Hydric ecosystem services in a non-disturbed rainforest of the Amazon, Amapá, Brazil

Abstract

Understanding the processes of the hydrological cycle of tropical forests reduces the uncertainties about water vapor estimates on a regional scale. Interception refers to water that does not participate directly in ecological processes. Thus, we investigated the interception process using 30 pluviometers, spaced one kilometer apart, within an area of 25 km² of the Amapá National Forest (FLONA Amapá). The total precipitation above the canopy was 2184.2 mm, and the internal precipitation was 1322.4 mm, representing a fraction of 60.5%. The estimated intercepted fraction was 828.3 mm, corresponding to 37.9% of the total precipitation above the canopy. As consequence of this water balance, approximately 828.3 L.m-2 of rainwater was temporarily retained by the forest and returned to the atmosphere as water vapor. We concluded that FLONA Amapá (4120 Km²) returns about 1.36 x 106 Olympic swimming pools to the atmosphere, annually. The moisture produced in this process, locally cools the air that is transported to other regions of Brazil. This process is a relevant ecosystem service to produce water vapor, confirming the hypothesis that tropical forests are effectively promoting the dynamic balance of the hydrological cycle in the Amazon basin.

Experimentation, modelling, and simulation of hydrochory in an Amazonian river

“…It is not possible to consider only a single trend or physical variable responsible for the likely distribution of fruits and seeds along the waterbody, as other environmental variables can contribute to this complex distribution and diversity of plants along the riverbank or tributaries (Shi et al, 2020). For instance, flooded (riparian) areas are governed by several other environmental variables, including the amplitude of the flood pulse (Junk, 2005), channel slope (Shi et al, 2020), precipitation (Oliveira et al, 2020), flood regime (Lucas et al, 2013), presence of anoxic soils (Belúcio, 2020; Wittmann et al, 2006), sediment granulometry and margins (Shi et al, 2020), flow turbulence level (Shi et al, 2020), liquid discharge and flow speed at critical points in the flow (da Cunha et al, 2017), luminosity influenced by the width between margins (Lucas et al, 2013), and original distribution of species along the margins of the waterbody (de Jager et al, 2019).…”

“…The region's climate is hot and humid (IBGE, 2002), with an average annual temperature between 25 and 26°C (ICMBIO, 2016). Total annual precipitation observed above the FLONA‐AP canopy is approximately 2,181.2 mm, ranging between 70 mm/month in the dry period and 562.2 mm/month in the rainy period (Oliveira et al, 2020).…”

“…Total annual precipitation observed above the FLONA-AP canopy is approximately 2,181.2 mm, ranging between 70 mm/month in the dry period and 562.2 mm/month in the rainy period (Oliveira et al, 2020).…”

Bat diversity is driven by elevation and distance to the nearest watercourse in aterra firmeforest in the northeastern Brazilian Amazon

“…The FLONA of Amapá has an area of 459,800 ha (Figure 1 -ICMBio 2016). The region's climate is hot and humid, with temperatures ranging from 24 to 28 °C, and annual precipitation ranging between 2,300 and 2,900 mm (Oliveira et al 2010(Oliveira et al , 2020. The wet season, which lasts from February to May, concentrates 70% of the total annual precipitation, which can exceed 500 mm/month.…”

“…The wet season, which lasts from February to May, concentrates 70% of the total annual precipitation, which can exceed 500 mm/month. The dry season (September to November) concentrates 30% of annual precipitation and is characterised by <250 mm/month (Oliveira et al 2010(Oliveira et al , 2020.…”