Biomass storage and stand structure in a conservation unit in the Atlantic Rainforest-The role of big trees

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

Abstract

This study represents a small-scale approach to forest structure and biomass in the Atlantic Rainforest in Brazil and provides information on an ecosystem in which there still is a lack of data in this regard. The project was carried out in the National Park " Serra dos Orgãos" in the state of Rio de Janeiro, which is one of the largest remnants of continuous forest in this area. This forest is marked by a mosaic of forest types differing in tree composition and structure. Within this heterogeneous habitat the stand structure in three investigation plots was assessed to estimate the above-ground dry biomass (AGB) for all trees with a dbh ≥ 5. cm. This study indicates the structural diversity of the Atlantic Rainforest. Trees with a dbh > 30. cm were represented by 6% of all sampled individuals (18 out of 318 trees), but contributed 72% of total estimated AGB. The results suggest that big trees in the Atlantic Rainforest may contribute more into total AGB as reported for other tropical rainforests. Small-scale structural approaches like this study are able to form an initiating framework of more detailed results and help to improve estimates on biomass amounts and therefore on carbon storage capacity.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1769-1773
Number of pages5
JournalEcological Engineering
Volume36
Issue number12
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2010
Peer-reviewedYes
Externally publishedYes

External IDs

Scopus 77957818883
ORCID /0000-0002-7190-0917/work/141545693

Keywords

Sustainable Development Goals

Keywords

  • Atlantic Rainforest, Biomass estimation, Forest structure, Hemispherical photography