Carbon stocks and dynamics at different successional stages in an Afromontane tropical forest

Late successional (LS) stands in Nyungwe National Park store 35% more carbon than early successional (ES) stands, primarily due to significantly higher above-ground biomass (AGB). While soil and root carbon stocks remained similar between stages, LS trees exhibited greater stature and wood density. Despite these differences, net primary production (NPP) was comparable between ES and LS stands, balancing higher AGB in LS with faster relative growth rates in ES. The study highlights the importance of accounting for disturbance regimes, wood density, and allometry when quantifying carbon stocks in tropical montane forests, which could vary significantly across continents.

Nyirambangutse, B., Zibera, E., Uwizeye, F. K., Nsabimana, D., Bizuru, E., Pleijel, H., Uddling, J., & Wallin, G. (2017). Carbon stocks and dynamics at different successional stages in an Afromontane tropical forest. Biogeosciences, 14(5), 1285–1303. https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-14-1285-2017