Contrasting above-ground biomass balance in a Neotropical rain forest

摘要

QuestionWhat are the relative roles of tree growth, mortality and recruitment in variations of above-ground biomass in tropical forests?LocationParacou, French Guiana.MethodsWe quantified the contribution of growth, recruitment and mortality to total biomass of stands (trees DBH >= 10 cm) in six 6.25-ha permanent plots over 16 yr. Live biomass stocks and fluxes were computed for four separate size classes.ResultsAll plots showed increasing biomass stocks over the study period, with an average value of +0.9 Mg ha-1 yr-1. Plots aggrading biomass were characterized by either minor biomass losses due to mortality or substantial increases in the biomass of large trees (DBH >= 60 cm).ConclusionsWithin the study period, the rarity of mortality events could not counter-balance the slow permanent increase in biomass, resulting in an apparent increase in biomass. Accounting for such rare events results in no net change in biomass balance.