Evaluation of the Plant Necromass Component: Methodological Approaches and Estimates in Atlantic Forest, Northeast Brazil

Fonsêca, Nathan Castro; Meunier, Isabelle Maria Jacqueline; Silva, Ana Carolina Borges Lins e

doi:10.1590/2179-8087.38318

Cited by 4 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…Despite the importance of necromass, its quantification is often neglected in Atlantic forests, thereby underestimating carbon stock estimates in these forests [21,22]. Therefore, this paper seeks to address this research gap by quantifying the necromass in different categories (CWD, snags, and litter), decomposition classes and carbon content in an Atlantic Forest.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Necromass Carbon Stock in a Secondary Atlantic Forest Fragment in Brazil

Villanova

Torres

Jacovine

et al. 2019

Forests

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Necromass has a relevant role to play in the carbon stock of forest ecosystems, especially with the increase of tree mortality due to climate change. Despite this importance, its quantification is often neglected in tropical forests. The objective of this study was to quantify the carbon storage in a secondary Atlantic Forest fragment in Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Coarse Woody Debris (CWD), standing dead trees (snags), and litter were quantified in twenty 10 m x 50 m plots randomly positioned throughout the forest area (simple random sampling). Data were collected during 2015, from July to December. The CWD and snags volumes were determined by the Smalian method and by allometric equations, respectively. The necromass of these components was estimated by multiplying the volume by the apparent density at each decomposition classes. The litter necromass was estimated by the proportionality method and the average of the extrapolated estimates per hectare. The carbon stock of the three components was quantified by multiplying the necromass and the carbon wood content. The total volume of dead wood, including CWD and snag, was 23.6 ± 0.9 m3 ha−1, being produced mainly by the competition for resources, senescence, and anthropic and climatic disturbances. The total necromass was 16.3 ± 0.4 Mg ha−1. The total carbon stock in necromass was 7.3 ± 0.2 MgC ha−1. The CWD, snag and litter stocked 3.0 ± 0.1, 1.8 ± 0.1, and 2.5 ± 0.1 MgC ha−1, respectively. These results demonstrate that although necromass has a lower carbon stock compared to biomass, neglecting its quantification may lead to underestimation of the carbon balance of forest ecosystems and their potential to mitigate climate change.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Necromass Carbon Stock in a Secondary Atlantic Forest Fragment in Brazil

Villanova

Torres

Jacovine

et al. 2019

Forests

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“…In the Atlantic Forest, studies on necromass are in their initial stages. Particularly on the thick necromass compartments (CWD and SDT), there are even fewer studies (Sanquetta, Corte, Pinto, & Melo, 2014;Deus, Bonete, Figueiredo, Dias, & Bonete, 2018;Moreira, Gregoire, & Do Couto, 2019;Fonsêca, Meunier, & Silva, 2019;Villanova et al, 2019).…”

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confidence: 99%

Can fallen trees enhance aboveground biomass estimation? A proposal for the Brazilian Atlantic Forest

Fonsêca

Meunier

Silva

2020

RBT

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Introduction: Estimating aboveground biomass (AGB) in protected forests is a challenge, due to high costs and legal restrictions for direct assessments, and also to frequently weak estimation provided by general AGB equations. Objective: We propose a new approach that uses dead fallen trees (DFTs) to improve AGB estimation. We aim to analyse if the adjustment of allometric models based on DFTs provides a suitable local equation for AGB estimation or helps to validate existing pantropical or regional allometric equations. Methods: The study was carried out at the Dois Irmãos State Park (PEDI), Pernambuco, Northeast Brazil. Along 4 000 m, using the line intersect technique, we sampled 37 recent dead fallen trees ranging from 7.6 to 92.3 cm in diameter and from 8.6 to 29.4 m in height. Nine models were adjusted, and the best equation (local) was compared to regional and pantropical equations. Results: One equation (AGBkg= 1.5292* DBH2.0601*TH-0.2187) produced biomass estimates which did not differ from the observed values (P > 0.05). Differently from the others, this equation overestimated AGB in only 2.8 % and, along with other parameters of analysis (R2adj and Syx %) had the best overall performance. Analysing the performance of the local equation versus available equations for estimating AGB, we found that only the local and the pantropical equations by Pearson et al. (2005) estimated values that were not significantly different from observed values. However, the local equation is more appropriate for local estimation of AGB, since it has the lowest RSME and CV. Conclusions: Based on the proposed approach, we were able to offer a local equation for tree AGB estimation based on fallen trees. The DFT method is efficient regarding time and costs, avoiding tree logging in protected forests and helps to guide the choice of a proper equation for forest AGB demands.

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