Disequilibrium and hyperdynamic tree turnover at the forest–cerrado transition zone in southern Amazonia

The transition zone (ZOT) between the Cerrado and Amazon forest in southern Amazonia exhibits significantly higher tree turnover rates compared to core Amazonian forests, with mortality and recruitment rates of 2.8% and 6.5% per year for trees with diameters ≥10 cm, respectively. This hyperdynamic behavior contrasts sharply with the more stable dynamics (1–2% per year) observed in core Amazonian forests. The study, spanning from 1996 to 2010 across seven vegetation types—including monodominant forest, semi-deciduous seasonal forest, gallery forest, and cerradão—revealed that smaller trees (5 ≤ d < 10 cm) contributed minimally to biomass but had even higher mortality rates (7.4% per year). The findings underscore the unique ecological dynamics of this rapidly shrinking region, necessitating long-term monitoring to assess its response to climate change.

Marimon, B. S., Marimon-Junior, B. H., Feldpausch, T. R., Oliveira-Santos, C., Mews, H. A., Lopez-Gonzalez, G., Lloyd, J., Franczak, D. D., de Oliveira, E. A., Maracahipes, L., Miguel, A., Lenza, E., & Phillips, O. L. (2013). Disequilibrium and hyperdynamic tree turnover at the forest–cerrado transition zone in southern Amazonia. Plant Ecology & Diversity, 7(1-2), 281–292. https://doi.org/10.1080/17550874.2013.818072