Edge effects on tree architecture exacerbate biomass loss of fragmented Amazonian forests.
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Peer-reviewed
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Abstract
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.
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Acknowledgements: This study was funded by the Academy of Finland (decision numbers 318252, 319905, and 345472 to Eduardo Eiji Maeda). This publication is number XXX of the Technical Series of the Biological Dynamics of Forest Fragment Forest (BDFFP—INPA/STRI). We thank the Biological Dynamics of Forest Fragments Project for the great logistical support in the field and the research assistance. Jérôme Chave acknowledges “Investissement d’Avenir” grants (CEBA, ref. ANR-10-LABX-25-01; TULIP, ref. ANR-10-LABX-0041). Jin Wu was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (#31922090), the Innovation and Technology Fund (funding support to State Key Laboratories in Hong Kong of Agrobiotechnology) of the HKSAR, China, and the Hung Hing Ying Physical Sciences Research Fund. Josep Peñuelas was supported by the TED2021-132627B-I00 grant, funded by MCIN and the European Union NextGeneration EU/PRTR, and the CIVP20A6621 grant funded by the Fundación Ramón Areces. Gabriela Zuquim acknowledges the Academy of Finland (grant number 344733) and Danish Council for Independent Research—Natural Sciences (grant number 9040-00136B).
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2041-1723
