%0 Journal Article %A Hai-Qing HU %A Bi-Zhen LUO %A Shu-Jing WEI %A Shu-Wei WEI %A Long SUN %A Si-Sheng LUO %A Hong-Bin MA %T Biomass carbon density and carbon sequestration capacity in seven typical forest types of the Xiaoxing’an Mountains, China %D 2015 %R 10.17521/cjpe.2015.0014 %J Chinese Journal of Plant Ecology %P 140-158 %V 39 %N 2 %X <i>Aims</i>

Forests are the world’s largest carbon (C) pool and sink among the terrestrial ecosystems. The amount of C in vegetation plays an important role in the global C cycle and balance. Our objectives were to assess C density and sequestration capacity in seven typical forest types of the Xiaoxing’an Mountains, Heilongjiang Province, China and to understand the implication of the C sink to the regional C budget and future forest C management.

<i>Methods</i>

Field surveys were combined with laboratory analysis and allometric equations for obtaining data for a variety of variables. Seven typical forest types in the Xiaoxing’an Mountains were studied based on age groups and plant functional groups (trees, shrubs, herbaceous and litter), including Pinus koraiensis, Larix gmelinii, Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica, Picea-Abies, Betula platyphylla, Quercus mongolica, and Populus davidiana forests. Surveys were made on C density and annual carbon gains in trees, understory shrubs, herbaceous plants and litter for each forest type. The forest stands were classified into age groups for estimating the biomass and C density of the study area.

<i>Important findings</i>

The C density of the seven forest types in different age groups varied widely. The C density per unit area for young, middle-aged, near mature and mature forests of each forest type were as follows: 31.4, 74.7, 118.4 and 130.2 t·hm-2 in Pinus koraiensis; 28.9, 44.3, 74.2 and 113.3 t·hm-2 in L. gmelinii; 22.8, 52.0, 71.1 and 92.6 t·hm-2 in Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica; 23.1, 44.1, 77.6 and 130.3 t·hm-2 in Picea-Abies; 18.8, 35.3, 66.6 and 88.5 t·hm-2 in B. platyphylla; 25.0, 20.0, 47.4 and 68.9 t·hm-2 in Q. mongolica; and 19.8, 28.7, 43.7 and 76.6 t·hm-2 in Populus davidiana forests, respectively. These results show that biomass C stocks in the Xiao- xing’an Mountains play an important role in the C cycle and regional C balance. Different forest types and stands of different age groups varied greatly in C stocks. Because most growth in the seven forest types occurs in the young and middle-aged forest stands, these age groups are considered to have a great potential to increase the biomass C density. This significant C sink will be further enhanced in the Xiaoxing’an Mountains with the development and restoration designed to provide specific ecological services including C sequestration.

%U https://www.plant-ecology.com/EN/10.17521/cjpe.2015.0014