Carbon Components in Mountain Forests in Colombia

20 permanent plots of 0.25-ha (50 m x 50 m) were established along the elevational gradient following Feeley et al. (2011) (Table S1; Fig. S1). The plots were distributed across ten elevational sections, each with a range of 250 m asl. The average horizontal distance between plots was 6.48 km (median: 5.72 km; range: 0.29-17.4 km). Within each plot, we measured, mapped and tagged all trees and palms ≥10 cm diameter at breast height (DBH) following standardized methods for long-term tropical forest dynamics plots (Condit 1998). In the case of tree species with buttresses, diameter was measured 50 cm above them. In all cases, the DBH point was painted and measured with diameter tape calibrated to one millimeter. We excluded arborescent ferns and lianas. Total height (H, in m) was measured on 40 percent of the individuals within each plot, using either a telescopic Hastings fiberglass rod (H <15 m) or a Nikon laser 550 electronic hypsometer (H ≥15 m).