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Ancient trees in Amazonia

Author

Listed:
  • Jeffrey Q. Chambers

    (Evolution, and Marine Biology, University of California
    Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory)

  • Niro Higuchi

    (Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia (INPA))

  • Joshua P. Schimel

    (Evolution, and Marine Biology, University of California)

Abstract

The ages of tropical rain forest trees provide critical information for understanding the dynamics of tree populations, determining historical patterns of disturbance, developing sustainable forestry practices and calculating carbon cycling rates. Nevertheless, the ecological life history of most tropical trees is unknown and even the ages of the largest trees remain to be determined. Tree ages are typically measured by counting annual rings, but in tropical forests rings can be non-existent, annual or irregular1. In the absence of annual rings, 14C dating is the only way to determine the age of a tree directly. We have 14C-dated twenty large, emergent trees from a central Amazon rain forest and find that, contrary to conventional views, trees in these forests can be more than 1,400 years old.

Suggested Citation

  • Jeffrey Q. Chambers & Niro Higuchi & Joshua P. Schimel, 1998. "Ancient trees in Amazonia," Nature, Nature, vol. 391(6663), pages 135-136, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:391:y:1998:i:6663:d:10.1038_34325
    DOI: 10.1038/34325
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    Cited by:

    1. Rodrigues, Maisa Isabela & de Souza, Álvaro Nogueira & Mazzei, Lucas & Silva, José Natalino Macedo & Joaquim, Maísa Santos & Pereira, Reginaldo Sérgio & Biali, Leonardo Job & Rodriguez, Daigard Ricard, 2022. "Financial variability of the second cutting of forest management in Tapajós National Forest, Brazil," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 136(C).
    2. Elizângela Silva Luz & Álvaro Augusto Vieira Soares & Selma Lopes Goulart & Amélia Guimarães Carvalho & Thiago Campos Monteiro & Thiago Paula Protásio, 2021. "Challenges of the lumber production in the Amazon region: relation between sustainability of sawmills, process yield and logs quality," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 23(4), pages 4924-4948, April.
    3. Naughton-Treves, Lisa, 2004. "Deforestation and Carbon Emissions at Tropical Frontiers: A Case Study from the Peruvian Amazon," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 32(1), pages 173-190, January.

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