Carbon stocks and dynamics at different successional stages in an Afromontane tropical forest

• DOI: 10.5194/bg-14-1285-2017
• Publication Date: 2017-03-15T12:03:40Z
• Authors: Brigitte Nyiramba...; Etienne Zibera; Félicien K. Uwizeye; Donat Nsabimana; Elias Bizuru; Håkan Pleijel; Johan Uddling; Göran Wallin
• Keywords: Tropical rain forest; Chronosequence; Soil carbon

Abstract. As a result of different types disturbance, forests are mixture stands at stages ecological succession. Successional stage is likely to influence forest productivity and carbon storage, linking the degree disturbance global cycle climate. Although tropical montane an important part ecosystems (ca. 8 %, elevation > 1000 m a.s.l.), there still significant knowledge gaps regarding dynamics stocks these forests, how differ between early (ES) late successional (LS) stages. This study examines (C) stock, relative growth rate (RGR) net primary production (NPP) ES LS in Afromontane rainforest using data from inventories quantitatively ecosystem compartments fifteen 0.5 ha plots Nyungwe National Park Rwanda. The total C stock was 35 % larger compared due significantly above-ground biomass (AGB; 185 76 Mg ha−1 plots), while soil root (down 45 cm depth mineral soil) did not two (178 204 plots). main reasons for difference AGB were that trees had lower stature wood density trees. However, similar NPP (canopy, roots all ∼ 9.4 ha−1) counterbalancing effects differences (higher stands) RGR stands). considerably higher than average value reported old-growth south-east Asia Central South America elevations temperatures, same magnitude as lowland regions. results this highlight importance accounting regimes allometry tree species dominating attempt quantify sink strength they may among continents.