Abstract
Intact dipterocarp forests in Asia act as crucial carbon (C) reservoirs, and it is therefore important to investigate the C dynamics in these forests. We estimated C dynamics, together with net ecosystem production (NEP), in an intact tropical dipterocarp forest of Brunei Darussalam. Fifty-four simulation units (plots; 20 m × 20 m) were established and initial C stocks were determined via direct field measurement. The C dynamics were annually simulated with a regression model and the Forest Biomass and Dead organic matter Carbon (FBDC) model. The initial C stock (Mg C·ha−1) of biomass, litter, dead wood and mineral soil were 213.1 ± 104.8, 2.0 ± 0.8, 31.3 ± 38.8, and 80.7 ± 15.5, respectively. Their annual changes (Mg C·ha−1·year−1) were 3.2 ± 1.1, 0.2 ± 0.2, −3.7 ± 6.1, and −0.3 ± 1.1, respectively. NEP was −0.6 ± 6.1 Mg C·ha−1·year−1, showing large heterogeneity among the plots. The initial C stocks of biomass and dead wood, biomass turnover rates and dead wood decay rates were elucidated as dominant factors determining NEP in a sensitivity analysis. Accordingly, investigation on those input data can constrain an uncertainty in determining NEP in the intact tropical forests.
Highlights
Intact tropical forests, not disturbed by anthropogenic activity and natural disasters, are repositories of biodiversity and carbon (C)
The canopy layer can develop with the presence of large-DBH trees, which corresponds to the increase in biomass in intact mixed dipterocarp forests [38]
We estimated the annual changes in C stocks and net ecosystem production (NEP) in an intact lowland dipterocarp forest in Asia
Summary
Intact tropical forests, not disturbed by anthropogenic activity and natural disasters, are repositories of biodiversity and carbon (C). These forests contain abundant C and contribute to global C sinks [1,2]. They have been the focus of international protection efforts [3]. Understanding the C dynamics in these forests is crucial because they can indicate the C status of preserved tropical forests in the future. The C dynamics in such forests are poorly understood owing to a paucity of empirical data
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