Influência do El Niño 2015-2016 no incremento diamétrico das árvores da Amazônia Central

Abstract

The intensity and frequency of severe droughts in the Amazon region is increasing. Decreases in growth rates and increases in tree mortality have been reported in previous droughts, consequently, forest net primary production declined. In 2015-2016, the most severe drought of this century caused by El Niño occurred, consequently tree growth might be committed. Most drought studies have monitored the forest after the event happens, which misses the intra-annual effect of the drought. In this study, the monthly and annual increment of 325 trees with dendrometer bands were monitored one year before the drought, the year of the event and one year after it in a terra-firme forest in the Central Amazon. The annual and monthly diameter increment during the monitored periods were calculated to detect differences in the increment rates during the drought and between the periods. Trees were classified by diameter, wood density and topographic position to identify which characteristics were more vulnerable during the drought. A significant reduction in the annual and monthly stem increment was found after the drought in all the tree categories. Larger trees and trees located on plateaus were most affected in growth rate, this might be associated with photosynthesis reduction, hydraulic stress due to water deficit and/or cells water loss. Trees on the valley had smaller month-by-month variation during the drought year presenting little seasonal reaction to precipitation variation. No stem increment variation was detected within wood density. Besides, this present study demonstrates that a year after the drought, the forest growth rate had not recovered yet. Medium sized trees and trees located in the bottomlands were the ones with slower rates of recovery. The present study emphasizes the great effect of drought on tree growth and demonstrates how this effect is still observed in the year after drought. Also, the characterization of which trees are more vulnerable and resistant to the drought can contribute in climate and carbon models.