Carbon distribution and its correlation with floristic diversity in subtropical broad-leaved forests during natural succession

Abstract

there are increasing demands for afforestation and reforestation aimed at sequestering carbon (c) and conserving biodiversity. This study provides quantitative results to evaluate C storage capacity and probes the relationship between C distribution of various forest components and their floristic diversity during natural recovery processes. We studied C allocation, total C storage and floristic diversity in a subtropical broad-leaved secondary forest in south-eastern China managed under three different regimes, namely, no logging, early selective logging and late selective logging. Diameter at breast height data from 33 plots were used to construct allometric equations and to evaluate total biomass and C storage. Carbon storage in trees, understorey, necromass and the top 100 cm of soil was responsible for 29.8-47.6%, 0.2-0.5, 2.2-2.7 and 49.9-67.1% of the total C stocks respectively under the three regimes. Tree C stock was positively correlated (Pearson coefficient = 0.35) with tree diversity and explained 12.4% of the overstorey Shannon and Simpson indices. Therefore, elimination of the coniferous species (C. lanceolata) and overstorey diversity would not harm C storage for subtropical, broad-leaved secondary forest management.