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Impact of Global Change on Soil Carbon Storage and Biogeochemical...
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Impact of Global Change on Soil Carbon Storage and Biogeochemical Cycles in Tropical Forest Ecosystems

A special issue of Forests (ISSN 1999-4907). This special issue belongs to the section "Forest Ecology and Management".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 January 2019) | Viewed by 18675

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Clément Stahl

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
INRA, UMR EcoFoG, CNRS, Cirad, AgroParisTech, Université des Antilles, Université de Guyane, 97310 Kourou, France
Interests: soil carbon storage; forest carbon cycling; ecophysiology; micrometeorology; gas exchange; tree physiology
Dr. Laetitia Brechet

E-Mail Website1 Website2
Guest Editor
Department of Biology, Plants and Ecosystems research group (PLECO) at Centre of Excellence Global Change Ecology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, B-2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
Interests: biological processes of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) dynamics controlling forest ecosystem functioning; climate change effects on forest C cycling; forest ecosystems; forest greenhouse gas, i.e. CO2, CH4, and N2O, fluxes; plant-soil relationships and decomposition processes; tree ecophysiology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Over the last few years, responses of tropical forests to global change have received increasing attention, underlying the sensitivity of this ecosystem to temperature rise, precipitation regime modifications and increased atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2). Furthermore, the extremely high tropical tree diversity also showed a large panel of responses to global change. However, less attention was done on how global change, i.e., increased of drought, temperature, CO2 and nitrogen (N) deposition, influences the belowground compartment, while it shows a main role in carbon (C) sink and biogeochemical cycles. In light of the recent COP21 Paris Agreement, it is essential to better understand the impacts of global change on soil C stock and storage to determine the level of climate mitigation required to achieve the agreed temperature goals. Tropical forests are currently subject to different antagonist processes which disrupt the soil C storage and alter the soil greenhouse gas (GHG) fluxes, creating a potential feedback mechanism for climate change.

The articles in this Special Issue will contribute to increasing our knowledge on the main environmental drivers, and their interactions, that are behind tropical forest soil functioning, including microorganism activities, stoichiometry diversity, soil–plant interactions and carbon storage mechanisms.

Dr. Clément Stahl
Dr. Laetitia Brechet
Guest Editors

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Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Drought
  • Extreme events
  • Soil-plant interactions
  • Soil carbon storage
  • Stoichiometry
  • Nutrient constraints
  • Greenhouse gas fluxes

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

12 pages, 2881 KiB  
Article
Nitrogen and Phosphorus Concentration in Leaf Litter and Soil in Xishuangbanna Tropical Forests: Does Precipitation Limitation Matter?
by S. Mani and Min Cao
Forests 2019, 10(3), 242; https://doi.org/10.3390/f10030242 - 8 Mar 2019
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 4997
Abstract
Tropical forests are generally expected to be limited by the availability of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P), and these nutrient limitations could be increased by changes in forest biogeochemistry due to limited precipitation. This effect is presumed to be enhanced in the forests [...] Read more.
Tropical forests are generally expected to be limited by the availability of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P), and these nutrient limitations could be increased by changes in forest biogeochemistry due to limited precipitation. This effect is presumed to be enhanced in the forests predominated by monsoon climate. The present study examined the impacts of monthly precipitation on total N and P in leaf litter and soil of Xishuangbanna tropical forests. Litterfall and top soil were sampled from each of the five 20 × 20 m plots established in the primary (PTF) and secondary tropical forests (STF), at monthly interval for one year. Soils were strongly acidic and showed significant differences between the sites. The monthly amounts of soil and leaf litter nutrients showed great variations between the PTF and STF. Leaf litter N and P were associated with precipitation in both dry and rainy seasons. Soil N and P were not significantly related to precipitation, indicating that changes in vegetation composition and litterfall production together accounted for variation in soil N and P. Our results suggest that the precipitation limitation may affect the leaf litter N and P changes, but did not support the prediction that precipitation limitation can immediately lead to effects on soil N and P in the Xishuangbanna tropical forests. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact of Global Change on Soil Carbon Storage and Biogeochemical Cycles in Tropical Forest Ecosystems)
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17 pages, 3140 KiB  
Article
Litter Traits of Native and Non-Native Tropical Trees Influence Soil Carbon Dynamics in Timber Plantations in Panama
by Deirdre Kerdraon, Julia Drewer, Biancolini Castro, Abby Wallwork, Jefferson S. Hall and Emma J. Sayer
Forests 2019, 10(3), 209; https://doi.org/10.3390/f10030209 - 26 Feb 2019
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3992
Abstract
Tropical reforestation initiatives are widely recognized as a key strategy for mitigating rising atmospheric CO2 concentrations. Although rapid tree growth in young secondary forests and plantations sequesters large amounts of carbon (C) in biomass, the choice of tree species for reforestation projects [...] Read more.
Tropical reforestation initiatives are widely recognized as a key strategy for mitigating rising atmospheric CO2 concentrations. Although rapid tree growth in young secondary forests and plantations sequesters large amounts of carbon (C) in biomass, the choice of tree species for reforestation projects is crucial, as species identity and diversity affect microbial activity and soil C cycling via plant litter inputs. The decay rate of litter is largely determined by its chemical and physical properties, and trait complementarity of diverse litter mixtures can produce non-additive effects, which facilitate or delay decomposition. Furthermore, microbial communities may preferentially decompose litter from native tree species (homefield advantage). Hence, information on how different tree species influence soil carbon dynamics could inform reforestation efforts to maximize soil C storage. We established a decomposition experiment in Panama, Central America, using mesocosms and litterbags in monoculture plantations of native species (Dalbergia retusa Hemsl. and Terminalia amazonia J.F.Gmel., Exell) or teak (Tectona grandis L.f.) to assess the influence of different litter types and litter mixtures on soil C dynamics. We used reciprocal litter transplant experiments to assess the homefield advantage and litter mixtures to determine facilitative or antagonistic effects on decomposition rates and soil respiration in all plantation types. Although litter properties explained some of the variation in decomposition, the microclimate and soil properties in the plantations also played an important role. Microbial biomass C and litter decomposition were lower in Tectona than in the native plantations. We observed non-additive effects of mixtures with Tectona and Dalbergia litter on both decomposition and soil respiration, but the effect depended on plantation type. Further, there was a homefield disadvantage for soil respiration in Tectona and Terminalia plantations. Our results suggest that tree species diversity plays an important role in the resilience of tropical soils and that plantations with native tree species could help maintain key processes involved in soil carbon sequestration. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact of Global Change on Soil Carbon Storage and Biogeochemical Cycles in Tropical Forest Ecosystems)
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12 pages, 1641 KiB  
Article
Atypical Pattern of Soil Carbon Stocks along the Slope Position in a Seasonally Dry Tropical Forest in Thailand
by Masamichi Takahashi, Keizo Hirai, Dokrak Marod, Somchai Anusontpornperm, Pitayakon Limtong, Chaveevan Leaungvutivirog and Samreong Panuthai
Forests 2019, 10(2), 106; https://doi.org/10.3390/f10020106 - 29 Jan 2019
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 4313
Abstract
The pattern of soil carbon stock is atypical along the slope position in a seasonally dry tropical forest; the mean stock values increase from the lower, middle, to upper slopes, at 11.5, 13.2, and 15.5 kg m−2, respectively. In sloping landscapes, [...] Read more.
The pattern of soil carbon stock is atypical along the slope position in a seasonally dry tropical forest; the mean stock values increase from the lower, middle, to upper slopes, at 11.5, 13.2, and 15.5 kg m−2, respectively. In sloping landscapes, soil organic carbon tends to accumulate in lower slopes, but our previous soil respiration study suggested that soil carbon stock distribution along the slope position in seasonally dry tropical forests is atypical. The aims of this study were: (i) to examine whether the atypical pattern occurs widely in the watershed; and (ii) to examine the pattern of root development in the soil profile as a source of soil carbon. The density and stock of soil carbon in three soil layers (0–10, 10–30, and 30–100 cm) of 13 soil profiles were compared in different positions on the slope (upper, middle, and lower). Root biomass at each slope position was also determined. Soil carbon density in each layer increased significantly with an increase in the relative position of the slopes, particularly in the 10–30 cm soil layer. The density of medium root (3–10 mm in diameter) in the upper slopes was significantly higher than that in the middle and lower slopes, especially for 15–60 cm soil layers. The atypical pattern of soil carbon accumulation along the slope position occurred widely in the studied watershed and appeared to be caused by the development of root systems in deeply weathered soil under xeric soil conditions in the upper slopes. Roots of bamboo undergrowth may also contribute to soil carbon stabilization by reducing soil erosion in the surface soil. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact of Global Change on Soil Carbon Storage and Biogeochemical Cycles in Tropical Forest Ecosystems)
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17 pages, 4205 KiB  
Article
Interactions between Vegetation, Hydrology, and Litter Inputs on Decomposition and Soil CO2 Efflux of Tropical Forests in the Brazilian Pantanal
by Osvaldo Borges Pinto, George L Vourlitis, Edna Maria De Souza Carneiro, Marizeth De França Dias, Cloe Hentz and Jose De Souza Nogueira
Forests 2018, 9(5), 281; https://doi.org/10.3390/f9050281 - 22 May 2018
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 4707
Abstract
Climate change has the capacity to alter water availability and the litter production of tropical forests, which will alter rates of carbon (C) cycling and storage. We conducted a short-term field experiment in two hydrologically diverse forests in the Brazilian Pantanal to assess [...] Read more.
Climate change has the capacity to alter water availability and the litter production of tropical forests, which will alter rates of carbon (C) cycling and storage. We conducted a short-term field experiment in two hydrologically diverse forests in the Brazilian Pantanal to assess the initial response of litter decomposition and soil respiration (Rsoil) to variations in litter pool size. Total annual Rsoil and decomposition significantly declined with litter removal and increased with litter addition, but the rate of litter decomposition was highest for plots where litter was removed. Rsoil was positively related to soil organic matter content and the rate of litter decomposition, but not soil moisture or temperature, suggesting that the litter treatment effects on decomposition and Rsoil were due to changes in C availability and not litter effects on the soil environment (i.e., temperature and moisture). Rsoil was not significantly different between the forests studied here even though they had large differences in hydrology; however, litter decomposition was significantly higher in seasonally flooded forest, especially when augmented with litter. These results suggest that alterations in litter production from land use and/or climate change will alter short-term rates of decomposition and Rsoil for these and other floodplain forests of the Pantanal and Amazon Basin. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact of Global Change on Soil Carbon Storage and Biogeochemical Cycles in Tropical Forest Ecosystems)
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