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Litter production in successional forests of southern Bahia, Brazil

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 June 2022

Janaine Isabela da Silva Rocha Open the ORCID record for Janaine Isabela da Silva Rocha [Opens in a new window] ,
Luiz Fernando Silva Magnago  and
Daniel Piotto
Janaine Isabela da Silva Rocha*
Affiliation:
Programa de pós-graduação em Ecologia e Conservação da Biodiversidade, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz (UESC), Rodovia Ilhéus-Itabuna, Km. 16. Salobrinho, 42662-900, Ilhéus, BA, Brazil
Luiz Fernando Silva Magnago
Affiliation:
Centro de Formação em Ciências Agroflorestais, Universidade Federal do Sul da Bahia, Ilhéus, BA, Brazil
Daniel Piotto
Affiliation:
Centro de Formação em Ciências Agroflorestais, Universidade Federal do Sul da Bahia, Ilhéus, BA, Brazil
*
Author for correspondence: Janaine Isabela da Silva Rocha, Email: janainerocha@yahoo.com.br
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Abstract

Litter production plays an important role in the functioning of the ecosystem, providing several ecosystem services, such as nutrients cycling and carbon storage. We studied litter production patterns and its relationship with forest structure over a chronosequence of secondary forests in southern Bahia, Brazil. In the study area, 15 pairs of mature and secondary forest were used, in a chronological sequence, being 10, 25 and 40-year-old secondary forests and mature forests. Plots were created for the collection of aboveground biomass data, and within these plots, litter collectors were installed and monitored for 1 year. The results showed that litter production was lower in 10-year-old secondary forests when compared with older forests. On the other hand, in the 10-year-old forests, annual litter production represents 47.8% of the stored biomass, while in mature forests annual litter production represents only 4%. We found that structural variables (basal area, number of stems and canopy opening) influence significantly litter production, as well as litter as percentage of forest biomass. The study emphasizes the importance of biomass production through litterfall in regenerating tropical forests, and its importance for carbon storage and for the maintenance of ecosystem services.

Keywords

carbonecosystem functioningregenerationsecondary successionsuccessionaltropical forests
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Tropical Ecology , Volume 38 , Issue 6 , November 2022 , pp. 377 - 385
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Copyright
© The Author(s), 2022. Published by Cambridge University Press

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