Carbon in Amazon Forests: Unexpected Seasonal Fluxes and Disturbance-Induced Losses

Scott R. Saleska, Scott D. Miller, Daniel M. Matross, Michael L. Goulden, Steven C. Wofsy, Humberto R. Da Rocha, Plinio B. De Camargo, Patrick Crill, Bruce C. Daube, Helber C. De Freitas, Lucy Hutyra, Michael Keller, Volker Kirchhoff, Mary Menton, J. William Munger, Elizabeth Hammond Pyle, Amy H. Rice, Hudson Silva

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

570 Scopus citations

Abstract

The net ecosystem exchange of carbon dioxide was measured by eddy covariance methods for 3 years in two old-growth forest sites near Santarém, Brazil. Carbon was lost in the wet season and gained in the dry season, which was opposite to the seasonal cycles of both tree growth and model predictions. The 3-year average carbon loss was 1.3 (confidence interval: 0.0 to 2.0) megagrams of carbon per hectare per year. Biometric observations confirmed the net loss but imply that it is a transient effect of recent disturbance superimposed on long-term balance. Given that episodic disturbances are characteristic of old-growth forests, it is Likely that carbon sequestration is lower than has been inferred from recent eddy covariance studies at undisturbed sites.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1554-1557
Number of pages4
JournalScience
Volume302
Issue number5650
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 28 2003
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Carbon in Amazon Forests: Unexpected Seasonal Fluxes and Disturbance-Induced Losses'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this