Impacts of Mauritia flexuosa degradation on the carbon stocks of freshwater peatlands in the Pastaza-Marañón river basin of the Peruvian Amazon

Spatial and temporal variability of soil N2O and CH4 fluxes along a degradation gradient in a palm swamp peat forest in the Peruvian Amazon

“…The Intact site exhibited a closed canopy; the mDeg site had reduced canopy closure, and the hDeg site had a very open canopy with few standing trees (van Lent et al., 2019). M. flexuosa was present at all sites and was the most important species at the Intact and mDeg sites according to IVI (Importance Value Index), while the hDeg site was dominated by Cecropia membranacea , a pioneer tree species (Bhomia et al., 2019). The density (individuals with a diameter at breast height ≥10 cm) of M. flexuosa palms was 170, 164 and 16 ha −1 at the Intact, mDeg and hDeg sites, respectively, and that of dicotyledonous trees was 1,496, 700 and 679 ha −1 , respectively.…”

“…The density (individuals with a diameter at breast height ≥10 cm) of M. flexuosa palms was 170, 164 and 16 ha −1 at the Intact, mDeg and hDeg sites, respectively, and that of dicotyledonous trees was 1,496, 700 and 679 ha −1 , respectively. Peat depth and pH of stagnant water at the Intact, mDeg and hDeg sites were 2.2, >2.7, 1.0 m and 5.9, 5.9, 6.6, respectively (Bhomia et al., 2019).…”

“…The Intact site exhibited a closed canopy; the mDeg site had reduced canopy closure, and the hDeg site had a very open canopy with few standing trees (van Lent et al, 2019). M. flexuosa was present at all sites and was the most important species at the Intact and mDeg sites according to IVI (Importance Value Index), while the hDeg site was dominated by Cecropia membranacea, a pioneer tree species (Bhomia et al, 2019).…”

“…The fruits of M. flexuosa (locally named Aguaje ) are highly demanded in the local market but are often collected by cutting down the entire palm. This degradation translates into changes in vegetation cover and composition, reductions in biomass C stocks and litter inputs, and could potentially result in destabilization of peat deposits (Bhomia et al., 2019; Hergoualc’h et al., 2017; van Lent et al., 2019). Research on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from tropical peatlands under natural or disturbed conditions has mostly been conducted in Southeast Asia, and very little is known about fluxes in neotropical peatlands (e.g., Hoyos‐Santillan et al., 2016; Teh et al., 2017; Wright et al., 2011, 2013) and their response to ecosystem degradation.…”

What do we know about Peruvian peatlands?

“…In the Pastaza basin, peat depths up to 7.5 m were recorded (Lähteenoja et al 2012). In palm swamps, Bhomia et al (2019) measured total C stocks in the range of 200-1,600 t C ha -1 , with around 75% (109-594 t C ha -1 ) concentrated in the first 100 cm of soil. Data on C depth and storage in Andean peatlands are more scarce, but peat depths of up to 10.5 m and soil stocks of 2,100 t C ha -1 were measured in bofedales (Hribljan et al unpublished).…”