Subjects: Biology >> Botany >> Plant ecology, plant geography submitted time 2016-05-03
Abstract： Aims Forest carbon storage in Inner Mongolia plays a significant role in national terrestrial carbon budget due to its largest forest area in China. Our objectives were to estimate the carbon storage in the forest ecosystems in Inner Mongolia, and to reveal its spatial pattern. Methods In the study, field survey and sampling were conducted at 137 sites, which were nearly evenly distributed in most forest types in the study region. At each site, the ecosystem carbon density at each site was estimated thorough sampling and measuring pools of soil (0–100 cm) and vegetation, including biomass of tree, grass, shrub, and litter. Regional carbon storage was further calculated with the estimated carbon density for each forest type. Important findings Carbon storage of vegetation layer in forests in Inner Mongolia was 787.8 Tg C, with the biomass of tree, litter, herbaceous and shrub account for 93.5%, 3.0%, 2.7% and 0.8%, respectively. Carbon density of vegetation layer was 40.4 t?hm–2, with 35.6 t?hm–2 in trees, 2.9 t?hm–2 in litter, 1.2 t?hm–2 in herbaceous and 0.6 t?hm–2 in shrubs. In comparison, carbon storage of soil layer in forests in Inner Mongolia was 2449.6 Tg C, with 79.8% distributed in the first 30 cm. Carbon density of soil layer was 144.4 t?hm–2. Carbon storage of forest ecosystem in Inner Mongolia was 3237.4 Tg C, with vegetation and soil accounting for 24.3% and 75.7%, respectively. Carbon density of forest ecosystem in Inner Mongolia was 184.5 t?hm–2. Carbon density of soil layer was positively correlated with that of vegetation layer. Spatially, both carbon storage and carbon density were higher in the eastern area, where the climate is more humid. Forest reserve construction and artificial afforestation can significantly improve the capacity of regional carbon sink.
Peer Review Status:
Awaiting Review
Subjects: Biology >> Botany >> Plant ecology, plant geography submitted time 2016-05-03
Abstract： Aims Sparse Ulmus pumila forest is an intrazonal vegetation in Onqin Daga Sandy Land, Populus simonii has been widely planted for windbreak and sand dune stabilization. Our objective was to compare the differences in carbon (C) density of these two forests and their relationships with stand age. Methods We measured the C content of tree organs (leaf, twig, stem, and root), herb layers(above ground vegetation and below ground root) and soil layers (up to 100 cm) in sparse Ulmus pumila forests and Populus simonii plantations of different stand ages, and then computed C density and their proportions in total ecosystem carbon density. In addition, we illustrated the variation of tree layer, soil layer and total ecosystem carbon density with stand age, and then estimated the C sequestration rates for these two ecosystems by the space-for-time substitution approach. Important findings The average C contents of tree layer and soil layer for sparse Ulmus pumila forests were lower than those for Populus simonii plantations. The total C density of sparse Ulmus pumila forests was half of that of Populus simonii plantations. The carbon density of soil and tree layers accounted for more than 98% of ecosystem C density in both two forests. Irrespective of forest type, the C density ratios of soil to vegetation decreased with stand age. This ratio was 1.66 for sparse Ulmus pumila forests and 1.87 for Populus simonii plantations, respectively when they were over-matured. The C density of tree layer, soil layer, and total ecosystem in both forests increased along forest development. There were significant linear positive correlations between tree layer’s C density and stand age in both forests and between the total ecosystem C density of Sparse Ulmus pumila forests and stand age. The C sequestration rate of tree layer was 5-fold higher in Populus simonii plantation than in sparse Ulmus pumila forest. The C sequestration rate of ecosystem was 0.81 Mg C hm–2 a–1 for sparse Ulmus pumila forest and 5.35 Mg C hm–2 a–1 for Populus simonii plantation. These findings have implications for C stock estimation of sandy land forest ecosystems and policy-making of ecological restoration and C sink enhancement in the studied area.
Peer Review Status:Awaiting Review
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