The Natural Dynamic of Carbon in Forest Ecosystems

Abstract

Forest Ecosystems exchange energy, water, and nutrients and, in particular, carbon (C) with surrounding ecosystems, and play a major role in the global C cycle. Forests are major terrestrial C sinks, have large C densities and sequester large amounts of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2). By various natural processes, C is entering forest ecosystems in dissolved, gaseous and particulate form. The C is temporarily stored, and sequestered in above- and belowground pools in vegetation, detritus and soil. Efflux processes result in C losses to adjacent ecosystems. This chapter describes C in- and efflux processes, the C turnover within forest ecosystems and how C is sequestered in the different forest ecosystem pools with a focus on processes occurring in trees and soil.