Persistent fire effect on forest dynamics and species composition of an old-growth tropical forest.

• Autor(a) principal: FERNANDES-CARVALHO-DE-ANDRADE, D.
• Data de Publicação: 2021
• Outros Autores: RUSCHEL, A. R., SCHWARTZ, G., PEREIRA-DE-CARVALHO, J. O., VASCONCELLOS-GAMA, J. R.
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Repositório Institucional da EMBRAPA (Repository Open Access to Scientific Information from EMBRAPA - Alice)
• Texto Completo: http://www.alice.cnptia.embrapa.br/alice/handle/doc/1148094; https://doi.org/10.5424/fs/2021303-16791
• topic: Espécies arbóreas pioneiras; Dinâmica das espécies; Resiliência florestal; Floresta Nacional do Tapajós; Floresta amazônica; Floresta Tropical; Amazonia

Aim of study: To assess structure, recruitment and mortality rates of tree species over almost three decades, 14 years before and 15 years after a forest fire. Materials and methods: All trees &#8805; 5 cm in DBH were identified and measured in 12 permanent plots (50 m x 50 m), in 1983, 1987, 1989, 1995, 2008, and 2012 of a dense ombrophilous forest in Eastern Amazon, Brazil. The analyses were carried out including all sampled species and their ecological groups: shade-tolerant, light-demanding, and pioneer species. Treatments were compared through a Linear Mixed Effect Model. Main results: The 15-year post-fire period is not enough for the old-growth tropical forest to recover its pre-fire conditions of recruitment and mortality rates. The post-fire recruitment and mortality rates increased, mainly the recruitment of pioneer species (p-value < 0.05). Research highlights: In a period of 15 years after the occurrence of a surface fire, the old-growth tropical forest still has high recruitment rates of shade-tolerant and light-demanding species and high incidence of pioneer species, confirming the persistent fire effects on forest dynamics and species composition in this ecosystem