CARBON FLOW AND STORAGE IN A FOREST ECOSYSTEM 



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TABLE 1 



SUMMARY OF CARBON CONTENT AND PERCENT BIOMASS 



CONTRIBUTION OF WOODY SPECIES TO THE PRIMARY 



PRODUCER COMPONENT OF THE LIRIODENDRON FOREST AREA 



*No data available. 



tValue given is mean of duplicate determinations on pooled samples from a 

 single tree. 



autotroph aboveground biornass and rates of annual accumulation were based on 

 allometric relations of weight of tree components and DBH (Sollins and 

 Anderson, 1971; Harris, 1972) and periodic inventory of tree-diameter distribu- 

 tion (Sollins, 1972). 



Conversion of woody organic matter to carbon was based on multiple carbon 

 determinations using flame photometric detection procedures following high- 

 temperature pyrolysis and catalytic hydrogenation (Horton, Shults, and Meyer, 

 1971). Where samples were available, seasonal variation in carbon content was 

 determined. However, for most woody components the seasonal variation was 

 not analyzed. Table 1 summarizes carbon content of major woody taxa and their 

 relative abundance in the study area. Carbon values reported are either the mean 

 of duplicate determinations of material from a single individual or the mean ±1 

 standard error (SE) where material from replicate individuals was available. 



Liriodendron tulipifera comprises 78% of aboveground biomass. No other 

 taxon contributes more than 5% of the total aboveground pool. Carbon content 

 varied from 45.8 to 52.2%. However, variation within taxa was as great as 



