Modeling the typhoon disturbance effect on ecosystem carbon storage dynamics in a subtropical forest of China's coastal region

Abstract

As an important ecological factor shaping terrestrial ecosystem states and destabilizing coastal forest ecosystems, typhoon events have become the focus of attention in recent years. However, there are limited studies on the change of carbon storage dynamics of subtropical forest ecosystems under typhoon disturbance. Here, we developed a theoretical ecosystem carbon cycle model combined with forest inventory data and measurements to evaluate pluriannual typhoon response of East Monsoon subtropical forest ecosystem carbon storage dynamics in Tiantong mountain (29°48′N, 121°47′E). We focused on the relationships between typhoon regime and ecosystem carbon storage dynamics, and forest resistance and resilience to typhoon disturbances. We showed that the disturbed plant biomass contributed to the reduced forest ecosystem carbon storage capacity. The modeling analyses underscored the critical role of biomass turnover time in forest ecosystem carbon storage capacity. The soil organic matter was highly stable under severe typhoons while the resistance of biomass and litter carbon amounts to increasingly severe typhoons decreased. The theoretical estimates provided by this study are instructive for the policy making of subtropical forest conservation and management under global environmental changes.