Open AccessTracking the impacts of El Niño drought and fire in human-modified Amazonian forests
Author(s) -
Érika Berenguer,
Gareth D. Lennox,
Joice Ferreira,
Yadvinder Malhi,
Luiz E. O. C. Aragão,
Julia Barreto,
Fernando Del Bon Espírito-Santo,
Axa Emanuelle Simões Figueiredo,
Filipe França,
Toby Gardner,
Carlos Alfredo Joly,
Alessandro Ferraz Palmeira,
Carlos Alberto Quesada,
Liana Chesini Rossi,
Marina Maria Moraes de Seixas,
Charlotte C. Smith,
Kieran Daniel Withey,
Jos Barlow
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
proceedings of the national academy of sciences of the united states of america
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1091-6490
pISSN - 0027-8424
DOI - 10.1073/pnas.2019377118
Subject(s) - amazonian , disturbance (geology) , amazon rainforest , environmental science , climate change , ecology , limiting , forestry , geography , agroforestry , biology , mechanical engineering , paleontology , engineering
Significance Amazonia is experiencing an increase in the frequency of extreme droughts and wildfires. However, the duration of their impacts on plant mortality and carbon stocks are poorly known, and it is unclear whether impacts are amplified in forests with a history of previous human disturbance. We show that plant mortality rates remain above baseline levels for over 3 y in forests affected by drought and 2.5 y in forests affected by both drought and fire. A history of human disturbance led to greater plant mortality in forests simultaneously affected by drought and fire. Our assessment of an area covering 1.2% of the Brazilian Amazon shows that regional drought and fires can have globally relevant impacts on the world’s carbon balance.