|
|
Contact Information
|
|
Jeff Chambers
Tulane University
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
400 Lindy Boggs
New Orleans, LA 70118
Ph: 504-862-8291
Fax:: 504-862-8706
chambers@tulane.edu |
|
The carbon balance of old-growth tropical
forests is important from the perspective of the atmospheric
concentration
of carbon dioxide. There
is clear evidence that deforestation in the Amazon is a large net
source of CO2 to the atmosphere, but the role of old-growth forests
remains contentious. Our lab group has carried out a number of
projects to better understand carbon cycling in old-growth Amazon
forests. One large project was detailed in an ecosystem
respiration paper, which included studies of
environmental factors
that control variability in CO2 exchange with the atmosphere
(Chambers
et al. 2004a). This synthesis paper included new measurments
of autotrophic and heterotrophic respiration, and also integrated work
from previous projects including: (i) coarse litter (dead
tree) decomposition (Chambers
et al. 1998), (ii) respiratory activity from coarse litter (Chambers
et al. 2001b), and (iii) net primary productivity (NPP) and tree
allometry based on over 300 harvested trees (Chambers
et al. 2001c).
Another line of work focusing on the carbon balance of old-growth
Amazonian forests involved the development of an individual-based
stochastic-empirical model (coded in Java) to simulate the carbon
cycling dynamics of live and dead trees. Model results predicted
that Central Amazon forests have a long-term carbon sink capacity,
although the ability of these forests to mitigate the anthropogenic rise in atmospheric CO2 is
quite limited (Chambers
et al. 2001d). Chambers et al. (2004b)
provides details of the model, and forest response to distrubances such
as elevated tree mortality rates.
|
|
