Contrasting above-ground biomass balance in a Neotropical rain forest

• Published in: Journal of vegetation science Vol. 21; no. 4; pp. 672 - 682
• Main Authors: Rutishauser, Ervan, Wagner, Fabien, Herault, Bruno, Nicolini, Eric-André, Blanc, Lilian
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01-08-2010
• Subjects: Aboveground biomass; aerial parts; Biomass; Biomass balance; Biomass fluxes; Biomass production; diameter; dry matter accumulation; Forest dynamics; Forest ecology; forest trees; Mortality; Old growth forests; Permanent plots; Plant ecology; recruitment; tree growth; tree mortality; Trees; Tropical forests; Tropical rain forests; French Guiana
• ISSN: 1100-9233; 1654-1103
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1654-1103.2010.01175.x

Question: What are the relative roles of tree growth, mortality and recruitment in variations of aboveground biomass in tropical forests? Location: Paracou, French Guiana. Methods: We quantified the contribution of growth, recruitment and mortality to total biomass of stands (trees DBH ≥ 10 cm) in six 6.25-ha permanent plots over 16 yr. Live biomass stocks and fluxes were computed for four separate size classes. Results: All plots showed increasing biomass stocks over the study period, with an average value of + 0.9 Mgha-1 yr-1. Plots aggrading biomass were characterized by either minor biomass losses due to mortality or substantial increases in the biomass of large trees (DBH ≥ 60 cm). Conclusions: Within the study period, the rarity of mortality events could not counter-balance the slow permanent increase in biomass, resulting in an apparent increase in biomass. Accounting for such rare events results in no net change in biomass balance.