Distribution Patterns of Aboveground Biomass of Tropical Cloud Forests in Hainan Island

Abstract

The plant biomass is an important ecosystem function of forests and plays a fundamental role in the material cycle and energy flow. The diameter at breast height (DBH) and height of plants with DBH ≥1 cm were surveyed in tropical cloud forests in Jianfengling Mt., Bawangling Mt., and Limushan Mt. with forest aboveground biomass (AGB) being calculated with an allometric model. We assessed variations in AGB across different plot sizes, DBH classes, and plant height classes in the three tropical cloud forests. The results showed that AGB in the three tropical cloud forests consistently changed across plot sizes, with the AGB being significantly higher in Jianfengling Mt. and Limushan Mt. than the Bawangling Mt., due to the influences of precipitation and air temperature. AGB of Jianfengling Mt., Bawangling Mt., and Limushan Mt. was mainly distributed in trees with DBH ≥ 30 cm, accounting for 33.0%, 32.1%, and 52.8%, respectively. For the patterns of AGB across height classes, AGB was mainly distributed in plants with height ≥7 m in Jianfengling Mt. and Bawangling Mt. accounting for 79.9% and 70.1% of the total AGB. The ABG in Limushan Mt. was mainly distributed in plants with a height ≥9 m, accounting for 87.7% of the total AGB. Changes in AGB across the three tropical cloud forests were consistent at different DBH and height classes with an AGB being mainly distributed in large trees.KeywordsTropical cloud forestAboveground biomassDBH classHeight class