Stock and loss of necromass of trees on a vegetation gradient in the Amazon-Cerrado transition

Abstract

Necromass is an important component of the decomposition and nutrients cycling in natural ecosystems. Our objective was to evaluate the stock and loss of necromass of the community and of the species in a vegetation gradient of cerrado típico, cerradão and floresta estacional semidecidual, in the Amazônia-Cerrado transition. We estimate, for each vegetation type, the necromass stock, through the diameters of the dead standing trees in 2005, 2008, 2011 and 2013. We also estimate the loss of necromass at both, community and species level, through the diameters of trees who remained standing dead between at least two inventories (2002-2005, 2005-2008, 2008-2011 or 2011-2013). The cerrado típico showed lower stock and loss of necromass than cerradão and floresta estacional. At the species level, there was no relationship between necromass decomposition rates and wood density. The greater stock and loss of necromass in the floresta estacional semidecidual in relation to the cerrado típico can be related to the greater size of the trees, which can provide more canopy cover and favorable microclimate to the action of decomposing organisms. Thus, intrinsic characteristics of each vegetation type may be directly related to the stock and loss of necromass in savanna and forest formations of the Amazônia-Cerrado transition.

Key words: nutrient cycling; decomposition; wood density; biomass; carbon stock