Sequestrated Carbon Content in Tree Species and Diurnal Temperature Influence for Adaptive Climate Change Resilience in Nigeria

Abstract

Trunk wood, bark, and leaf carbon concentration was assessed based on Walkley-Black in three (3) tropical tree species (Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh., Khaya senegalensis (Desr.) A. Juss, and Tectona grandis L.f.) as influenced by diurnal temperature. This is to provide the baseline data for adaptive climate change resilience in one of the developing countries, Nigeria. The data demonstrated that carbon content was highly variable within and between the wood and bark of the species. The bark of E. camaldulensis and K. senegalensis had the highest percentage of total carbon content (CTOT) at 61.92% and 49.5% when compared to the woody total carbon content at 55.04% and 44.77%, respectively, while T. grandis had the highest total carbon content (CTOT) in the woody tissue at 50.32% when compared to 41.19% in the bark tissue. Also E. camaldulensis had a significant positive relationship between their trunk diameter and carbon content at different levels, while K. senegalensis and T. grandis had a weak positive and negative relationship in their trunk diameter and carbon content at different levels. A strong negative relationship in leaf carbon content and diurnal temperature was observed in K. senegalensis and T. grandis, while E. camaldulensis had a weak negative and unclear relationship in their leaf carbon content and diurnal temperature. The carbon content decreases as the tree diameter reduces with increase in the tree height; therefore, sampling at tree diameter at breast height (DBH) may provide a good indicator of whole trunk carbon content. The relationship in the tree leaf carbon content with diurnal temperature indicated that trees respond differentially to daily temperature.