The role of composition, invasives, and maintenance emissions on urban forest carbon stocks.
There are few field-based, empirical studies quantifying the effect of invasive trees and palms and maintenance-related carbon emissions on changes in urban forest carbon stocks. We estimated carbon (C) stock changes and tree maintenance-related C emissions in a subtropical urban forest by re-measuring a subsample of residential permanent plots during 2009 and 2011, using regional allometric biomass equations, and surveying residential homeowners near Orlando, FL, USA. The effect of native, non-native, invasive tree species and palms on C stocks and sequestration was also quantified. Findings show 17.8 tC/ha in stocks and 1.2 tC/ha/year of net sequestration. The most important species both by frequency of C stocks and sequestration were Quercus laurifolia Michx. and Quercus virginiana Mill., accounting for 20% of all the trees measured; 60% of carbon stocks and over 75% of net C sequestration. Palms contributed to less than 1% of the total C stocks. Natives comprised two-thirds of the tree population and sequestered 90% of all C, while invasive trees and palms accounted for 5 % of net C sequestration. Overall, invasive and exotic trees had a limited contribution to total C stocks and sequestration. Annual tree-related maintenance C emissions were 0.1% of total gross C sequestration. Plot-level tree, palm, and litter cover were correlated to C stocks and net sequestration. Findings can be used to complement existing urban forest C offset accounting and monitoring protocols and to better understand the role of invasive woody plants on urban ecosystem service provision.
School of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of Florida, 361 Newins-Zeigler, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA.
Josh
J
Horn
Francisco J
FJ
Escobedo
Ross
R
Hinkle
Mark
M
Hostetler
Nilesh
N
Timilsina
D018533:Biomass; D002244:Carbon / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D057965:Carbon Sequestration; D017753:Ecosystem; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005431:Florida; D065928:Forests; D014197:Trees / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D014506:Urban Renewal
D002244:Carbon