Major carbon losses from degradation of Mauritia flexuosa peat swamp forests in western Amazonia

• Published in: Biogeochemistry Vol. 167; no. 4; pp. 327 - 345
• Main Authors: Hergoualc’h, Kristell, van Lent, Jeffrey, Dezzeo, Nelda, Verchot, Louis V., van Groenigen, Jan Willem, López Gonzales, Mariela, Grandez-Rios, Julio
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cham Springer International Publishing 01.04.2024; Springer Nature B.V; Springer Verlag
• Subjects: Agricultural sciences; Biodegradation; Biogeosciences; Biomass; Budgets; Carbon; Degradation; Earth and Environmental Science; Earth Sciences; Ecosystems; Emissions; Environmental Chemistry; Fluxes; Geochemistry; Geophysics; Life Sciences; Litter fall; Mauritia flexuosa; Peat; Peatlands; Sciences of the Universe; Silviculture, forestry; Soil; Soil degradation; Soil study; Soils; Sustainability management; Swamps; Wetlands; Palm swamp peatlands; Carbon budget; Heterotrophic respiration; CO; Soil respiration; emissions; Litterfall; dégradation de l'environnement; marécage; Amazonie; sol de marécage; Pérou; sol marécageux; séquestration du carbone; CO2 emissions; Mauritia flexuosa; carbone organique du sol; dégradation des forêts; respiration du sol

Tropical peat swamp forests are major global carbon (C) stores highly vulnerable to human intervention. In Peruvian Amazonia, palm swamps, the prevalent peat ecosystem, have been severely degraded through recurrent cutting of Mauritia flexuosa palms for fruit harvesting. While this can transform the...