The influence of fire on carbon distribution and net primary production ofboreal Larix gmelinii forests in north-eastern China

摘要

The boreal larch forest of Eurasia is a widespread forest ecosystem and plays an important role in the carbon budget of boreal forests. However, few carbon budgets exist for these forests, and the effects of wildfire, the dominant natural disturbance in this region, on carbon budgets are poorly understood. The objective of this study was to quantify the effects of wildfire on carbon distribution and net primary production (NPP) for three major Dahurian larch (Larix gmelinii Rupr.) forest ecosystems in Tahe, Daxing' anling, north-eastern China: Larix gmelinii-Ledum palustre, Larix gmelinii-grass and Larix gmelinii-Rhododendron dahurica forests. The experimental design included mature forests (unburned), and lightly and heavily burned forests from the 1.3-million-ha 1987 wildfire. We measured carbon distribution and above-ground NPP, and estimated fine root production from literature values.