Patterns and carbon accumulation in the inland water-land palm ecotone (morichal) across the Orinoco lowlands, South America

Abstract

We examined the carbon dynamic across the inland water-land palm ecotones (morichals) of the Orinoco lowlands to increase comprehension of their potential for accumulating global carbon. Ecotone biomass was quantified for ecotones representing the flat-floored valley type with sparse woody vegetation and the V-shaped valley type with closed woody vegetation. The soil organic carbon (SOC) was linearly ordinated in a double logarithmic plot by the rank-ordering technique. The plot showed that there was an inflection point corresponding to the two sets of ecotones in flat-floored and V-shaped valley type. On average, a smaller proportion of the SOC in the ecotones was stored in the V-shaped than in the flat-floored valley type. As a result, the fractal dimension for the two ecotone groups was 1.27 and 2.67, respectively. The seasonal trend of aboveand below-ground phytomass in the flat-floored and V-shaped valley type showed a temporal increase.However, the seasonal increment was only significant for the flat floored valley during the second annual course. The net primary productivity (NPP) of ecotone in flood-prone and stream bed areas in the flat-floored valley type was 340-837 and 2,438 g C m -2 year -1 , respectively. The NPP value for the stream bed in the flat-floored valley type exceeds the NPP of those reported for a wide range of ecotones. Depending on the annual hydrological dynamic, the ecotone of the flood-prone area ranged from carbon steady-state store-house to carbon sink.

Assessment of Heavy Metal Contamination of Wetland Soils from a Typical Aquatic–Terrestrial Ecotone in Haihe River Basin, North China

“…The soils in these ATEs have been widely researched due to their functions and capacities of retaining nutrients, i.e., carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorous [3][4][5][6]. However, few studies have focused on the ecological functions of ATE in reducing pollution risks of heavy metals from the reclaimed upper wetland to adjacent aquatic ecosystems, especially in a typical water-shortage inland plain [7].…”

Organic Matter Dynamics in a Tropical Gallery Forest in a Grassland Landscape

“…palm trees, known as ‘veredas’ (Portuguese) and ‘morichales’ (Spanish; San‐Jose et al . , Moreira et al . ).…”

“…In some grasslands, ground water outcrops along streams promote the formation of swampy, dense gallery forests dominated by Mauritia spp. palm trees, known as 'veredas' (Portuguese) and 'morichales' (Spanish; San-Jose et al 2010, Moreira et al 2011.…”

Influence of Habitat on the Reproductive Ecology of the Amazonian Palm, Mauritia flexuosa, in Roraima, Brazil

“…Yields in Roraima may be low compared to other regions in the Amazon. Studies from the Peruvian Amazon report higher yields (138 kg per individual, Ruiz et al, 2010;190 kg per individual, Bohorquez, 1976). Current yields in Peru may be lower, however, as overharvesting may reduce fecundity of females (Delgado et al, 2007).…”

“…Mauritia flexuosa plays a central role in the ecosystem ecology in which it grows. Buritizais sequester significant amounts of carbon (San-José et al 2010), and provide critical food and habitat for wildlife (Henry et al 2000;Holm et al 2008). Thus, effective management of this NTFP can directly benefit conservation of ecosystems.…”