Biomass stock and growth are modulated by anthropogenic pressures,
canopy structure and tree biodiversity in fragmented Atlantic Rainforest
Abstract
Fragmented landscapes are becoming the norm in tropical regions.
Understand how fragmentation can affect the ‘biodiversity-productivity’
relationship is essential to access the biomass budget and understand
forest dynamics in these landscapes. Here, we used data from 108
permanent plots (4,000 m² each) of the National Forest Inventory to test
the effect of tree species richness, species composition, leaf area
index (LAI) and edge effect on biomass stock and change (5-year
interval) in Santa Catarina, Brazil. We found an average biomass stock
of 133.59 (± 67.24) Mg ha-1, and biomass change of 9.36 (± 12.08) Mg ha
5yr-1. Distance to forest edge interacted with species richness and
composition limiting biomass stock, while LAI positively affected the
stock. Biomass change increased in plots with higher number of pioneer
species and located distant from the forest edge. Our results show how
pervasive human pressure can be in fragmented landscapes.