A Look at Amazon Basin Seasonal Dynamics with the Biophysical ...

The contribution of pioneer tree species to above-ground biomass estimates in continuousand fragmented forests in central AmazoniaAna Cristina S. de Andrade 1 , Sammya A. D’Angelo 1 ; Susan Laurance 1,2 ; William Laurance 2and Rita Mesquita 11 Biological Dynamics of Forest Fragments Project, National Institute for Amazonian Research(INPA), C.P. 478, Manaus, AM 69011-970, Brazil – titina@inpa.gov.br2 Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Apartado 2072, Balboa, Republic of PanamáThe floristic composition of rainforests will affect estimates of total above-ground biomass, astrees differ in stature, architecture and wood density. In this study, we used three differentallometric equations to assess the effect of floristic composition on estimates of above-groundbiomass in interior and edge plots. Of the 55 plots (1ha) examined, 28 were located near edge(less than 300m from the nearest forest edge) and 27 in interior forest (further than 300m fromthe edge), all trees (DBH>10cm) were sampled. We determined the biomass of trees using threeseparate allometrics equations: (1) primary forest species; (2) pioneer genera Bellucia, Croton,Goupia, Laetia, Pourouma, Trema and Vismia.; (3) the genus Cecropia.Using equation 1, biomass estimates for all plots was 18,290.6ton., however when generaspecific equations were included total biomass was only 18,128.5ton. The estimates differed by0.9% and were significant (t=5,817; df=54; p