Degradation-driven changes in fine root carbon stocks, productivity, mortality, and decomposition rates in a palm swamp peat forest of the Peruvian Amazon

Table 4 Fine root C content, N content, and C:N ratio

Site	Vegetation category	C (%)	N (%)	C:N
Intact	M. flexuosa seedlings	49.11 ± 0.32^ab	0.75 ± 0.06^a	65.99 ± 5.44^b
	M. flexuosa juveniles	48.74 ± 0.33^ab	0.77 ± 0.06	64.19 ± 4.9
	M. flexuosa adults	48.35 ± 0.52^ab	0.75 ± 0.05	64.89 ± 4.92
	Trees	49.14 ± 0.37^ab	0.80 ± 0.03	62.01 ± 2.32
mDeg	M. flexuosa seedlings	50.10 ± 0.45^b	0.97 ± 0.05^ab	51.77 ± 2.2^ab
	M. flexuosa juveniles	49.66 ± 0.19^b	0.91 ± 0.06	55.07 ± 3.6
	M. flexuosa adults	49.65 ± 0.77^b	0.84 ± 0.06	59.94 ± 4.71
	Trees	49.99 ± 0.39^b	0.93 ± 0.12	55.7 ± 7.62
hDeg	M. flexuosa seedlings	46.91 ± 0.69^a	1.05 ± 0.01^bαβ	44.98 ± 0.66^aαβ
	M. flexuosa juveniles	46.73 ± 0.18^a	0.88 ± 0.07^α	54.02 ± 4.59^β
	M. flexuosa adults	46.00 ± 0.22^a	0.95 ± 0.08^α	49.04 ± 4.56^αβ
	Trees	46.93 ± 0.71^a	1.50 ± 0.16^β	32.08 ± 3.50^α

Data are presented as mean ± standard error (n = 3). Means followed by letters a and b are significantly different between sites within a category. Means followed by letters α, β are significantly different between categories within a site. Seedlings, juveniles and adults were palms < 1 m, 1−3 m and > 3 m in height, respectively. Trees were individuals > 10 cm DBH. Moderately degraded and heavily degraded are abbreviated as mDeg and hDeg, respectively

ISSN: 1750-0680