Physical properties of the litter in successional forests of interfluvial plateau and floodplain in the lower Guamá river, Eastern Amazonia

Abstract

The forest ecosystems of the Amazonia biome are indispensable for climate regulation and service provision. Among them, the fluvial plains (ESF_pf) stand out, due to their role in erosion control and water quality. However, the limited information available on this ecosystem is evident when compared to interfluvial plateaus (ESF_pi). Thus, this study aimed to evaluate and compare the litter stock and water storage capacity in successional ecosystems in the Eastern Amazonia. The study ecosystems (ESF_pf and ESF_pi) are located in the municipality of Belém, Pará, in the region of the lower Guamá River. In each ecosystem, 12 permanent plots (100 m²) were installed, where in the periods of higher and lower rainfall, three subunits of litter samples were randomly collected. Water storage in the rainy season did not differ between ecosystems, while in the less rainy season ESF_pf (245.91 ± 73.19%) was higher than ESF_pi (182.31 ± 77.25%). For the litter stock, there was no influence of seasonality and in both periods the ESF_pi averages were higher. Infer that due to the favorable conditions for the action of the edaphic fauna in the ESF_pf, there was a reduction in the contact area of the litter, increasing the water storage capacity. The smaller stock found in the ESF_pf allow to infer that there was an efficient cycling of nutrients, since these ecosystems are characterized by high litter deposition. Therefore, the results contribute to the understanding of the functional processes of the Amazon river plains ecosystems.