Organic carbon distribution and budget of dominant woody plant community in the subalpine zone at volcanic Jeju Island, Korea

Subalpine forests on Jeju Island, Korea, serve as significant carbon reservoirs, storing substantial organic carbon primarily in soil. A study comparing three dominant woody plant communities—Abies koreana, Taxus cuspidata, and Juniperus chinensis var. sargentii—revealed that while aboveground vegetation carbon stocks were highest in the A. koreana forest, soil organic carbon was most abundant in the J. chinensis forest. Unlike subalpine-alpine forests in India, where aboveground carbon dominates, Jeju's subalpine zone stores more carbon belowground. The research, conducted between 2014 and 2016, analyzed vegetation form, litter production, soil carbon, and respiration, providing insights into the ecosystem's carbon budget and its potential for high ecosystem services.

Jang, R.-H., Lee, S.-Y., Lee, E.-P., Lee, S.-I., Kim, E.-J., Lee, S.-H., & You, Y.-H. (2019). Organic carbon distribution and budget of dominant woody plant community in the subalpine zone at volcanic Jeju Island, Korea. Journal of Ecology and Environment, 43(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s41610-019-0141-4