Functional analysis of wood traits, soil, and aboveground biomass in Terra firme and Igapó forests

Authors

  • Sebastián Emilio Díaz-C. Department of Marine, Earth, and Atmospheric Sciences; North Carolina State University Author
  • Ana M. Aldana Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology and Primatology, Universidad de los Andes Author
  • Merly Y. Carreño-Díaz Independent Researcher Author
  • Esperanza N. Pulido-Rodríguez Forest Engineering Program, Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources, Universidad Distrital “Francisco José de Caldas” Author
  • Luisa Fernanda Casas-Caro Instituto de Investigación de Recursos Biológicos “Alexander von Humboldt” Author
  • Diego F. Correa Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology and Primatology, Universidad de los Andes Author
  • Juan S. González-Abella Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology and Primatology, Universidad de los Andes Author
  • Pablo R. Stevenson Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology and Primatology, Universidad de los Andes Author
  • René López-Camacho Research Group of Use and Conservation of Forest Diversity, Universidad Distrital “Francisco José de Caldas” Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15517/52pp5j92

Keywords:

tree community ecology; , wood anatomical traits;, forest carbon dynamics

Abstract

Introduction: Wood traits are intrinsic properties of variables used in aboveground biomass (AGB) models, such as wood density and maximum height, whose behavior may vary with soil nutrient availability. In recent decades, knowledge of functional trait ecology has become a valuable tool in biomass and productivity studies. Objective: To analyse the stocks and storage rates of AGB in tropical moist gallery forests of the Colombian Orinoquia (Tomo River, Vichada) based on wood traits and edaphic variables. Methods: We evaluated variables associated with functional and edaphic response on tree vegetation from permanent monitoring plots, three in Terra Firme and two in the floodplain (igapó). For this, we included measurements of wood traits from dominant species, calculated functional diversity indexes, and identified clustering patterns and functional strategies. Results: It was found that higher functional richness was associated with higher storage rates in both forest types. Quadratic entropy and functional dispersion showed similar trends to functional richness but were not statistically significant. Functional evenness and divergence showed contrasting patterns between forests. In both forests, acquisitive functional types had the highest AGB values. Fiber traits, such as fiber length, were associated with AGB, but parenchyma traits were not. We recognized that phosphorus is a nutrient driver of AGB. Conclusions: Our results demonstrate similar functional trends in igapó and terra firme forests.

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References

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Published

2026-07-23