TY - JOUR AU - Malhi, Y. AU - Aragao, L.E.O.C. AU - Metcalfe, D.B. AU - Paiva, R. AU - Quesada, C.A. AU - Almeida, S. AU - Anderson, L. AU - Brando, P. AU - Chambers, J.Q. AU - da Costa, A.C.L. AU - Hutyra, L.R. AU - Oliveira, P. AU - Patino, S. AU - Pyle, E.H. AU - Robertson, A.L. AU - Teixeira, L.M. PY - 2009// TI - Comprehensive assessment of carbon productivity, allocation and storage in three Amazonian forests T2 - Glob. Change Biol. JO - Global Change Biology SP - 1255 EP - 1274 VL - 15 IS - 5 PB - WILEY-BLACKWELL PUBLISHING, INC KW - allocation KW - Amazonia KW - carbon KW - growth KW - litterfall KW - productivity KW - respiration KW - roots KW - soil KW - tropical forest N2 - The allocation and cycling of carbon (C) within forests is an important component of the biospheric C cycle, but is particularly understudied within tropical forests. We synthesise reported and unpublished results from three lowland rainforest sites in Amazonia (in the regions of Manaus, Tapajos and Caxiuana), all major sites of the Large-Scale Biosphere-Atmosphere Programme (LBA). We attempt a comprehensive synthesis of the C stocks, nutrient status and, particularly, the allocation and internal C dynamics of all three sites. The calculated net primary productivities (NPP) are 10.1 +/- 1.4 Mg C ha(-1) yr(-1) (Manaus), 14.4 +/- 1.3 Mg C ha(-1) yr(-1) (Tapajos) and 10.0 +/- 1.2 Mg C ha(-1) yr(-1) (Caxiuana). All errors bars report standard errors. Soil and leaf nutrient analyses indicate that Tapajos has significantly more plant-available phosphorus and calcium. Autotrophic respiration at all three sites (14.9-21.4 Mg C ha yr(-1)) is more challenging to measure, with the largest component and greatest source of uncertainty being leaf dark respiration. Comparison of measured soil respiration with that predicted from C cycling measurements provides an independent constraint. It shows general good agreement at all three sites, with perhaps some evidence for measured soil respiration being less than expected. Twenty to thirty percent of fixed C is allocated belowground. Comparison of gross primary productivity (GPP), derived from ecosystem flux measurements with that derived from component studies (NPP plus autotrophic respiration) provides an additional crosscheck. The two approaches are in good agreement, giving increased confidence in both approaches to estimating GPP. The ecosystem carbon-use efficiency (CUEs), the ratio of NPP to GPP, is similar at Manaus (0.34 +/- 0.10) and Caxiuana (0.32 +/- 0.07), but may be higher at Tapajos (0.49 +/- 0.16), although the difference is not significant. Old growth or infertile tropical forests may have low CUE compared with recently disturbed and/or fertile forests. SN - 1354-1013 N1 - ISI:000265033700015 ID - Malhi_etal2009 ER -