Abstract
Litterfall is the largest source of nutrients to forest soils of tropical rainforests. However, variability in litterfall production, nutrient remobilization, and changes in leaf nutrient concentration with climate seasonality remain largely unknown for the central Amazon. This study measured litterfall production, leaf nutrient remobilization, and leaf area index on a forest plateau in the central Amazon. Litterfall was measured at monthly intervals during 2014, while nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium and magnesium concentrations of leaf litter and canopy leaves were measured in the dry and rainy seasons, and remobilization rates determined. Leaf area index was also recorded in the dry and rainy seasons. Monthly litterfall varied from 33.2 (in the rainy season) to 87.6 g m‒2 in the dry season, while leaf area index increased slightly in the rainy season. Climatic seasonality had no effect on concentrations of nitrogen, calcium, and magnesium, whereas phosphorous and potassium responded to rainfall seasonality oppositely. While phosphorous increased, potassium decreased during the dry season. Over seasons, nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorous decreased in leaf litter; calcium increased in leaf litter, while magnesium remained unaffected with leaf aging. Regardless, the five nutrients had similar remobilization rates over the year. The absence of climate seasonality on nutrient remobilization suggests that the current length of the dry season does not alter nutrient remobilization rates but this may change as dry periods become more prolonged in the future due to climate change.
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Abbreviations
- C CL :
-
Leaf nutrient concentration of canopy leaves (mg g–1)
- CL:
-
Canopy leaves
- C SL :
-
Leaf nutrient concentration of senesced leaves (mg g–1)
- DBH:
-
Diameter at breast height (1.3 m from the ground)
- LAI:
-
Leaf area index (m2 m‒2)
- LL:
-
Leaf litter (senesced leaves)
- LLDM :
-
Dry matter of leaf litter (g m–2 a–1)
- LMA:
-
Leaf mass per area (g m‒2)
- NCL:
-
Leaf nutrient content in canopy leaves (g m‒2)
- NUE:
-
Nutrient use efficiency (g g‒1)
- R N :
-
Nutrient remobilization–nutrient resorption (%)
- t:
-
Ton (1000 kg)
- TL:
-
Annual total litterfall per unit area (g m‒2 a‒1)
- TNLL :
-
Annual total nutrient content in LL (g m‒2 a‒1)
- N:
-
Nitrogen
- P:
-
Phosphorus
- K:
-
Potassium
- Ca:
-
Calcium
- Mg:
-
Magnesium
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We thank the editors and reviewers for their comments and suggestions which greatly improved the quality of the manuscript. Many thanks to Prof. Ayling for his important suggestions and revision of English of the manuscript.
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Marenco, R.A., Antezana-Vera, S.A., Dias, D.P. et al. Litter production and leaf nutrient concentration and remobilization in response to climate seasonality in the central Amazon. J. For. Res. 35, 54 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11676-024-01701-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11676-024-01701-1