Dataset Information

Tree species richness increases ecosystem carbon storage in subtropical forests.

ABSTRACT: Forest ecosystems are an integral component of the global carbon cycle as they take up and release large amounts of C over short time periods (C flux) or accumulate it over longer time periods (C stock). However, there remains uncertainty about whether and in which direction C fluxes and in particular C stocks may differ between forests of high versus low species richness. Based on a comprehensive dataset derived from field-based measurements, we tested the effect of species richness (3-20 tree species) and stand age (22-116 years) on six compartments of above- and below-ground C stocks and four components of C fluxes in subtropical forests in southeast China. Across forest stands, total C stock was 149 ± 12 Mg ha-1 with richness explaining 28.5% and age explaining 29.4% of variation in this measure. Species-rich stands had higher C stocks and fluxes than stands with low richness; and, in addition, old stands had higher C stocks than young ones. Overall, for each additional tree species, the total C stock increased by 6.4%. Our results provide comprehensive evidence for diversity-mediated above- and below-ground C sequestration in species-rich subtropical forests in southeast China. Therefore, afforestation policies in this region and elsewhere should consider a change from the current focus on monocultures to multi-species plantations to increase C fixation and thus slow increasing atmospheric CO2 concentrations and global warming.

SUBMITTER: Liu X

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6125896 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Tree species richness increases ecosystem carbon storage in subtropical forests.

Liu Xiaojuan X Trogisch Stefan S He Jin-Sheng JS Niklaus Pascal A PA Bruelheide Helge H Tang Zhiyao Z Erfmeier Alexandra A Scherer-Lorenzen Michael M Pietsch Katherina A KA Yang Bo B Kühn Peter P Scholten Thomas T Huang Yuanyuan Y Wang Chao C Staab Michael M Leppert Katrin N KN Wirth Christian C Schmid Bernhard B Ma Keping K

Proceedings. Biological sciences 20180822 1885

Forest ecosystems are an integral component of the global carbon cycle as they take up and release large amounts of C over short time periods (C flux) or accumulate it over longer time periods (C stock). However, there remains uncertainty about whether and in which direction C fluxes and in particular C stocks may differ between forests of high versus low species richness. Based on a comprehensive dataset derived from field-based measurements, we tested the effect of species richness (3-20 tree ...[more]

PMID: 30135164

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Dataset Information

Tree species richness increases ecosystem carbon storage in subtropical forests.

Publications

Tree species richness increases ecosystem carbon storage in subtropical forests.

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