Research article - Peer-reviewed, 2014
Seasonal production, allocation and cycling of carbon in two mid-elevation tropical montane forest plots in the Peruvian Andes
Huasco, Walter Huaraca; Girardin, Cécile A. J.; Doughty, Christopher E.; Metcalfe, Daniel; Baca, Liliana D.; Silva-Espejo, Javier E.; Cabrera, Darcy G.; Aragão, Luiz E. O. C.; Davila, Angela R.; Marthews, Toby R.; Huaraca-Quispe, Lidia P.; Alzamora-Taype, Ivonne; Mora, Luzmila E.; Farfán-Rios, William; Cabrera, Karina G.; Halladay, Katherine; Salinas-Revilla, Norma; Silman, Miles R.; Meir, Patrick; Malhi, YadvinderAbstract
Background: Tropical montane cloud forests (TMCF) are unique ecosystems with high biodiversity and large carbon reservoirs. To date there have been limited descriptions of the carbon cycle of TMCF.Aims: We present results on the production, allocation and cycling of carbon for two mid-elevation (1500-1750 m) tropical montane cloud forest plots in San Pedro, Kosnipata Valley, Peru.Methods: We repeatedly recorded the components of net primary productivity (NPP) using biometric measurements, and autotrophic (R-a) and heterotrophic (Rh) respiration, using gas exchange measurements. From these we estimated gross primary productivity (GPP) and carbon use efficiency (CUE) at the plot level.Results: The plot at 1500 m was found very productive, with our results comparable with the most productive lowland Amazonian forests. The plot at 1750 m had significantly lower productivity, possibly because of greater cloud immersion. Both plots had similar patterns of NPP allocation, a substantial seasonality in NPP components and little seasonality in R-a.Conclusions: These two plots lie within the ecotone between lower and upper montane forests, near the level of the cloud base. Climate change is likely to increase elevation of the cloud base, resulting in shifts in forest functioning. Longer-term surveillance of the carbon cycle at these sites would yield valuable insights into the response of TMCFs to a shifting cloud base.Keywords
Andes; ecophysiology; elevational gradient; gross primary productivity; net primary productivity; carbon use efficiency; soil water content; temperature; tropical montane forestsPublished in
Plant Ecology and Diversity2014, volume: 7, number: 1-2, pages: 125-142
Authors' information
Huasco, Walter Huaraca
Girardin, Cécile A. J.
Doughty, Christopher E.
Metcalfe, Daniel
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Forest Ecology and Management
Baca, Liliana D.
Silva-Espejo, Javier E.
Cabrera, Darcy G.
Aragão, Luiz E. O. C.
Davila, Angela R.
Marthews, Toby R.
Huaraca-Quispe, Lidia P.
Alzamora-Taype, Ivonne
Mora, Luzmila E.
Farfán-Rios, William
Cabrera, Karina G.
Halladay, Katherine
Salinas-Revilla, Norma
Silman, Miles R.
Meir, Patrick
Malhi, Yadvinder
UKÄ Subject classification
Forest Science
Publication Identifiers
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/17550874.2013.819042
URI (permanent link to this page)
https://res.slu.se/id/publ/51681