Climate change is expected to increase the intensity of extreme precipitation events in Amazonia that in turn might produce more forest blowdowns associated with convective storms. Yet quantitative tree mortality associated with convective storms has never been reported across Amazonia, representing an important additional source of carbon to the atmosphere. Here we demonstrate that a single squall line (aligned cluster of convective storm cells) propagating across Amazonia in January, 2005, caused widespread forest tree mortality and may have contributed to the elevated mortality observed that year. Forest plot data demonstrated that the same year represented the second highest mortality rate over a 15‐year annual monitoring interval. Over the Manaus region, disturbed forest patches generated by the squall followed a power‐law distribution (scaling exponent α = 1.48) and produced a mortality of 0.3–0.5 million trees, equivalent to 30% of the observed annual deforestation reported in 2005 over the same area. Basin‐wide, potential tree mortality from this one event was estimated at 542 ± 121 million trees, equivalent to 23% of the mean annual biomass accumulation estimated for these forests. Our results highlight the vulnerability of Amazon trees to wind‐driven mortality associated with convective storms. Storm intensity is expected to increase with a warming climate, which would result in additional tree mortality and carbon release to the atmosphere, with the potential to further warm the climate system.

As estratégias de distribuição de biomassa e nutrientes utilizadas pelas espécies florestais podem refletir sua capacidade de sobrevivência em plantios sobre áreas degradadas. O objetivo deste estudo foi quantificar os estoques de biomassa e nutrientes nos compartimentos arbóreos de Parkia multijuga, Parkia nitida e Parkia pendula em plantios sobre área degradada em Manaus, AM. A biomassa foi determinada pelo método destrutivo em seis árvores de cada espécie, que foram compartimentadas em: folhas, galhos finos (Ø <10 cm), galhos grossos (Ø ≥10 cm), fuste, raízes médias (2 mm ≤ Ø <5 cm) e raízes grossas (Ø ≥5 cm). Aos quatro anos, Parkia multijuga exibiu 60% do total de biomassa nos compartimentos aéreos e 40% nos subterrâneos. Parkia nitida exibiu 84% nos compartimentos aéreos e apenas 16% nos subterrâneos. Parkia pendula exibiu 67% nos compartimentos aéreos e 33% nos subterrâneos. A ordem de acúmulo de macronutrientes nos compartimentos foi: N > Ca > K > Mg > P. O fato de Parkia multijuga adotar estratégias de alocação de biomassa e nutrientes que favorecerão seu desempenho sobre sítios com baixa disponibilidade de recursos sustenta sua indicação para a composição de programas de reflorestamento em áreas degradadas na Amazônia.Palavras-chave: Espécies florestais nativas; nutrição florestal; reflorestamento; restauração. AbstractBiomass and nutrients in three species of Parkia plantings on degraded area in Central Amazon. Biomass and nutrients partitioning strategies in tree species may reflect their ability to survive in plantations on degraded areas. The objective of this study was to investigate the content of biomass and nutrients in tree components of Parkia multijuga, Parkia nitida and Parkia pendula on plantings in degraded area in Manaus, AM. The biomass was determined by the harvest method in six trees of each species, which were subdivided into leaves, fine branches (Ø < 10 cm), coarse branches (Ø ≥10 cm), stem wood, medium roots (≤ 2 mm Ø < 5 cm ) and coarse roots (Ø ≥ 5 cm). At 4 years, Parkia multijuga allocated 60% of the total biomass to above-ground components and 40% to below-ground. Parkia nitida allocated 84% to above-ground and 16% to below-ground. Parkia pendula allocated 67% to above-ground components and 33% to below-ground. The order of the nutrient accumulation in tree compartments was: N > Ca > K > Mg > P. Parkia multijuga, by adopting better strategies of distribution of biomass and nutrients, it is a recommended species for reforestation programs on degraded sites in the Amazon.Keywords: Native forest species; forest nutrition; reforestation; restoration.