Almacén de carbono en biomasa aérea de plantaciones experimentales con especies de sucesión temprana del bosque mesófilo de montaña

Abstract

<p><strong>Background:</strong> Forest plantations with fast-growing native species contribute to the capture and storage of Carbon (C). However, little is known about the survival, the potential of capture and storage of C in plantations with native species of the mountain cloud forest in Mexico.</p><p><strong>Questions</strong>: Is the survival different between individuals of <em>Alnus acuminata</em> and <em>Trema micrantha</em> sown in experimental plantations? Are the annual carbon capture rate and the total C content between the two species different?</p><p><strong>Species of study</strong>: <em>A. acuminata</em> and <em>T. micrantha</em>, species of rapid growth of the mountain cloud forest (MCF). Both of early successional states.<strong></strong></p><p><strong>Study site and years of study</strong>: Central area of the state of Veracruz. 2009-2012.<strong></strong></p><p><strong>Method</strong>: In the experimental plantations of <em>A. acuminata</em> and <em>T. micrantha</em> of three and a half years of age, survival, diameter and height were recorded. With these variables, the volume, the basal area, the weight of the aerial biomass, the carbon content of the trees and height, diameter and carbon growth rate were estimated.</p><p><strong>Results:</strong> The survival of <em>A. acuminata</em> plants was greater than <em>T. micrantha</em> (P &lt; 0.05). The plantations of <em>A. acuminata</em> stored significantly more C (12.55 ± 0.05 Mg C ha^-1) than the plantations of <em>T. micrantha</em> (11.62 ± 0.042 Mg C ha^-1) (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.001). The annual rate of carbon capture in <em>A. acuminata</em> was higher (2.6 ± 0.0001 Mg ha^-1 yr^-1) that <em>T. micrantha</em> (2.02 ± 0.00001 Mg ha^-1 yr^-1) (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.001).</p><strong>Conclusions</strong>: Plantations with native species of early succession represent a viable complementary strategy in MCF restoration actions, as well as being carbon sinks that could be contributing to the mitigation of climate change.