You are here

Harvard Forest >

Harvard Forest Symposium Abstract 2011

  • Title: The threatened future of a northeastern foundation species (Tsuga canadensis) and its implications for forest carbon storage capacity
  • Primary Author: Poliana Lemos (Boston University)
  • Additional Authors: Adrien Finzi (Boston University)
  • Abstract:

    Currently present in 18 states and anticipated to continue its distribution throughout the native range of eastern hemlocks (Tsuga canadensis), the invasive pest hemlock woolly adelgid brings extensive mortality to this foundation species. The dense canopies and slow decomposing litter of the eastern hemlock have a dominant affect over all other species present, and its decline alters the functional characteristics of these ecosystems. In southern New England, this event has led to a rapid increase in the population of black birch (Betula lenta), a shade-intolerant hardwood species. Amidst the rising of atmospheric CO2 concentrations, it becomes increasingly important to examine the role of forest ecosystems as natural mechanisms for storing carbon (C). Carbon content in above- and belowground biomass, woody debris, and organic and mineral soils were measured in twenty 30x30 m forest plots in Massachusetts and Connecticut, throughout the transition of dominant species caused by the HWA. Though primary growth forests stored approximately 3x more C in organic horizon (5.75 kgC/m2 + 1.01) than both secondary hemlock and black birch forests, these latter forests were found to have a much more rock-free belowground volume (16.60% + 3.9 and 6.32% + 0.7 of rocks in the hemlock and black birch forests, respectively) than that of the primary growth forest (27.27% + 1.4), suggesting an agricultural legacy in New England’s forest C storage capacity. Furthermore, the high storage capacity found in the 0-15cm and 30-45cm soil depth of the secondary black birch forest (7.27 kgC/m2 + 0.38 and 3.93 kgC/m2 + 0.17, respectively) contributed to its total C storage capacity (33.8 kgC/m2 + 2.54) not being significantly different from neither the primary growth forest (41.12 kgC/m2 + 3.45) nor the secondary growth forest (23.83 + 0.84). Rock volume measurements will be doubled to confirm these findings.

  • Research Category: Biodiversity Studies
    Conservation and Management
    Forest-Atmosphere Exchange
    Historical and Retrospective Studies
    Invasive Plants, Pests & Pathogens
    Regional Studies
    Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics

  • Figures:
  • total biomass.pdf