Publication Details

Category Text Publication
Reference Category Journals
DOI 10.1038/ncomms6037
Title (Primary) Long-term carbon loss in fragmented Neotropical forests
Author Pütz, S.; Groeneveld, J.; Henle, K.; Knogge, C.; Martensen, A.C.; Metz, M.; Metzger, J.P.; Ribeiro, M.C.; Dantas de Paula, M.; Huth, A.
Source Titel Nature Communications
Year 2014
Department OESA; NSF; BIOENERGIE; iDiv
Volume 5
Page From art. 5037
Language englisch
UFZ wide themes RU5;
Abstract Tropical forests play an important role in the global carbon cycle, as they store a large amount of carbon (C). Tropical forest deforestation has been identified as a major source of CO2 emissions, though biomass loss due to fragmentation—the creation of additional forest edges—has been largely overlooked as an additional CO2 source. Here, through the combination of remote sensing and knowledge on ecological processes, we present long-term carbon loss estimates due to fragmentation of Neotropical forests: within 10 years the Brazilian Atlantic Forest has lost 69 (±14) Tg C, and the Amazon 599 (±120) Tg C due to fragmentation alone. For all tropical forests, we estimate emissions up to 0.2 Pg C y−1 or 9 to 24% of the annual global C loss due to deforestation. In conclusion, tropical forest fragmentation increases carbon loss and should be accounted for when attempting to understand the role of vegetation in the global carbon balance.
Persistent UFZ Identifier https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=15438
Pütz, S., Groeneveld, J., Henle, K., Knogge, C., Martensen, A.C., Metz, M., Metzger, J.P., Ribeiro, M.C., Dantas de Paula, M., Huth, A. (2014):
Long-term carbon loss in fragmented Neotropical forests
Nat. Commun. 5 , art. 5037 10.1038/ncomms6037