Ecosystem carbon storage of tropical forests over limestone in Xishuangbanna, SW China

J.W. Tang; J.X. Yin; J.F. Qi; Martin Rudbeck Jepsen; X.T. Lü

Ecosystem carbon storage of tropical forests over limestone in Xishuangbanna, SW China

J.W. Tang, J.X. Yin, J.F. Qi, Martin Rudbeck Jepsen, X.T. Lü

Abstract

Tropical forests are recognised for their high biodiversity and the roles they play in carbon (C) storage and their influence on climate. Tropical forests over limestone take up 40% of the total area of tropical Asia. Nevertheless, C cycling in tropical forests over limestone is poorly quantified. There is a need for robust measurement of ecosystem carbon storage in tropical forests over limestone. We assessed the ecosystem C stocks, not only aboveground biomass but also belowground biomass, forest floor and mineral soil (to 1 m depth) in a tropical forest over limestone on the northern edge of tropical Asia. Mean total ecosystem C stock was estimated as 214 ± 28 t C ha-1 (± SE). The contribution of plant biomass in storing C was substantial, accounting for 80% of the total ecosystem C storage. The mean C stock of tree layer was 155 ± 24 t C ha-1. Soil C stocks in tropical forests over limestone in this area (50 ± 10 t C ha-1) were
much lower than those in tropical forests from South-East Asia. Higher percentage of C stock in plant biomass while lower percentage in mineral soil indicated that C stocks of the tropical forests over limestone would be more vulnerable to vegetation destruction than other tropical forests on non-limestone substrate. This study gave an accurate estimation of C stocks of different components in tropical forests over limestone in Xishuangbanna and highlighted the important role they play in C sequestration.

Original language	English
Journal	Journal of Tropical Forest Science
Volume	24
Issue number	3
Pages (from-to)	399-407
Number of pages	9
ISSN	0128-1283
Publication status	Published - 2012
Externally published	Yes

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@article{4a1e8b883cfc483896ec5e5c45bb013e,

title = "Ecosystem carbon storage of tropical forests over limestone in Xishuangbanna, SW China",

abstract = "Tropical forests are recognised for their high biodiversity and the roles they play in carbon (C) storage and their influence on climate. Tropical forests over limestone take up 40% of the total area of tropical Asia. Nevertheless, C cycling in tropical forests over limestone is poorly quantified. There is a need for robust measurement of ecosystem carbon storage in tropical forests over limestone. We assessed the ecosystem C stocks, not only aboveground biomass but also belowground biomass, forest floor and mineral soil (to 1 m depth) in a tropical forest over limestone on the northern edge of tropical Asia. Mean total ecosystem C stock was estimated as 214 ± 28 t C ha-1 (± SE). The contribution of plant biomass in storing C was substantial, accounting for 80% of the total ecosystem C storage. The mean C stock of tree layer was 155 ± 24 t C ha-1. Soil C stocks in tropical forests over limestone in this area (50 ± 10 t C ha-1) weremuch lower than those in tropical forests from South-East Asia. Higher percentage of C stock in plant biomass while lower percentage in mineral soil indicated that C stocks of the tropical forests over limestone would be more vulnerable to vegetation destruction than other tropical forests on non-limestone substrate. This study gave an accurate estimation of C stocks of different components in tropical forests over limestone in Xishuangbanna and highlighted the important role they play in C sequestration.",

author = "J.W. Tang and J.X. Yin and J.F. Qi and Jepsen, {Martin Rudbeck} and X.T. L{\"u}",

year = "2012",

language = "English",

volume = "24",

pages = "399--407",

journal = "Journal of Tropical Forest Science",

issn = "0128-1283",

publisher = "Forest Research Institute Malaysia",

number = "3",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Ecosystem carbon storage of tropical forests over limestone in Xishuangbanna, SW China

AU - Tang, J.W.

AU - Yin, J.X.

AU - Qi, J.F.

AU - Jepsen, Martin Rudbeck

AU - Lü, X.T.

PY - 2012

Y1 - 2012

N2 - Tropical forests are recognised for their high biodiversity and the roles they play in carbon (C) storage and their influence on climate. Tropical forests over limestone take up 40% of the total area of tropical Asia. Nevertheless, C cycling in tropical forests over limestone is poorly quantified. There is a need for robust measurement of ecosystem carbon storage in tropical forests over limestone. We assessed the ecosystem C stocks, not only aboveground biomass but also belowground biomass, forest floor and mineral soil (to 1 m depth) in a tropical forest over limestone on the northern edge of tropical Asia. Mean total ecosystem C stock was estimated as 214 ± 28 t C ha-1 (± SE). The contribution of plant biomass in storing C was substantial, accounting for 80% of the total ecosystem C storage. The mean C stock of tree layer was 155 ± 24 t C ha-1. Soil C stocks in tropical forests over limestone in this area (50 ± 10 t C ha-1) weremuch lower than those in tropical forests from South-East Asia. Higher percentage of C stock in plant biomass while lower percentage in mineral soil indicated that C stocks of the tropical forests over limestone would be more vulnerable to vegetation destruction than other tropical forests on non-limestone substrate. This study gave an accurate estimation of C stocks of different components in tropical forests over limestone in Xishuangbanna and highlighted the important role they play in C sequestration.

AB - Tropical forests are recognised for their high biodiversity and the roles they play in carbon (C) storage and their influence on climate. Tropical forests over limestone take up 40% of the total area of tropical Asia. Nevertheless, C cycling in tropical forests over limestone is poorly quantified. There is a need for robust measurement of ecosystem carbon storage in tropical forests over limestone. We assessed the ecosystem C stocks, not only aboveground biomass but also belowground biomass, forest floor and mineral soil (to 1 m depth) in a tropical forest over limestone on the northern edge of tropical Asia. Mean total ecosystem C stock was estimated as 214 ± 28 t C ha-1 (± SE). The contribution of plant biomass in storing C was substantial, accounting for 80% of the total ecosystem C storage. The mean C stock of tree layer was 155 ± 24 t C ha-1. Soil C stocks in tropical forests over limestone in this area (50 ± 10 t C ha-1) weremuch lower than those in tropical forests from South-East Asia. Higher percentage of C stock in plant biomass while lower percentage in mineral soil indicated that C stocks of the tropical forests over limestone would be more vulnerable to vegetation destruction than other tropical forests on non-limestone substrate. This study gave an accurate estimation of C stocks of different components in tropical forests over limestone in Xishuangbanna and highlighted the important role they play in C sequestration.

M3 - Journal article

SN - 0128-1283

VL - 24

SP - 399

EP - 407

JO - Journal of Tropical Forest Science

JF - Journal of Tropical Forest Science

IS - 3

ER -