Seasonal variation in net ecosystem CO exchange of a Brazilian seasonally dry tropical forest.

Forest ecosystems sequester large amounts of atmospheric CO, and the contribution from seasonally dry tropical forests is not negligible. Thus, the objective of this study was to quantify and evaluate the seasonal and annual patterns of CO exchanges in the Caatinga biome, as well as to evaluate the ecosystem condition as carbon sink or source during years. In addition, we analyzed the climatic factors that control the seasonal variability of gross primary production (GPP), ecosystem respiration (R) and net ecosystem CO exchange (NEE).