Simulating carbon stocks and fluxes of an African tropical montane forest with an individual-based forest model.
Tropical forests are carbon-dense and highly productive ecosystems. Consequently, they play an important role in the global carbon cycle. In the present study we used an individual-based forest model (FORMIND) to analyze the carbon balances of a tropical forest. The main processes of this model are tree growth, mortality, regeneration, and competition. Model parameters were calibrated using forest inventory data from a tropical forest at Mt. Kilimanjaro. The simulation results showed that the model successfully reproduces important characteristics of tropical forests (aboveground biomass, stem size distribution and leaf area index). The estimated aboveground biomass (385 t/ha) is comparable to biomass values in the Amazon and other tropical forests in Africa. The simulated forest reveals a gross primary production of 24 tcha(-1) yr(-1). Modeling above- and belowground carbon stocks, we analyzed the carbon balance of the investigated tropical forest. The simulated carbon balance of this old-growth forest is zero on average. This study provides an example of how forest models can be used in combination with forest inventory data to investigate forest structure and local carbon balances.
Department of Ecological Modelling, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research-UFZ, Permoserstr. 15, 04318, Leipzig, Germany.
Rico
R
Fischer
Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Bern, Altenbergrain 21, CH-3013, Bern, Switzerland.
Andreas
A
Ensslin
Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Bern, Altenbergrain 21, CH-3013, Bern, Switzerland.
Gemma
G
Rutten
Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Bern, Altenbergrain 21, CH-3013, Bern, Switzerland.
Markus
M
Fischer
Department of Biology and Environmental Sciences, University of Oldenburg, Carl-von-Ossietzky-Strasse 9-11, 26111, Oldenburg, Germany.
David
D
Schellenberger Costa
Department of Biology and Environmental Sciences, University of Oldenburg, Carl-von-Ossietzky-Strasse 9-11, 26111, Oldenburg, Germany.
Michael
M
Kleyer
Dept. of Plant Systematics, University of Bayreuth, Universitaetsstr. 30-31, 95440, Bayreuth, Germany.
Andreas
A
Hemp
Department of Ecological Modelling, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research-UFZ, Permoserstr. 15, 04318, Leipzig, Germany.
Sebastian
S
Paulick
Department of Ecological Modelling, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research-UFZ, Permoserstr. 15, 04318, Leipzig, Germany; Institute of Environmental Systems Research, University of Osnabrueck, Barbarastraße 12, 49076, Osnabrueck, Germany.
Andreas
A
Huth
D000349:Africa; D018533:Biomass; D002244:Carbon / Q000032:analysis*; D057486:Carbon Cycle; D003198:Computer Simulation; D065947:Rainforest
D002244:Carbon