Carbon Dynamics in the Temperate Forest

Abstract

Twenty-five percent of the world’s forests are in the temperate biome. They include a wide range of forest types, and the exact boundaries with boreal forests to the north and tropical forests to the south are not always clear. There is a great variety of species, soil types, and environmental conditions which lead to a diversity of factors affecting carbon storage and flux. Temperate forests have been severely impacted by human use – throughout history, all but about 1% have been logged-over, converted to agriculture, intensively managed, grazed, or fragmented by sprawling development. Nevertheless, they have proven to be resilient – mostly second growth forests now cover about 40–50% of the original extent of the biome. Although remaining intact temperate forests continue to be fragmented by development, particularly in North America, there is no large-scale deforestation at present, nor is there likely to be in the future. The status of the temperate biome as a carbon reservoir and atmospheric CO₂ sink rests mainly on strong productivity and resilience in the face of disturbance. The small “sink” status of temperate forests could change to a “source” status if the balance between photosynthesis and respiration shifts.