Understanding the Influences of Spatial Patterns on N Availability Within the Brazilian Amazon Forest


Autoria(s): NARDOTO, Gabriela Bielefeld; OMETTO, Jean Pierre Henry Balbaud; EHLERINGER, James R.; HIGUCHI, Niro; BUSTAMANTE, Mercedes Maria da Cunha; MARTINELLI, Luiz Antonio
Contribuinte(s)

UNIVERSIDADE DE SÃO PAULO

Data(s)

18/10/2012

18/10/2012

2008

Resumo

Nitrogen variations at different spatial scales and integrated across functional groups were addressed for lowland tropical forests in the Brazilian Amazon as follows: (1) how does N availability vary across the region over different spatial scales (regional x landscape scale); ( 2) how are these variations in N availability integrated across plant functional groups ( legume 9 non-legume trees). Leaf N, P, and Ca concentrations as well the leaf N isotope ratios (delta(15)N) from a large set of legume and non-legume tree species were measured. Legumes had higher foliar N/Ca ratios than non-legumes, consistent with the high energetic costs in plant growth associated with higher foliar P/Ca ratios found in legumes than in non-legumes. At the regional level, foliar delta(15)N decreased with increasing rainfall. At the landscape level, N availability was higher in the forests on clayey soils on the plateau than in forests on sandier soils. The isotope as well as the non-isotope data relationships here documented, explain to a large extent the variation in delta(15)N signatures across gradients of rainfall and soil. Although at the regional level, the precipitation regime is a major determinant of differences in N availability, at the landscape level, under the same precipitation regime, soil type seems to be a major factor influencing the availability of N in the Brazilian Amazon forest.

FAPESP[01/09984-6]

NASA[CD-02]

Identificador

ECOSYSTEMS, v.11, n.8, p.1234-1246, 2008

1432-9840

http://producao.usp.br/handle/BDPI/16957

10.1007/s10021-008-9189-1

http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10021-008-9189-1

Idioma(s)

eng

Publicador

SPRINGER

Relação

Ecosystems

Direitos

restrictedAccess

Copyright SPRINGER

Palavras-Chave #nitrogen #lowland tropical forest #nitrogen stable isotopes #Amazonia #foliar phosphorus #terra-firme forest #campinarana forest #BIOLOGICAL NITROGEN-FIXATION #N-15 NATURAL-ABUNDANCE #MOIST TROPICAL FOREST #ISOTOPIC COMPOSITION #RAIN-FOREST #PRECIPITATION GRADIENT #NUTRIENT DYNAMICS #CARBON-DIOXIDE #PLANT NITROGEN #FRENCH-GUIANA #Ecology
Tipo

article

original article

publishedVersion