Large tree mortality and the decline of forest biomass following Amazonian wildfires |
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Authors: | Jos Barlow Carlos A Peres Bernard O Lagan Torbjorn Haugaasen |
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Institution: | Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Conservation, School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK |
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Abstract: | Surface fires in Amazonian forests could contribute as much as 5% of annual carbon emissions from all anthropogenic sources during severe El Niño years. However, these estimates are based on short‐term figures of post‐burn tree mortality, when large thicker barked trees (representing a disproportionate amount of the forest biomass) appear to resist the fires. On the basis of a longer term study, we report that the mortality of large trees increased markedly between 1 and 3 years, more than doubling current estimates of biomass loss and committed carbon emissions from low‐intensity fires in tropical forests. |
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Keywords: | Brazil carbon emissions El Niño forest fire tropical forest |
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