A large carbon sink in the woody biomass of Northern forests

Myneni, Ranga B.; Dong, Jing; Tucker, Compton J.; Kaufmann, Robert K.; Kauppi, Pekka E.; Liski, Jari; Zhou, Liming; Alexeyev, V.A.; Hughes, Malcolm K.

doi:10.1073/pnas.261555198

Cited by 595 publications

(457 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…These forests have an important role in global carbon cycling, as they store substantial amounts of C in soil organic matter or biomass (Myneni et al, 2001;Ruckstuhl et al, 2008). Coniferous forests are viewed as an important global C sink (Bradshaw et al, 2009), and their functioning is thus potentially highly important for the global carbon balance as affected by climate change (Soja et al, 2007).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

When the forest dies: the response of forest soil fungi to a bark beetle-induced tree dieback

et al. 2014

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Coniferous forests cover extensive areas of the boreal and temperate zones. Owing to their primary production and C storage, they have an important role in the global carbon balance. Forest disturbances such as forest fires, windthrows or insect pest outbreaks have a substantial effect on the functioning of these ecosystems. Recent decades have seen an increase in the areas affected by disturbances in both North America and Europe, with indications that this increase is due to both local human activity and global climate change. Here we examine the structural and functional response of the litter and soil microbial community in a Picea abies forest to tree dieback following an invasion of the bark beetle Ips typographus, with a specific focus on the fungal community. The insect-induced disturbance rapidly and profoundly changed vegetation and nutrient availability by killing spruce trees so that the readily available root exudates were replaced by more recalcitrant, polymeric plant biomass components. Owing to the dramatic decrease in photosynthesis, the rate of decomposition processes in the ecosystem decreased as soon as the one-time litter input had been processed. The fungal community showed profound changes, including a decrease in biomass (2.5-fold in the litter and 12-fold in the soil) together with the disappearance of fungi symbiotic with tree roots and a relative increase in saprotrophic taxa. Within the latter group, successive changes reflected the changing availability of needle litter and woody debris. Bacterial biomass appeared to be either unaffected or increased after the disturbance, resulting in a substantial increase in the bacterial/fungal biomass ratio.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

When the forest dies: the response of forest soil fungi to a bark beetle-induced tree dieback

et al. 2014

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“…The high content of phenolic secondary metabolites, such as lignin and tannins, in the plant litter leads to slow decomposition (Aerts, 1995). On account of the low turnover rates, carbon accumulates in humus layers and soils, making the boreal forest biome a global sink for carbon (Myneni et al, 2001).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

ClassII peroxidase-encoding genes are present in a phylogenetically wide range of ectomycorrhizal fungi

Bödeker

Nygren

Taylor³

et al. 2009

The ISME Journal

160

123

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Fungal peroxidases (ClassII) have a key role in degrading recalcitrant polyphenolic compounds in boreal forest wood, litter and humus. To date, their occurrence and activity have mainly been studied in a small number of white-rot wood decomposers. However, peroxidase activity is commonly measured in boreal forest humus and mineral soils, in which ectomycorrhizal fungi predominate. Here, we used degenerate PCR primers to investigate whether peroxidase-encoding genes are present in the genomes of a wide phylogenetic range of ectomycorrhizal taxa. Cloning and sequencing of PCR products showed that ectomycorrhizal fungi from several different genera possess peroxidase genes. The new sequences represent four major homobasidiomycete lineages, but the majority is derived from Cortinarius, Russula and Lactarius. These genera are ecologically important, but consist mainly of non-culturable species from which little ecophysiological information is available. The amplified sequences contain conserved active sites, both for folding and substrate oxidation. In some Cortinarius spp., there is evidence for gene duplications during the evolution of the genus. ClassII peroxidases seem to be an ancient and a common feature of most homobasidiomycetes, including ectomycorrhizal fungi. Production of extracellular peroxidases may provide ectomycorrhizal fungi with access to nitrogen sequestered in complex polyphenolic sources.

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“…Many studies have been done at a stand level (Karjalainen, 1996b;Liski et al, 2001;Minkkinen et al, 2001;Pussinen et al, 2002;Spinney and Prisley, 2002), often to investigate different management regimes in detail. Studies have also been carried out at a regional level (Hoen and Solberg, 1994;Lasch et al, 1999;Lasch et al, 2002;Song and Woodcock, 2003), for countries (Turner et al, 1995;Karjalainen, 1996a;Krankina et al, 1996;Ågren and Hyvönen, 2003) or even whole continents (Myneni et al, 2001;Cannell, 2003). In modelling the harvest behaviour in carbon studies, mimicking historic levels, keeping an even flow and/or attaining highest possible harvest level are common methods.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A model for regional analysis of carbon sequestration and timber production

Backéus

Wikström

Lämås

2005

Forest Ecology and Management

108

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The greenhouse effect is one of our most severe current environmental problems. Forests make up large ecosystems and can play an important role in mitigating the emissions of CO 2 , the most important greenhouse gas. Different management regimes affect the ability of forests to sequester carbon. It is important to investigate in what way we best can use forests to mitigate the greenhouse effect. It is also important to study what effect different actions, done to increase carbon sequestration, have on other offsets from forestry, such as the harvest level, the availability of forest biofuel and economic factors.In this study, we present an optimization model for analysis of carbon sequestration in forest biomass and forest products at a local or regional scale. The model consists of an optimizing stand-level simulator, and the solution is found using linear programming. Carbon sequestration was accounted for in terms of carbon price and its value computed as a function of carbon price and the net carbon storage in the forest. The same price was used as a cost for carbon emission originating from deterioration of wood products.We carried out a case study for a 3.2 million hectare boreal forest region in northern Sweden. The result showed that 1.48-2.05 million tonnes of carbon per year was sequestered in the area, depending on what carbon price was used. We conclude that assigning carbon storage a monetary value and removal of carbon in forest products as a cost, increases carbon sequestration in the forest and decreases harvest levels. The effect was largest in areas with low site-quality classes.

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A large carbon sink in the woody biomass of Northern forests

Cited by 595 publications

References 23 publications

When the forest dies: the response of forest soil fungi to a bark beetle-induced tree dieback

When the forest dies: the response of forest soil fungi to a bark beetle-induced tree dieback

ClassII peroxidase-encoding genes are present in a phylogenetically wide range of ectomycorrhizal fungi

A model for regional analysis of carbon sequestration and timber production

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