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Spatial Patterns and Predictors of Forest Carbon Stocks in Western Mediterranean

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Abstract

Mediterranean semi-arid forest ecosystems are especially sensitive to external forcing. An understanding of the relationship between forest carbon (C) stock, and environmental conditions and forest structure enable prediction of the impacts of climate change on C stocks and help to define management strategies that maximize the value of forests for C mitigation. Based on the national forest inventory of Spain (1997–2008 with 70,912 plots), we estimated the forest C stock and spatial variability in Peninsular Spain and, we determined the extent to which the observed patterns of stand C stock can be explained by structural and species richness, climate and disturbances. Spain has an average stand C stock of 45.1 Mg C/ha. Total C stock in living biomass is 621 Tg C (7.8% of the C stock of European forests). The statistical models show that structural richness, which is driven by past land use and life forest history including age, development stage, management activities, and disturbance regime, is the main predictor of stand tree C stock with larger C stocks in structurally richer stands. Richness of broadleaf species has a positive effect on both conifer and broadleaf forests, whereas richness of conifer species shows no significant or even a negative effect on C stock. Climate variables have mainly an indirect effect through structural richness but a smaller direct predictive ability when all predictors are considered. To achieve a greater standing C stock, our results suggest promoting high structural richness by managing for uneven-aged stands and favoring broadleaf over conifer species.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by CONSOLIDER INGENIO 2010 CSD2008–0040. Two anonymous referees gave us interesting suggestions on a previous version of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. CREAF, Centre for Ecological Research and Forestry Applications, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Bellaterra, 08193, Catalonia, Spain

    Jordi Vayreda, Marc Gracia & Javier Retana

  2. Unit of Ecology, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Bellaterra, 08193, Catalonia, Spain

    Javier Retana

  3. Global Carbon Project, CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia

    Josep G. Canadell

Authors
  1. Jordi Vayreda
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  2. Marc Gracia
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  3. Josep G. Canadell
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  4. Javier Retana
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Correspondence to Jordi Vayreda.

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Author Contributions

JV, JR and MG conceived the study; JV, JR and MG performed the research; JV and JR analyzed data; JV, MG, JGC and JR wrote the manuscript.

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Vayreda, J., Gracia, M., Canadell, J.G. et al. Spatial Patterns and Predictors of Forest Carbon Stocks in Western Mediterranean. Ecosystems 15, 1258–1270 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10021-012-9582-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10021-012-9582-7

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