No rapid soil carbon loss after a windthrow event in the High Tatra

Considerations for Sustainable Biomass Production in Quercus-Dominated Forest Ecosystems

“…The ratio between aboveground and belowground pools depends on the current stand age, forest management and climate. In temperate managed forests, SOC stocks are typically similar to the aboveground stocks [14], which is confirmed in our own research [13]. SOC (and in particular O-horizon) stocks are typically higher in boreal forests and in high elevation coniferous forests as a consequence of reduced microbial activity and much lower in tropical environments.…”

“…Unfortunately, this effect is likely to happen on a large-scale where massive amounts of C might be released as the global temperature rises and thawing permafrost induces C emissions [15], potentially creating a strong feedback cycle, further accelerating global warming. However, Don et al [14] found that SOC pools were surprisingly stable after a major disturbance (wind throw event), indicating low short-term vulnerability of forest floor and upper mineral horizons. They explained their findings with herbaceous vegetation and harvest residues, taking over the role of litter C input.…”

Windthrows increase soil carbon stocks in a central Amazon forest

“…For the 0-10 cm depth profile, our disturbed forest had SCS higher than that reported for an old-growth coastal hill dipterocarp forest in Singapore (Ngo et al, 2013) and a 68-year-old secondary coastal temperate rain forest in southeast Alaska (Kramer et al, 2004), both in different soil types. In contrast, our disturbed forest had lower SCSs than those reported for other temperate forests in Europe (Don et al, 2012) and North America (Huntington and Ryan 1990;Kramer et al, 2004). This was true for both non-harvested and harvested forests, in which nutrient exportation via logging has an opposite effect than that of wind disturbances (nutrient inputs).…”

Forest ecosystem services affected by natural disturbances, climate and land-use changes in the Tatra Mountains

“…In contrast, the increased temperature positively stimulated the activity of soil microorganisms (Don et al 2012), even though the differences in microorganism communities re lated to disturbance and land-use cat e gories have remained rather limited even on ecologically contrasting sites (Gömöryová et al 2008(Gömöryová et al , 2011. The in creased abundance of microorganisms, fungi (Hanajík & Šimonovi<ová 2015) and vegetation growth indicate the recovery of the ecosystem and related ES.…”