Carbon stock in aboveground biomass and necromass in the Atlantic Forest: an analysis of data published between 2000 and 2021

Abstract

Synthesising knowledge on carbon stocks is an essential tool for understanding the potential of forests to store carbon and its drivers. However, such a synthesis needs to be constructed for the Atlantic Forest due to various methodological approaches and biogeographic heterogeneity. Thus, here we conducted a bibliographic search (2000 to 2021) on carbon stocks in the biomass and necromass of Atlantic Forest ecosystems to understand the variation in stocks and their explanatory variables. Drivers included spatial (altitude, forest size) and climatic (precipitation and temperature) variables, and successional stages. Based on the information in 46 articles, biomass exhibited the highest carbon stock (96%), in Mature Forests (MF), with an average of 125.34±40.3 MgC.ha^-1, whereas Secondary Forests (SF) stored 82.7±38.2 MgC.ha^-1. The carbon in the necromass varied from 1.63 to 11.47 MgC.ha^-1, with SF exhibiting 3.90±2.73 MgC.ha^-1 and MF 4.31±2.82 MgC.ha^-1. Only average annual precipitation and successional stage positively explained the carbon in Atlantic Forest. This research clarifies the function and potential of Atlantic Forest fragments for storing carbon and reinforces need for conserving mature forest patches throughout the biome since one hectare of mature forest can store almost twice as much carbon as one hectare of secondary young patches.

Key words
Tropical Forest; carbon estimates; dead organic matter; litter; climate; disturbance