Functional composition enhances aboveground carbon stock during tropical late-secondary forest succession

Abstract

The ‘mass ratio’ hypothesis states that ecosystem functioning is driven by the functional traits of the most dominant species in communities. Thus, we aimed to evaluate (i) How topographical conditions and stand age determine changes in tree community composition, richness, abundance and carbon dominant (CD) species, and (ii) Assess whether community-weighted mean of functional trait values of CD species explain aboveground carbon (AGC) stock. We used community-weighted mean of wood density and maximum stem diameter to evaluate the effect of functional dominance in AGC stock. We found that different topographic conditions and stand age change community composition, richness, abundance and CD species along the late-secondary stage. Our results showed that functional trait values of CD species determine AGC stock. Thus, the proportion of CD species was shaped by topography and stand age, whereas carbon stock by the dominant species’ functional traits (wood density and diameter). This study advances our understanding of the mechanisms that drive carbon stock in tropical forests and supports the ‘mass ratio’ hypothesis. We emphasize the relevance of the trait-based approach to understand forest functioning and trait functional composition and taxonomic identity for carbon storage, recovery and increase in secondary Atlantic Forests.