Carbon in Amazon forests: unexpected seasonal fluxes and disturbance-induced losses.

S. R. Saleska; S. D. Miller; D. M. Matross; M. L. Goulden; S. C. Wofsy; H. R. da Rocha; P. B. de Camargo; P. Crill; B. C. Daube; H. C. de Freitas; L. Hutyra; M. Keller; V. Kirchhoff; M. Menton; J. W. Munger; H. E. Pyle; A. H. Rice; H. Silva

doi:10.1126/science.1091165

Treesearch

Carbon in Amazon forests: unexpected seasonal fluxes and disturbance-induced losses.

Informally Refereed

Authors:

S. R. Saleska, S. D. Miller, D. M. Matross, M. L. Goulden, S. C. Wofsy, H. R. da Rocha, P. B. de Camargo, P. Crill, B. C. Daube, H. C. de Freitas, L. Hutyra, M. Keller, V. Kirchhoff, M. Menton, J. W. Munger, H. E. Pyle, A. H. Rice, H. Silva

Year:

2003

Type:

Miscellaneous Publication

Station:

International Institute of Tropical Forestry

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1091165

Source:

Science. ; 302:1554-1557.

Download (PDF 604 KB)

Download (PDF 604 KB): https://research.fs.usda.gov/download/treesearch/30296.pdf

Abstract

The net ecosystem exchange of carbon dioxide was measured by eddy covariance methods for 3 years in two old-growth forest sites near Santarém, Brazil. Carbon was lost in the wet season and gained in the dry season, which was opposite to the seasonal cycles of both tree growth and model predictions. The 3-year average carbon loss was 1.3 (confidence interval: 0.0 to 2.0) megagrams of carbon per hectare per year. Biometric observations confirmed the net loss but imply that it is a transient effect of recent disturbance superimposed on long-term balance. Given that episodic disturbances are characteristic of oldgrowth forests, it is likely that carbon sequestration is lower than has been inferred from recent eddy covariance studies at undisturbed sites.

Citation

\tSaleska, S. R.; Miller, S. D.; Matross, D. M.; Goulden, M. L.; Wofsy, S. C.; da Rocha, H. R.; de Camargo, P. B.; Crill, P.; Daube, B. C.; de Freitas, H. C.; Hutyra, L.; Keller, M.; Kirchhoff, V.; Menton, M.; Munger, J. W.; Pyle, H. E.; Rice, A. H., and Silva, H. 2003. Carbon in Amazon forests: unexpected seasonal fluxes and disturbance-induced losses. Science. ; 302:1554-1557.