, Patrick MeirOliver L. Phillips

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    84 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Background: The forests of western Amazonia are known to be more dynamic that the better-studied forests of eastern Amazonia, but there has been no comprehensive description of the carbon cycle of a western Amazonian forest. Aims: We present the carbon budget of two forest plots in Tambopata in south-eastern Peru, western Amazonia. In particular, we present, for the first time, the seasonal variation in the detailed carbon budget of a tropical forest. Methods: We measured the major components of net primary production (NPP) and total autotrophic respiration over 3-6 years. Results: The NPP for the two plots was 15.1 ± 0.8 and 14.2 ± 1.0 Mg C ha-1 year-1, the gross primary productivity (GPP) was 35.5 ± 3.6 and 34.5 ± 3.5 Mg C ha-1 year-1, and the carbon use efficiency (CUE) was 0.42 ± 0.05 and 0.41 ± 0.05. NPP and CUE showed a large degree of seasonality. Conclusions: The two plots were similar in carbon cycling characteristics despite the different soils, the most notable difference being high allocation of NPP to canopy and low allocation to fine roots in the Holocene floodplain plot. The timing of the minima in the wet-dry transition suggests they are driven by phenological rhythms rather than being driven directly by water stress. When compared with results from forests on infertile forests in humid lowland eastern Amazonia, the plots have slightly higher GPP, but similar patterns of CUE and carbon allocation.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)85-105
    Number of pages21
    JournalPlant Ecology and Diversity
    Volume7
    Issue number1-2
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2014

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