PARENT SESSION
Contributed Oral Session 103: Forest Ecology : Carbon Stocks and Cycling
Wednesday, August 10, 1:30 PM - 5:00 PM, Meeting Room 520 C, Level 5, Palais des congrès de Montréal
Plot to landscape: ecosystem component carbon stocks in a managed sub-Boreal research forest in central British Columbia.
Bois, Claudette *,1, Janzen, Darren1, Sanborn, Paul1, Fredeen, Arthur1, 1 Ecosystem Science and Management, University of Northern British Columbia, Prince George, British Columbia, Canada
ABSTRACT- With the adoption of the Kyoto Protocol this February 16th, Canada aims to reduce GHG emissions by 6% of 1990 levels during 2008-2012. With this development, a pressing issue becomes the understanding of carbon (C) sequestration and stocks within managed and natural forests. Particularly, what are the major C stocks within a forested ecosystem, how much C is stored in each of these stocks, and how does forest management influence these C stocks? The research was conducted in 2003-04 in the 10,000 ha UNBC/UBC Aleza Lake Research Forest (ALRF) located approximately 60 km east of Prince George (122°03'40" W, 54°03'11" N) in the Sub-Boreal Spruce zone of central British Columbia, Canada. Sampling plots were selected randomly within strata encompassing dominant ecological classifications, soil textures and management regimes of the ALRF. In total, 105 plots were established of which 42 were on young second growth (0 to 20 years), 50 on old stands (141 to 250 years) with the remainder in intermediate aged stands. Of the young second growth plots, 33 were on fine- and 9 on coarse-textured soils, while in older stands, 41 were on fine and 9 on coarse sites. Baseline data collection used sampling methodology adapted from the National Forest Inventory Ground Sampling Guidelines of the Canadian Forest Service. Carbon stocks were measured in large trees, snags, small trees, woody shrubs, stumps, herbs, coarse, small and fine woody debris and woody debris accumulations, forest floor and mineral soil up to 1m in depth. C concentrations in tissue and soil samples were determined by the Dumas-combustion method. Allometric equations were used to extrapolate branch, stem wood, stem bark, foliage and root C stocks. Total old-growth aboveground stocks reached upwards of 150 tonnes C ha-1 on both fine- and coarse-textured soils. Total clearcut aboveground stocks measured 80 and 90 tonnes C ha-1 on coarse and fine textured soils, respectively. Total old-growth belowground stocks measured 111 and 178 tonnes C ha-1 in fine and coarse textured soils, respectively, while clearcut stocks were 96 and 135 tonnes C ha-1. The analysis of ecosystem component C stocks will document the effects of clearcutting, partial cutting, soil texture, and plant community structure.
Key words: carbon stocks, forest carbon, biomass carbon, soil carbon