Carbon storage in China's terrestrial ecosystems: A synthesis

Area of Science:

• Terrestrial ecosystem carbon (C) storage estimation.
• Analysis of C sequestration drivers in China's ecosystems.

Background:

• Accurate estimation of terrestrial ecosystem carbon storage is crucial but hindered by data limitations.
• Spatial patterns and driving factors of C storage in China's diverse ecosystems require further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically estimate C storage in China's terrestrial ecosystems using literature data.
• To explore variations in C storage across different ecosystem types.
• To evaluate the influence of environmental factors, particularly climate, on C storage patterns.

Main Methods:

• Compiled C storage data from peer-reviewed literature published between 2004 and 2014.
• Categorized C storage by ecosystem type (forest, grassland, wetland, shrub, cropland).
• Analyzed the relationship between C storage (vegetation C and soil organic C) and environmental factors like climate, soil nutrients, and texture.

Main Results:

• Total estimated C storage in China's terrestrial ecosystems is 99.15 ± 8.71 PgC, comprising 14.60 ± 3.24 PgC in vegetation and 84.55 ± 8.09 PgC in soil organic C.
• Forest ecosystems store the largest amount of C (34.08 ± 5.43 PgC), followed by grassland (25.69 ± 4.71 PgC).
• Climate is the primary regulator of C storage spatial patterns, with mean annual precipitation positively affecting vegetation C and mean annual temperature negatively affecting soil organic C.

Conclusions:

• This study provides a comprehensive estimate of C storage across China's terrestrial ecosystems.
• Climate variables, specifically mean annual precipitation and mean annual temperature, exert contrasting influences on vegetation and soil organic carbon.
• Findings highlight the need to integrate climate parameters into future land management and C sequestration strategies for enhanced climate change mitigation.