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
Hits
Hits
Downloads
Comment