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Boreal Ecosystems in the Global Carbon Cycle

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Fire, Climate Change, and Carbon Cycling in the Boreal Forest

Part of the book series: Ecological Studies ((ECOLSTUD,volume 138))

Abstract

The terrestrial ecosystems found in the boreal region cover a little less than 17% of the earth’s land surface, yet they contain more than 30% of all carbon present in the terrestrial biome (Table 2.1). For the purposes of this discussion, we divide the ecosystems found in this region into three broad categories: boreal forests, peatlands interspersed throughout the boreal forest, and tundra. Although there is room for debate as to the exact definition of these categories, they are used here for descriptive purposes only and are based on the criteria developed by Apps and colleagues (1993) to estimate the amount of carbon present in boreal forests and tundra. The percentages of total area and total terrestrial carbon were derived by using the estimates of Smith and co-workers (1993).

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Authors
  1. Eric S. Kasischke
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Environmental Research Institute of Michigan, 48105, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    Eric S. Kasischke

  2. Canadian Forest Service—Ontario Region, P6A 5M7, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada

    Brian J. Stocks

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Kasischke, E.S. (2000). Boreal Ecosystems in the Global Carbon Cycle. In: Kasischke, E.S., Stocks, B.J. (eds) Fire, Climate Change, and Carbon Cycling in the Boreal Forest. Ecological Studies, vol 138. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-21629-4_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-21629-4_2

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4684-9532-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-0-387-21629-4

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