TY - JOUR
T1 - Above-ground biomass and productivity in a rain forest of eastern South America
AU - Chave, J.
AU - Olivier, J.
AU - Bongers, F.J.J.M.
AU - Chatelet, P.
AU - Forget, P.M.
AU - van der Meer, P.J.
AU - Norden, N.
AU - Riera, B.
AU - Charles-Dominique, P.
PY - 2008
Y1 - 2008
N2 - Abstract: The dynamics of tropical forest woody plants was studied at the Nouragues Field Station, central French
Guiana. Stem density, basal area, above-ground biomass and above-ground net primary productivity, including the
contribution of litterfall, were estimated from two large permanent census plots of 12 and 10 ha, established on
contrasting soil types, and censused twice, first in 1992¿1994, then again in 2000¿2002. Mean stem density was
512 stems ha¿1 and basal area, 30m2 ha¿1. Stem mortality rate ranged between 1.51% and 2.06% y¿1. In both
plots, stem density decreased over the study period. Using a correlation between wood density and wood hardness
directly measured by a Pilodyn wood tester,we found that the mean wood densitywas 0.63 g cm¿3, 12% smaller than
the mean of wood density estimated from the literature values for the species occurring in our plot. Above-ground
biomass ranged from 356 to 398Mgha¿1 (oven-dry mass), and it increased over the census period. Leaf biomass
was 6.47Mg ha¿1. Our total estimate of aboveground net primary productivity was 8.81 MgC ha¿1 y¿1 (in carbon
units), not accounting for loss to herbivory, branchfalls, or biogenic volatile organic compounds, whichmay altogether
account for an additional 1MgC ha¿1 y¿1. Coarse wood productivity (stem growth plus recruitment) contributed to
4.16 MgC ha¿1 y¿1. Litterfall contributed to 4.65MgC ha¿1 y¿1 with 3.16 MgC ha¿1 y¿1 due to leaves, 1.10 MgC ha¿1
y¿1 to twigs, and 0.39MgC ha¿1 y¿1 to fruits and flowers. The increase in above-ground biomass for both trees and
lianas is consistentwith the hypothesis of a shift in the functioning of Amazonian rain forests driven by environmental
changes, although alternative hypotheses such as a recovery from past disturbances cannot be ruled out at our site,
as suggested by the observed decrease in stem density.
Key Words: above-ground biomass, carbon, French Guiana, net primary productivity, tropical forest
AB - Abstract: The dynamics of tropical forest woody plants was studied at the Nouragues Field Station, central French
Guiana. Stem density, basal area, above-ground biomass and above-ground net primary productivity, including the
contribution of litterfall, were estimated from two large permanent census plots of 12 and 10 ha, established on
contrasting soil types, and censused twice, first in 1992¿1994, then again in 2000¿2002. Mean stem density was
512 stems ha¿1 and basal area, 30m2 ha¿1. Stem mortality rate ranged between 1.51% and 2.06% y¿1. In both
plots, stem density decreased over the study period. Using a correlation between wood density and wood hardness
directly measured by a Pilodyn wood tester,we found that the mean wood densitywas 0.63 g cm¿3, 12% smaller than
the mean of wood density estimated from the literature values for the species occurring in our plot. Above-ground
biomass ranged from 356 to 398Mgha¿1 (oven-dry mass), and it increased over the census period. Leaf biomass
was 6.47Mg ha¿1. Our total estimate of aboveground net primary productivity was 8.81 MgC ha¿1 y¿1 (in carbon
units), not accounting for loss to herbivory, branchfalls, or biogenic volatile organic compounds, whichmay altogether
account for an additional 1MgC ha¿1 y¿1. Coarse wood productivity (stem growth plus recruitment) contributed to
4.16 MgC ha¿1 y¿1. Litterfall contributed to 4.65MgC ha¿1 y¿1 with 3.16 MgC ha¿1 y¿1 due to leaves, 1.10 MgC ha¿1
y¿1 to twigs, and 0.39MgC ha¿1 y¿1 to fruits and flowers. The increase in above-ground biomass for both trees and
lianas is consistentwith the hypothesis of a shift in the functioning of Amazonian rain forests driven by environmental
changes, although alternative hypotheses such as a recovery from past disturbances cannot be ruled out at our site,
as suggested by the observed decrease in stem density.
Key Words: above-ground biomass, carbon, French Guiana, net primary productivity, tropical forest
KW - net primary production
KW - wood specific-gravity
KW - long-term plots
KW - tropical forests
KW - french-guiana
KW - neotropical forest
KW - live biomass
KW - carbon
KW - amazon
KW - density
U2 - 10.1017/S0266467408005075
DO - 10.1017/S0266467408005075
M3 - Article
SN - 0266-4674
VL - 24
SP - 355
EP - 366
JO - Journal of Tropical Ecology
JF - Journal of Tropical Ecology
ER -