Stocks of carbon and nitrogen and partitioning between above‐ and belowground pools in the Brazilian coastal Atlantic Forest elevation range

Abstract

We estimated carbon and nitrogen stocks in aboveground biomass (AGB) and belowground biomass (BGB) along an elevation range in forest sites located on the steep slopes of the Serra do Mar on the north coast of the State of São Paulo, southeast Brazil. In elevations of 100 m (lowland), 400 m (submontane), and 1000 m (montane) four 1-ha plots were established, and above- (live and dead) and belowground (live and dead) biomass were determined. Carbon and nitrogen concentrations in each compartment were determined and used to convert biomass into carbon and nitrogen stocks. The carbon aboveground stock (CAGB) varied along the elevation range from approximately 110 to 150 Mg·ha−1, and nitrogen aboveground stock (NAGB), varied from approximately 1.0 to 1.9 Mg·ha−1. The carbon belowground stock (CBGB) and the nitrogen belowground stock (NBGB) were significantly higher than the AGB and varied along the elevation range from approximately 200–300 Mg·ha−1, and from 14 to 20 Mg·ha−1, respectively. Finally, the total carbon stock (CTOTAL) varied from approximately 320 to 460 Mg·ha−1, and the nitrogen total stock (NTOTAL) from approximately 15 to 22 Mg·ha−1. Most of the carbon and nitrogen stocks were found belowground and not aboveground as normally found in lowland tropical forests. The above- and belowground stocks, and consequently, the total stocks of carbon and nitrogen increased significantly with elevation. As the soil and air temperature also decreased significantly with elevation, we found a significantly inverse relationship between carbon and nitrogen stocks and temperature. Using this inverse relationship, we made a first approach estimate that an increase of 1°C in soil temperature would decrease the carbon and nitrogen stocks in approximately 17 Mg·ha−1 and 1 Mg·ha−1 of carbon and nitrogen, respectively.

Carbon and nitrogen stock and fluxes in coastal Atlantic Forest of southeast Brazil: potential impacts of climate change on biogeochemical functioning

“…The emissions of N 2 O decreased with altitude in the Ubatuba elevation gradient ; and at same time, an increase in the N 2 O emission was observed in warmed soils (Luiz Felipe Martins, master thesis, data not published). Finally, Vieira et al (2011) found a strong correlation with carbon and nitrogen above and below ground and soil temperature in the Ubatuba gradient. Using a regression curve between stocks and temperature, they speculated that an increase of 1 °C in mean soil temperature could result in an eventual net transfer from the forest to the atmosphere of approximately 17 Mg C ha -1 and 1.0 Mg N ha -1 .…”

Estoque De Carbono Em Áreas De Restauração Florestal Da Mata Atlântica

“…Considerando o gradiente altitudinal, alguns trabalhos demonstraram que a biomassa aérea arbórea aumentou com a altitude em áreas de Floresta Ombrófila Densa (TIEPOLO et al, 2002;ALVES et al, 2010;VIEIRA et al, 2011). Consequentemente, estimativas apontam que o estoque de carbono nesse compartimento aumentou aproximadamente 50 Mg ha -1 ao se compararem as altitudes de 100 e 1000 m (VILLELA et al, 2012).…”

“…Estes podem ser realizados por meio do emprego de modelos matemáticos nos quais são utilizadas variáveis levantadas em inventário florestal, como diâmetro do tronco à altura do peito (1,3 m acima do solo) e/ou altura das árvores (TIEPOLO et al, 2002;VIEIRA et al, 2011). Além do compartimento vivo, o compartimento morto pode também ser considerado, com a mensuração da massa de matéria seca da camada de serapilheira disposta sobre a superfície do solo florestal (TIEPOLO et al, 2002;VIEIRA et al, 2011). Contudo, esses dados ainda são incipientes no Brasil, o que indica que estudos dessa natureza podem contribuir como estímulo à preservação de áreas não impactadas por atividades antrópicas e à recuperação de áreas já desflorestadas.…”

Florística e fitossociologia em parcelas permanentes da Mata Atlântica do sudeste do Brasil ao longo de um gradiente altitudinal

“…Entretanto, considera-se que essas florestas sejam mais limitadas por fósforo do que propriamente nitrogênio (Martinelli et al 1999). Em relação à FOD Atlântica, o conteúdo de nitrogênio no solo aumentou com a altitude, provavelmente em função da queda de temperatura como indicam Vieira et al (2011).…”