Stem respiration constitutes a substantial proportion of autotrophic respiration in forested ecosystems, but its drivers across different spatial scales and land-use gradients remain poorly understood. This study quantifies and examines the impact of logging disturbance on stem CO2 efflux (EA) in Malaysian Borneo. EA was quantified at tree- and stand-level in nine 1-ha plots over a logging gradient from heavily logged to old-growth using the static chamber method. Tree-level results showed higher EA per unit stem area in logged vs old-growth plots (37.0 ± 1.1 vs 26.92 ± 1.14 g C m-2 month-1). However, at stand-level, there was no difference in EA between logged and old-growth plots (6.7 ± 1.1 vs 6.0 ± 0.7 Mg C ha-1 yr-1) due to greater stem surface area in old-growth plots. Allocation to growth respiration and carbon use efficiency was significantly higher in logged plots. Variation in EA at both tree- and stand-level was driven by tree size, growth and differences in investment strategies between the forest types. These results reflect different resource allocation strategies and priorities, with a priority for growth in response to increased light availability in logged plots, while old-growth plots prioritise maintenance and cell structure.

Department of Life Science Imperial College London London SL5 7PY UK

Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences Czech University of Life Sciences Prague 165 00 Czech Republic

Instituto de Ciencias de la Naturaleza Territorio y Energías Renovables Pontificia Universidad Católica del Peru Lima 15088 Peru

Sabah Forestry Department Forest Research Centre Sandakan Sabah 90715 Malaysia

School of Biological Sciences University of Aberdeen Aberdeen AB24 3UU UK

School of Environmental and Rural Science University of New England Armidale NSW 2351 Australia

School of Geography and the Environment Environmental Change Institute University of Oxford Oxford OX1 3QY UK

School of Geography Geology and the Environment University of Leicester Leicester LE1 7RH UK

School of Natural and Environmental Sciences Newcastle University Newcastle NE1 4LB UK

UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology Lancaster OX10 8BB UK

Universidad Nacional de San Antonio Abad del Cusco Cusco 08003 Peru

University Malaysia Sabah Kota Kinabalu 88400 Malaysia

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