Edge effects on tree architecture exacerbate biomass loss of fragmented Amazonian forests




Nunes Matheus Henrique, Vaz Marcel Carita, Camargo Jose Luis Campana, Laurance William F., de Andrade Ana, Vicentini Alberto, Laurance Susan, Raumonen Pasi, Jackson Toby, Zuquim Gabriela, Wu Jin, Penuelas Josep, Chave Jerome, Maeda Eduardo Eiji

PublisherSpringer Nature

2023

Nature Communications

NATURE COMMUNICATIONS

8129

14

2041-1723

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-44004-5

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-023-44004-5

https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/381160706



Habitat fragmentation could potentially affect tree architecture and allometry. Here, we use ground surveys of terrestrial LiDAR in Central Amazonia to explore the influence of forest edge effects on tree architecture and allometry, as well as forest biomass, 40 years after fragmentation. We find that young trees colonising the forest fragments have thicker branches and architectural traits that optimise for light capture, which result in 50% more woody volume than their counterparts of similar stem size and height in the forest interior. However, we observe a disproportionately lower height in some large trees, leading to a 30% decline in their woody volume. Despite the substantial wood production of colonising trees, the lower height of some large trees has resulted in a net loss of 6.0 Mg ha−1 of aboveground biomass – representing 2.3% of the aboveground biomass of edge forests. Our findings indicate a strong influence of edge effects on tree architecture and allometry, and uncover an overlooked factor that likely exacerbates carbon losses in fragmented forests.


Last updated on 2024-26-11 at 21:18