Edge effect and species richness modulate biomass stocks and change over time in secondary forest fragments in the subtropical Atlantic Forest

© 2024 Botanical Society of Scotland and Taylor & Francis. Background: Above-ground biomass (AGB) and its temporal dynamics are key parameters of forest ecosystems, related to their resilience and capacity to fix atmospheric carbon. AGB is related to species richness, composition, forest structure, soils and climate. In human-modified landscapes, fragmentation and human pressure may change the nature of these relationships. Aims: Our aim was to quantify how species richness and composition, leaf area index, and edge effect were related to biomass stocks and growth in fragmented sub-tropical secondary forests. Methods: We tested the relationship between leaf area index, tree species richness and composition, edge effect and AGB stocks in secondary forest stands in the Atlantic Forest using multiple linear models on data from 104 sites. Results: Our results show that biomass stocks were related to species richness, distance to forest edge and the interaction of both (R2 = 0.25; p < 0.05). Biomass change showed positive relationships with pioneer species richness and distance to edge, and negative relationship with the interaction of total species richness and distance to edge (R2 = 0.15; p < 0.05). Conclusion: Edge effect can affect AGB dynamics directly and indirectly, by weakening the positive effects of species richness and composition on biomass. AGB loss at some sites suggests that some fragments are under chronic disturbance or may be experiencing delayed mortality due to fragmentation.