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δ13C in Pentaclethra macroloba trees growing at forest edges in north-eastern Costa Rica

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2008

Jessica L. Schedlbauer  and
Kathleen L. Kavanagh
Jessica L. Schedlbauer*
Affiliation:
Department of Forest Resources, University of Idaho, P.O. Box 441133, Moscow, ID 83844-1133, USA Departamento Recursos Naturales y Ambiente, Centro Agronómico Tropical de Investigación y Enseñanza (CATIE), Sede Central 7170, Turrialba, Costa Rica
Kathleen L. Kavanagh
Affiliation:
Department of Forest Resources, University of Idaho, P.O. Box 441133, Moscow, ID 83844-1133, USA
*
1Corresponding author. Current address: Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, 11200 SW 8th St., Miami, FL 33199, USA. Email: jschedlb@fiu.edu
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Abstract

Fragmented forest landscapes with large proportions of edge area are common in the tropics, though little is known about functional responses of trees to edge effects. Foliar δ13C can increase our understanding of tree function, as these values reflect changes in ci/ca as trees respond to environmental gradients. We expected that foliar δ13C would be enriched, indicating a decline in ci/ca, in Pentaclethra macroloba trees growing at forest edges in north-eastern Costa Rica. We also anticipated this isotopic shift in δ13C values of soil carbon and soil respired CO2. Three transects perpendicular to forest edges were established at three study sites, and six plots per transect were located 0–300 m from edges. Within plots, foliage, soil and soil respired CO2 were collected for isotopic analyses. Foliar δ13C, thus ci/ca, and soil carbon δ13C did not vary along the edge to interior gradient. δ13C for canopy and understorey foliage averaged −29.7‰ and −32.5‰, respectively, while soil carbon δ13C averaged −28.0‰. Soil respired CO2 δ13C ranged from −29.2‰ to −28.6‰ and was significantly depleted within 50 m of edges. The predominant lack of functional responses at forest edges indicates that P. macroloba trees are robust and these forests are minimally influenced by edge effects.

Keywords

edge effectssoil respired CO2stable carbon isotopestropical rain forest
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Tropical Ecology , Volume 24 , Issue 1 , January 2008 , pp. 49 - 56
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2008

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