Dynamics of Carbon Accumulation in Tropical Dry Forests under Climate Change Extremes
We analyze here how much carbon is being accumulated annually by secondary tropical dry forests (TDFs) and how structure, composition, time since abandonment, and climate can influence the dynamics of forest carbon accumulation. The study was carried out in Santa Rosa National Park in Guanacaste pro...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2021-01-01
|
| Series: | Forests |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/12/1/106 |
| _version_ | 1797409835647500288 |
|---|---|
| author | Sofia Calvo-Rodriguez G. Arturo Sánchez-Azofeifa Sandra M. Durán Mario Marcos Do Espírito-Santo Yule Roberta Ferreira Nunes |
| author_facet | Sofia Calvo-Rodriguez G. Arturo Sánchez-Azofeifa Sandra M. Durán Mario Marcos Do Espírito-Santo Yule Roberta Ferreira Nunes |
| author_sort | Sofia Calvo-Rodriguez |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | We analyze here how much carbon is being accumulated annually by secondary tropical dry forests (TDFs) and how structure, composition, time since abandonment, and climate can influence the dynamics of forest carbon accumulation. The study was carried out in Santa Rosa National Park in Guanacaste province, Costa Rica and Mata Seca State Park in Minas Gerais, Brazil. Total carbon storage and carbon accumulation were obtained for both sites from the sum of the aboveground carbon and belowground carbon gain plus the annual litterfall. Carbon accumulation of these TDFs varied from 2.6 Mg C ha<sup>−1</sup> y<sup>−1</sup> to 6.3 Mg C ha<sup>−1</sup> y<sup>−1</sup>, depending on the age of the forest stands. Time since abandonment and number of stems per plot were the best predictors for carbon storage, annual carbon gains, and losses. Mortality rates and carbon losses were also associated with seasonal climate variability. We found significant correlations between tree mortality, carbon losses and mean seasonal temperature, mean seasonal precipitation, potential evapotranspiration, and the Oceanic Niño Index. Carbon dynamics in tropical dry forests are driven by time since abandonment and forest structure; however, rising temperature and El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events can have a significant impact on tree mortality and carbon losses. Depending on their location and land-use history, some dry forests are more impacted by climatic extremes than others, and differences between secondary stages are expected. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T04:21:17Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c4887058897f4770ad21d3cfd9da25ba |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1999-4907 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T04:21:17Z |
| publishDate | 2021-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Forests |
| spelling | doaj.art-c4887058897f4770ad21d3cfd9da25ba2023-12-03T13:47:37ZengMDPI AGForests1999-49072021-01-0112110610.3390/f12010106Dynamics of Carbon Accumulation in Tropical Dry Forests under Climate Change ExtremesSofia Calvo-Rodriguez0G. Arturo Sánchez-Azofeifa1Sandra M. Durán2Mario Marcos Do Espírito-Santo3Yule Roberta Ferreira Nunes4Earth and Atmospheric Sciences Department, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E3, CanadaEarth and Atmospheric Sciences Department, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E3, CanadaEarth and Atmospheric Sciences Department, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E3, CanadaDepartment of General Biology, Center for Biological and Health Sciences, State University of Montes Claros, CP 126, Montes Claros CEP 39401-089, Minas Gerais, BrazilDepartment of General Biology, Center for Biological and Health Sciences, State University of Montes Claros, CP 126, Montes Claros CEP 39401-089, Minas Gerais, BrazilWe analyze here how much carbon is being accumulated annually by secondary tropical dry forests (TDFs) and how structure, composition, time since abandonment, and climate can influence the dynamics of forest carbon accumulation. The study was carried out in Santa Rosa National Park in Guanacaste province, Costa Rica and Mata Seca State Park in Minas Gerais, Brazil. Total carbon storage and carbon accumulation were obtained for both sites from the sum of the aboveground carbon and belowground carbon gain plus the annual litterfall. Carbon accumulation of these TDFs varied from 2.6 Mg C ha<sup>−1</sup> y<sup>−1</sup> to 6.3 Mg C ha<sup>−1</sup> y<sup>−1</sup>, depending on the age of the forest stands. Time since abandonment and number of stems per plot were the best predictors for carbon storage, annual carbon gains, and losses. Mortality rates and carbon losses were also associated with seasonal climate variability. We found significant correlations between tree mortality, carbon losses and mean seasonal temperature, mean seasonal precipitation, potential evapotranspiration, and the Oceanic Niño Index. Carbon dynamics in tropical dry forests are driven by time since abandonment and forest structure; however, rising temperature and El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events can have a significant impact on tree mortality and carbon losses. Depending on their location and land-use history, some dry forests are more impacted by climatic extremes than others, and differences between secondary stages are expected.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/12/1/106tree mortalitybiomasscarbon sequestrationtropical dry forestsuccessional stagesENSO |
| spellingShingle | Sofia Calvo-Rodriguez G. Arturo Sánchez-Azofeifa Sandra M. Durán Mario Marcos Do Espírito-Santo Yule Roberta Ferreira Nunes Dynamics of Carbon Accumulation in Tropical Dry Forests under Climate Change Extremes Forests tree mortality biomass carbon sequestration tropical dry forest successional stages ENSO |
| title | Dynamics of Carbon Accumulation in Tropical Dry Forests under Climate Change Extremes |
| title_full | Dynamics of Carbon Accumulation in Tropical Dry Forests under Climate Change Extremes |
| title_fullStr | Dynamics of Carbon Accumulation in Tropical Dry Forests under Climate Change Extremes |
| title_full_unstemmed | Dynamics of Carbon Accumulation in Tropical Dry Forests under Climate Change Extremes |
| title_short | Dynamics of Carbon Accumulation in Tropical Dry Forests under Climate Change Extremes |
| title_sort | dynamics of carbon accumulation in tropical dry forests under climate change extremes |
| topic | tree mortality biomass carbon sequestration tropical dry forest successional stages ENSO |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/12/1/106 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT sofiacalvorodriguez dynamicsofcarbonaccumulationintropicaldryforestsunderclimatechangeextremes AT garturosanchezazofeifa dynamicsofcarbonaccumulationintropicaldryforestsunderclimatechangeextremes AT sandramduran dynamicsofcarbonaccumulationintropicaldryforestsunderclimatechangeextremes AT mariomarcosdoespiritosanto dynamicsofcarbonaccumulationintropicaldryforestsunderclimatechangeextremes AT yulerobertaferreiranunes dynamicsofcarbonaccumulationintropicaldryforestsunderclimatechangeextremes |