Variação da fitofisionomia e dinâmica em florestas alagáveis de igapó na Amazônia central relacionada aos distúrbios

Abstract

Black water igapó forests are classified as oligotrophic ecosystems, influenced by rivers of acid pH, low sediment load, poor in nutrients with a phytophysionomy triggered by hydro-edaphic factors. In this study, we estimated the carbon storage and sequestration in aboveground wood biomass in the Uatumã Sustainable Development Reserve. In order to analyze along the topographic gradient the impacts that the Balbina Hydroelectric Power Plant (HPP) caused, three plots of one hectare were installed in the igapó floodplains of the Abacate River (undisturbed system) and three plots of one hectare in the igapó of the Uatumã River as a disturbed system. All trees with diameter at breast height (DBH) above 10 cm were inventoried and tree heights were estimated by specific non-linear regression model between DBH and tree height. The density of the species was estimated from studies performed in other Central Amazonian black-water igapós. The most abundant species were sampled for tree-ring analysis to estimate tree ages and annual diameter increments. Parameters of DBH, height and wood density of all the trees were used to estimate the aboveground wood biomass and the carbon stock (47% of dry biomass) using a pantropical allometric model. The mean age was estimated by a non- linear regression model through DBH and increment rates, with the age structure of the forest being estimated for each topographic level. A low species richness was detected at the lower topography in the igapó impacted by the HPP, in comparison to the undisturbed system and other Central Amazonian igapós, in the same way, the higher elevation of the disturbed system presented species richness similar to the non-flooded terra firme. The estimates of biomass and carbon stock showed a tendency to increase with decreasing topography. The mean age of the forest showed a significant correlation with tree density, basal area, average wood density, mean diameter increment rates and average residence time of the carbon (carbon stock/carbon sequestration of wood biomass), while the flood duration only showed significant correlations with tree density and species richness. The high biomass production and low residence time of the igapó at the intermediate topography of the Uatumã River, compared to the same elevation at the Abacate River, resulted from the high abundance of pioneer species with short longevity, high diameter increment rates and low wood densities. The obtained results suggest that it is not possible to associate the disturbances caused by the hydrological changes with stand ́s structure and dynamic, but that the igapós of the Uatumã River basin present several stages of secondary succession, possibly as a consequence of past disturbances associated by extreme hydro-climatic conditions. Based on this we suggest further studies to give more insights on the impact of natural and anthropogenic associated with changes of the hydrological cycle in this vulnerable oligotrophic ecosystem.