Amazon forest carbon dynamics predicted by profiles of canopy leaf area and light environment

Scott C. Stark; Veronika Leitold; Jin L. Wu; Maria O. Hunter; Carolina V. de Castilho; Flávia R.C. Costa; Sean M. Mcmahon; Geoffrey G. Parker; Mônica Takako Shimabukuro; Michael A. Lefsky; Michael Keller; Luciana F. Alves; Juliana Schietti; Yosio Edemir Shimabukuro; Diego O. Brandão; Tara K. Woodcock; Niro Higuchi; Plinio B. de Camargo; Raimundo C. de Oliveira; Scott R. Saleska

doi:10.1111/j.1461-0248.2012.01864.x

Amazon forest carbon dynamics predicted by profiles of canopy leaf area and light environment

Scott C. Stark, Veronika Leitold, Jin L. Wu, Maria O. Hunter, Carolina V. de Castilho, Flávia R.C. Costa, Sean M. Mcmahon, Geoffrey G. Parker, Mônica Takako Shimabukuro, Michael A. Lefsky, Michael Keller, Luciana F. Alves, Juliana Schietti, Yosio Edemir Shimabukuro, Diego O. Brandão, Tara K. Woodcock, Niro Higuchi, Plinio B. de Camargo, Raimundo C. de Oliveira, Scott R. Saleska

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

186 Scopus citations

Abstract

Tropical forest structural variation across heterogeneous landscapes may control above-ground carbon dynamics. We tested the hypothesis that canopy structure (leaf area and light availability) - remotely estimated from LiDAR - control variation in above-ground coarse wood production (biomass growth). Using a statistical model, these factors predicted biomass growth across tree size classes in forest near Manaus, Brazil. The same statistical model, with no parameterisation change but driven by different observed canopy structure, predicted the higher productivity of a site 500 km east. Gap fraction and a metric of vegetation vertical extent and evenness also predicted biomass gains and losses for one-hectare plots. Despite significant site differences in canopy structure and carbon dynamics, the relation between biomass growth and light fell on a unifying curve. This supported our hypothesis, suggesting that knowledge of canopy structure can explain variation in biomass growth over tropical landscapes and improve understanding of ecosystem function.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	1406-1414
Number of pages	9
Journal	Ecology letters
Volume	15
Issue number	12
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1461-0248.2012.01864.x
State	Published - Dec 2012

Keywords

Biomass growth
Carbon balance
Gap fraction
Leaf area profiles
LiDAR
Remote sensing of canopy structure

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics

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10.1111/j.1461-0248.2012.01864.x

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Stark, S. C., Leitold, V., Wu, J. L., Hunter, M. O., de Castilho, C. V., Costa, F. R. C., Mcmahon, S. M., Parker, G. G., Shimabukuro, M. T., Lefsky, M. A., Keller, M., Alves, L. F., Schietti, J., Shimabukuro, Y. E., Brandão, D. O., Woodcock, T. K., Higuchi, N., de Camargo, P. B., de Oliveira, R. C., & Saleska, S. R. (2012). Amazon forest carbon dynamics predicted by profiles of canopy leaf area and light environment. Ecology letters, 15(12), 1406-1414. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1461-0248.2012.01864.x

Stark, SC, Leitold, V, Wu, JL, Hunter, MO, de Castilho, CV, Costa, FRC, Mcmahon, SM, Parker, GG, Shimabukuro, MT, Lefsky, MA, Keller, M, Alves, LF, Schietti, J, Shimabukuro, YE, Brandão, DO, Woodcock, TK, Higuchi, N, de Camargo, PB, de Oliveira, RC & Saleska, SR 2012, 'Amazon forest carbon dynamics predicted by profiles of canopy leaf area and light environment', Ecology letters, vol. 15, no. 12, pp. 1406-1414. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1461-0248.2012.01864.x

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abstract = "Tropical forest structural variation across heterogeneous landscapes may control above-ground carbon dynamics. We tested the hypothesis that canopy structure (leaf area and light availability) - remotely estimated from LiDAR - control variation in above-ground coarse wood production (biomass growth). Using a statistical model, these factors predicted biomass growth across tree size classes in forest near Manaus, Brazil. The same statistical model, with no parameterisation change but driven by different observed canopy structure, predicted the higher productivity of a site 500 km east. Gap fraction and a metric of vegetation vertical extent and evenness also predicted biomass gains and losses for one-hectare plots. Despite significant site differences in canopy structure and carbon dynamics, the relation between biomass growth and light fell on a unifying curve. This supported our hypothesis, suggesting that knowledge of canopy structure can explain variation in biomass growth over tropical landscapes and improve understanding of ecosystem function.",

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AU - Costa, Flávia R.C.

AU - Mcmahon, Sean M.

AU - Parker, Geoffrey G.

AU - Shimabukuro, Mônica Takako

AU - Lefsky, Michael A.

AU - Keller, Michael

AU - Alves, Luciana F.

AU - Schietti, Juliana

AU - Shimabukuro, Yosio Edemir

AU - Brandão, Diego O.

AU - Woodcock, Tara K.

AU - Higuchi, Niro

AU - de Camargo, Plinio B.

AU - de Oliveira, Raimundo C.

AU - Saleska, Scott R.

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AB - Tropical forest structural variation across heterogeneous landscapes may control above-ground carbon dynamics. We tested the hypothesis that canopy structure (leaf area and light availability) - remotely estimated from LiDAR - control variation in above-ground coarse wood production (biomass growth). Using a statistical model, these factors predicted biomass growth across tree size classes in forest near Manaus, Brazil. The same statistical model, with no parameterisation change but driven by different observed canopy structure, predicted the higher productivity of a site 500 km east. Gap fraction and a metric of vegetation vertical extent and evenness also predicted biomass gains and losses for one-hectare plots. Despite significant site differences in canopy structure and carbon dynamics, the relation between biomass growth and light fell on a unifying curve. This supported our hypothesis, suggesting that knowledge of canopy structure can explain variation in biomass growth over tropical landscapes and improve understanding of ecosystem function.

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Amazon forest carbon dynamics predicted by profiles of canopy leaf area and light environment

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Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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