Urban Tree Effects on Soil Organic Carbon

Urban trees sequester carbon into biomass and provide many ecosystem service benefits aboveground leading to worldwide tree planting schemes. Since soils hold ∼75% of ecosystem organic carbon, understanding the effect of urban trees on soil organic carbon (SOC) and soil properties that underpin belowground ecosystem services is vital. We use an observational study to investigate effects of three important tree genera and mixed-species woodlands on soil properties (to 1 m depth) compared to adjacent urban grasslands. Aboveground biomass and belowground ecosystem service provision by urban trees are found not to be directly coupled. Indeed, SOC enhancement relative to urban grasslands is genus-specific being highest under Fraxinus excelsior and Acer spp., but similar to grasslands under Quercus robur and mixed woodland. Tree cover type does not influence soil bulk density or C∶N ratio, properties which indicate the ability of soils to provide regulating ecosystem services such as nutrient cycling and flood mitigation. The trends observed in this study suggest that genus selection is important to maximise long-term SOC storage under urban trees, but emerging threats from genus-specific pathogens must also be considered.     

Variation in ecosystem services of street tree assemblages can guide sustainable urban development

城市行道树集合生态服务功能变化研究及对城市可持续发展管理的启示     

Tree planting in organic soils does not result in net carbon sequestration on decadal timescales

Tree planting is increasingly being proposed as a strategy to combat climate change through carbon (C) sequestration in tree biomass. However, total ecosystem C storage that includes soil organic C (SOC) must be considered to determine whether planting trees for climate change mitigation results in increased C storage. We show that planting two native tree species (Betula pubescens and Pinus sylvestris), of widespread Eurasian distribution, onto heather (Calluna vulgaris) moorland with podzolic and peaty podzolic soils in Scotland, did not lead to an increase in net ecosystem C stock 12 or 39 years after planting. Plots with trees had greater soil respiration and lower SOC in organic soil horizons than heather control plots. The decline in SOC cancelled out the increment in C stocks in tree biomass on decadal timescales. At all four experimental sites sampled, there was no net gain in ecosystem C stocks 12–39 years after afforestation—indeed we found a net ecosystem C loss in one of four sites with deciduous B. pubescens stands; no net gain in ecosystem C at three sites planted with B. pubescens; and no net gain at additional stands of P. sylvestris. We hypothesize that altered mycorrhizal communities and autotrophic C inputs have led to positive ‘priming’ of soil organic matter, resulting in SOC loss, constraining the benefits of tree planting for ecosystem C sequestration. The results are of direct relevance to current policies, which promote tree planting on the assumption that this will increase net ecosystem C storage and contribute to climate change mitigation. Ecosystem‐level biogeochemistry and C fluxes must be better quantified and understood before we can be assured that large‐scale tree planting in regions with considerable pre‐existing SOC stocks will have the intended policy and climate change mitigation outcomes.     

Genetic diversity loss and homogenization in urban trees: the case of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tilia </Emphasis>× <Emphasis Type="Italic">europaea</Emphasis> in Belgium and the Netherlands

Urban trees form a vital component of sustainable cities but the use of a restricted range of species and genotypes may pose a risk to global biodiversity. Despite several studies investigating tree species diversity, intraspecific genetic diversity of urban trees remains largely unexplored. Here, we characterized the genetic diversity of Tilia?×?europaea, one of the most widely planted urban tree species in Northwest Europe. We compared the genotypic diversity of historical plantings of Tilia spp. from the 17th century with the genotypic diversity of currently available planting stock in Belgium and the Netherlands. In total, 129 trees were sampled and genotyped with 14 microsatellite loci and 150 polymorphic Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism markers. In Northwest Europe, homogenization of urban T.?×?europaea plantings already started at the 17th century. Genetic diversity within contemporary commercial planting stocks was extremely narrow and consisted mainly of two clones, sold under the name ‘Pallida’ and ‘Zwarte linde’. The genetic diversity found within the historical plantings was about four times higher than in the current commercial planting stocks. We recommend that tree nurseries should enlarge the genetic diversity of T.?×?europaea commercial planting stocks. The old clones have shown long-term disease resistance and could provide tree breeders with the valuable new genetic material. The range of available Tilia species and genotypes needs to be explored in future urban tree planning to optimize desired ecosystem services.     

Growing the urban forest: tree performance in response to biotic and abiotic land management

Forests are vital components of the urban landscape because they provide ecosystem services such as carbon sequestration, storm‐water mitigation, and air‐quality improvement. To enhance these services, cities are investing in programs to create urban forests. A major unknown, however, is whether planted trees will grow into the mature, closed‐canopied forest on which ecosystem service provision depends. We assessed the influence of biotic and abiotic land management on planted tree performance as part of urban forest restoration in New York City, U.S.A. Biotic treatments were designed to improve tree growth, with the expectation that higher tree species composition (six vs. two) and greater stand complexity (with shrubs vs. without) would facilitate tree performance. Similarly, the abiotic treatment (compost amendment vs. without) was expected to increase tree performance by improving soil conditions. Growth and survival was measured for approximately 1,300 native saplings across three growing seasons. The biotic and abiotic treatments significantly improved tree performance, where shrub presence increased tree height for five of the six tree species, and compost increased basal area and stem volume of all species. Species‐specific responses, however, highlighted the difficulty of achieving rapid growth with limited mortality. Pioneer species had the highest growth in stem volume over 3 years (up to 3,500%), but also the highest mortality (up to 40%). Mid‐successional species had lower mortality (<16%), but also the slowest growth in volume (approximately 500% in volume). Our results suggest that there will be trade‐offs between optimizing tree growth versus survival when implementing urban tree planting initiatives.     

Improving the provision of ecosystem services from urban forest by integrating the species’ potential environmental functions in tree selecting process

Due to the fact that urban environments and population demands are evolving rapidly and species selection is inevitable, it is possible to gain substantial environmental benefit by implementing more effective urban tree planting programs, especially with the aim of increasing the upcoming provision of multiple ecosystem services (ES) through proper species selection. In this paper, we used a new approach to improve the potential of urban trees in optimizing more desirable environmental benefits. This was done by selecting the most appropriate tree species among a vast range of species based on their potential environmental function (both services and disservices) in Tabriz city, Iran. Also, three main planting scenarios (divided to six sub-scenarios) were developed so as to understand the long-term effectiveness of introducing the selected tree species in improving the environmental benefits (both urban forest structure and ES) in comparison with planting the existing tree species. The results indicate that regardless of the quantity of planting, the benefits of introducing the selected trees will be more than planting the existing species. Moreover, as the amount of the annual planting of the recommended species increases, so does the improvement in the projected tree characteristics and ES. This approach creates more opportunities which enable urban forest managers and policymakers to understand the importance of selecting the proper urban tree species when looking for a nature-based solution to promote the wellbeing of the urban population, to create more livable and ecologically sustainable cities and to mitigate urban environmental problems.

     

Above-ground biomass references for urban trees from terrestrial laser scanning data

Background and AimsWithin extending urban areas, trees serve a multitude of functions (e.g. carbon storage, suppression of air pollution, mitigation of the ‘heat island’ effect, oxygen, shade and recreation). Many of these services are positively correlated with tree size and structure. The quantification of above-ground biomass (AGB) is of especial importance to assess its carbon storage potential. However, quantification of AGB is difficult and the allometries applied are often based on forest trees, which are subject to very different growing conditions, competition and form. In this article we highlight the potential of terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) techniques to extract highly detailed information on urban tree structure and AGB.MethodsFifty-five urban trees distributed over seven cities in Switzerland were measured using TLS and traditional forest inventory techniques before they were felled and weighed. Tree structure, volume and AGB from the TLS point clouds were extracted using quantitative structure modelling. TLS-derived AGB estimates were compared with AGB estimates based on forest tree allometries dependent on diameter at breast height only. The correlations of various tree metrics as AGB predictors were assessed.Key ResultsEstimates of AGB derived by TLS showed good performance when compared with destructively harvested references, with an R² of 0.954 (RMSE = 556 kg) compared with 0.837 (RMSE = 1159 kg) for allometrically derived AGB estimates. A correlation analysis showed that different TLS-derived wood volume estimates as well as trunk diameters and tree crown metrics show high correlation in describing total wood AGB, outperforming tree height.ConclusionsWood volume estimates based on TLS show high potential to estimate tree AGB independent of tree species, size and form. This allows us to retrieve highly accurate non-destructive AGB estimates that could be used to establish new allometric equations without the need for extensive destructive harvesting.     

城市土地利用是否会降低区域碳吸收能力?——台州市案例研究

城市土地利用显著改变了原有生态系统的结构和功能,特别是建成区植被的碳吸收和碳储存能力。该研究通过实地调查和测量,估算城市建成区内乔木、灌木、草坪的生物量和净初级生产力(net primary productivity,NPP),该方法考虑了园林管理(如修剪或割草)对建成区碳吸收和碳储存的影响。结果表明,台州城市树木个体生物量年增量是野外森林中同类树木的近2倍;乔木修剪量占乔木NPP的1/3。目前台州市建成区的植被碳吸收能力为2.1×103kgC.hm–2.a–1(其中乔木的贡献为64%,灌木为9%,草坪为27%),低于本地野外森林同面积的碳吸收能力;通过与野外常绿阔叶林比较发现,增加台州建成区的绿化覆盖率(从23%提高到46%)即可补偿因城市扩张引起的植被碳吸收能力的损失。     

Consequences of Lemur Loss for Above-Ground Carbon Stocks in a Malagasy Rainforest

Anthropogenic disturbances have resulted in declines of seed-dispersing primate frugivores in tropical forests. Previous work has suggested that loss of seed dispersal by large frugivores may have a negative impact on ecosystem carbon storage by reducing tree biomass. However, we know little about the potential impacts of losing frugivores in Madagascar’s diverse rainforest ecosystem. Understanding the effects of frugivore extinction on carbon loss is relevant in Madagascar, where threatened lemur taxa are the only dispersers of many large-seeded plant species. Using a dataset of tree species composition and traits from the southeastern rainforests of Ranomafana National Park, we examined whether seed size and lemur-dependent dispersal are positively associated with above-ground tree biomass. We then simulated different scenarios of population declines of large-seeded trees (>10 mm seed length) dependent on lemur-mediated seed dispersal, to examine potential directional changes in carbon storage capacity of Malagasy forests under lemur loss. Lemur-dispersed tree species, which have large seeds, had higher above-ground biomass than other species. Our simulations showed that the loss of large frugivorous primates in Madagascar may decrease the forest’s potential to store carbon. These results demonstrate the importance of primate conservation for maintaining functioning ecosystems and forest carbon stocks in one of the world’s hottest hotspots of biodiversity.     

Above‐ and Belowground Carbon Stocks in a Miombo Woodland Landscape of Mozambique

Quantifying ecosystem carbon stocks is vital for understanding the relationship between changes in land use and carbon dioxide emissions. Here, we estimate carbon stocks in an area of miombo woodland in Mozambique, by identifying the major carbon stocks and their variability. Data on the biomass of tree stems and roots, saplings, and soil carbon stocks are reported and compared with other savannas systems around the globe. A new allometric relationship between stem diameter and tree stem and root biomass is presented, based on the destructive harvest of 29 trees. These allometrics are combined with an inventory of 12,733 trees on 58 plots over an area of 27 ha. Ecosystem carbon stocks totaled 110 tC/ha, with 76 tC/ha in the soil carbon pool (to 50 cm depth), 21.2 tC/ha in tree stem biomass, 8.5 tC/ha in tree coarse root biomass, and 3.6 tC/ha in total sapling biomass. Plot‐level tree root:stem (R:S) ratio varied from 0.27 to 0.58, with a mean of 0.42, slightly higher than the mean reported for 18 other savanna sites with comparable aboveground biomass (R:S=0.35). Tree biomass (stem+root) ranged from 3.1 to 86.5 tC/ha, but the mean (32.1 tC/ha) was well constrained (95% CI 28–36.6). In contrast, soil carbon stocks were almost uniformly distributed and varied from 32 to 133 tC/ha. Soil carbon stocks are thus the major uncertainty in the carbon storage of these woodlands. Soil texture explained 53 percent of the variation in soil carbon content, but only 13 percent of the variation in woody carbon stocks. The history of disturbance (fire, elephants, logging/charcoal production, and shifting cultivation) is likely to decouple changes in woody carbon stocks from soil carbon stocks, mediated by tree–grass interactions. Abstract in Portuguese is available at http://www.blackwell‐synergy.com/loi/btp .     

Quantifying street tree regulating ecosystem services using Google Street View

The urban heat island is a particular challenge for tropical cities, which receive year-round high inputs of solar radiation. Plants can help mitigate elevated urban temperatures by providing shade and increasing evaporative cooling, although the resulting increase in humidity may negatively affect thermal comfort. Street trees offer particular potential for cooling urban microclimates, as well as providing other ecosystem services, because they can be integrated within dense urban street networks. However, we have little quantitative information about the role of street trees in providing regulating ecosystem services in tropical cities. In this study, we analysed hemispherical photographs extracted from Google Street View to quantify the proportion of green canopy coverage at 50 m intervals across more than 80% of Singapore’s road network. Canopy coverage data were then used to estimate the proportion of annual radiation that would be blocked from reaching ground level by the canopy. Across all locations, a median of 13% of the annual diffuse and direct solar radiation was shaded, and over 70% of this shading effect was due to the tree canopy. There was significant variation between different urban landuse types, with trees providing more shade in parks and low-density low-rise areas than in industrial and higher-density residential areas. Mapping the provision of street tree ecosystem services could help to prioritise areas for new planting by identifying streets or street sections with low shading. The approach developed in this article could be readily applied to quantify the proportion of canopy coverage and proportion of solar radiation shaded across other tropical cities. The method may also be applicable in temperate cities if Google Street View photographs were collected during the growing season.     

Homestead tree holdings: Composition,uses and challenges in Checheche Growth Point,South East Lowveld,Zimbabwe

Understanding homestead tree holdings is important for developing local conservation and livelihood strategies. However, relative to urban homesteads, tree holdings in rural African homesteads remain little studied, especially in semi-arid settings. Using ecological and household surveys, this paper examines homestead tree composition, uses and challenges in Checheche, Zimbabwe. In total, 1,594 trees were encountered across 147 homesteads. Nearly, all homesteads (99%) had trees, and most of them were primarily planted for fruits and shade. Fuelwood, traditional medicines, windbreak and homestead decoration were considered as secondary benefits. Overall, tree density was approximately 112 trees/ha, with an average of 11 ± 7.1 trees per homestead. Homestead tree holdings were explained by age and gender of respondent, homestead ownership and importance attached to and knowledge of trees. Challenges to tree planting mentioned include termites, diseases, livestock damage, high temperatures, water shortages and poor quality soils. Overall, this study shows that homestead tree planting is widespread in semi-arid rural settings but constraints to tree planting ought to be addressed to optimise the benefits from trees. Further research is needed to fully understand the socioecological context that explains tree survival, as a basis for developing interventions for enabling homestead tree planting.     

Depth-dependent effects of ericoid mycorrhizal shrubs on soil carbon and nitrogen pools are accentuated under arbuscular mycorrhizal trees

Plant mycorrhizal associations influence the accumulation and persistence of soil organic matter and could therefore shape ecosystem biogeochemical responses to global changes that are altering forest composition. For instance, arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) tree dominance is increasing in temperate forests, and ericoid mycorrhizal (ErM) shrubs can respond positively to canopy disturbances. Yet how shifts in the co-occurrence of trees and shrubs with different mycorrhizal associations will affect soil organic matter pools remains largely unknown. We examine the effects of ErM shrubs on soil carbon and nitrogen stocks and indicators of microbial activity at different depths across gradients of AM versus ectomycorrhizal (EcM) tree dominance in three temperate forest sites. We find that ErM shrubs strongly modulate tree mycorrhizal dominance effects. In surface soils, ErM shrubs increase particulate organic matter accumulation and weaken the positive relationship between soil organic matter stocks and indicators of microbial activity. These effects are strongest under AM trees that lack fungal symbionts that can degrade organic matter. In subsurface soil organic matter pools, by contrast, tree mycorrhizal dominance effects are stronger than those of ErM shrubs. Ectomycorrhizal tree dominance has a negative influence on particulate and mineral-associated soil organic matter pools, and these effects are stronger for nitrogen than for carbon stocks. Our findings suggest that increasing co-occurrence of ErM shrubs and AM trees will enhance particulate organic matter accumulation in surface soils by suppressing microbial activity while having little influence on mineral-associated organic matter in subsurface soils. Our study highlights the importance of considering interactions between co-occurring plant mycorrhizal types, as well as their depth-dependent effects, for projecting changes in soil carbon and nitrogen stocks in response to compositional shifts in temperate forests driven by disturbances and global change.     

城市林木生物量对硬化地表和种植密度的响应

以北京市典型绿化树种油松、白蜡和元宝枫为实验对象,设置不透水地表、透水地表和对照(自然地表)3种地表类型和低(株行距为2.0 m×2.0 m)、中(1.0 m×1.0 m)、高(0.5 m×0.5 m)3个种植密度,经过6年的生长,对树木的生长和生物量进行了测定。结果表明：相比于对照,不透水地表下油松、白蜡和元宝枫的树高生长受到抑制,白蜡和元宝枫的单株生物量分别降低2.1%—27.1%和33.6%—52.3%,根冠比分别增加3.4%—25.8%和15.7%—23.4%。相比于不透水地表,透水地表下白蜡和元宝枫的树高显著增加,白蜡的单株生物量增加5.3%—45.5%,根冠比下降11.4%—18.7%。随着密度的增加,3种树木的基径和单株生物量显著降低,但中低密度下的单位面积生物量无显著性差异。此外,硬化地表与种植密度对树木的基径、树高、单株生物量和根冠比均无显著的交互作用。因此,在城市绿化中,采用透水地表来替代不透水地表,有利于改善树木生境进而促进树木生长。白蜡相比元宝枫更能适应硬化地表的不利影响,是更好的城市绿化树种的选择。同时,合理的种植密度是保证城市树木生长的重要因素。     

城市乔木树种多样性遥感反演方法研究

量化城市乔木树种多样性是定量研究其生态系统服务的前提和基础。目前,城市树种多样性水平的定量研究以地面调查方法为主,存在效率低、成本高的问题。针对上述问题,首先验证了光谱变异性假说和生产力假说在城市中的适用性,进而提出了快速量化城市树种多样性水平的方法。该方法基于神经网络刻画了乔木斑块多样性与光谱异质性之间的关系,能够较准确地反演城市乔木的香浓维纳指数和辛普森指数。为城市乔木树种多样性的调查提供了新的思路,并将为定量研究城市乔木多样性的生态系统服务提供基础数据。     

城市土壤封闭对有机碳库影响的时空变化模拟

随着全球城市化的迅速发展,城市生态系统的研究日益受到关注。城市化过程引发的大面积土壤封闭,导致土壤功能退化,进而影响城市生态系统。通过构建城市封闭土壤碳循环模型,考虑土壤温度,水分,有效氮含量以及各项理化性质等影响土壤有机碳在封闭条件下分解的影响因素,模拟南京市1980年至2010年城市封闭土壤有机碳含量与土壤有机碳库的时空变化过程,揭示人工封闭对于城市土壤功能的影响。结果表明:南京市1980年至2010年封闭土壤的有机碳含量显著减少,2010年土壤有机碳含量的均值为6.7 g/kg,比开放土壤低54.7%。土壤有机碳含量较低的区域主要分布在快速城市化的地区。由于封闭土壤阻碍了土壤有机碳的来源,造成封闭土壤有机碳含量持续减少,1980年至2010年间城市土壤有机碳库的总量减少约0.32 Tg。城市封闭对土壤有机碳影响的时空变化模拟可为研究城市化过程中的生态环境效应与城市生态建设提供参考。     

Temperate forest fragments maintain aboveground carbon stocks out to the forest edge despite changes in community composition

Edge effects are among the primary mechanisms by which forest fragmentation can influence the link between biodiversity and ecosystem processes, but relatively few studies have quantified these mechanisms in temperate regions. Carbon storage is an important ecosystem function altered by edge effects, with implications for climate change mitigation. Two opposing hypotheses suggest that aboveground carbon (AGC) stocks at the forest edge will (a) decrease due to increased tree mortality and compositional shifts towards smaller, lower wood density species (e.g., as seen in tropical systems) or, less often, (b) increase due to light/temperature-induced increases in diversity and productivity. We used field-based measurements, allometry, and mixed models to investigate the effects of proximity to the forest edge on AGC stocks, species richness, and community composition in 24 forest fragments in southern Quebec. We also asked whether fragment size or connectivity with surrounding forests altered these edge effects. AGC stocks remained constant across a 100 m edge-to-interior gradient in all fragment types, despite changes in tree community composition and stem density consistent with expectations of forest edge effects. We attribute this constancy primarily to compensatory effects of small trees at the forest edge; however, it is due in some cases to the retention of large trees at forest edges, likely a result of forest management. Our results suggest important differences between temperate and tropical fragments with respect to mechanisms linking biodiversity and AGC dynamics. Small temperate forest fragments may be valuable in conservation efforts based on maintaining biodiversity and multiple ecosystem services.     

城市系统碳循环:特征、机理与理论框架

城市是地表受人类活动影响最深刻的区域,城市系统碳循环在全球和区域碳过程中具有重要的地位和作用.提出了城市“自然-社会”二元碳循环的概念,探讨了城市系统碳循环的一般特征;分析了城市系统碳循环的内部机理,主要包括:城市系统碳储量和碳输入/输出通量的主要过程和途径、城市系统碳储量、碳通量和碳流通的生命周期分析、城市系统碳输入和碳输出的类型划分等;提出了基于系统层次划分和碳流通过程的城市系统碳循环的研究框架,分析了城市自然系统和城市经济系统的主要碳流通过程和环节,构建了城市系统碳循环研究的思路和理论框架;最后提出了城市系统碳循环领域未来的研究重点.     

Effects of 38 years of wildfires on tree density in the Blue Mountains,Australia

Forests are vital for biodiversity, carbon storage and ecosystem services, but can be potentially threatened by fires. Given the significance of forests and fire in a changing climate, research into the long-term effects of fire on forests plays an important role in understanding the global carbon cycle by the forests functioning as a large terrestrial carbon sink or source. In this study, we used aerial photography from 1975 and 2013 to count the change in the number of trees in 560 dry sclerophyll plots (40 × 40m) in the Blue Mountains of Australia. We analysed the relationship between the number of fires and severe fires in that period on the change in numbers of trees. We found that the average response was an increase of 1 tree per plot over 38 years. The number of fires had a small positive effect on tree numbers; plots with 2 or 3 severe fires had 1 and 2 extra trees, respectively, than those without fire. One exception was a severe fire in 2001 that did not show this positive effect, probably because it corresponded with extensive drought. Our findings suggest that number of forest canopy trees is resilient to the number of fires and number of severe fires.     

Use of exotic conifers as nesting sites by Black-faced Ibis (Theristicus melanopis melanopis) in an urban area of southern Chile

We studied the influence of seven habitat variables, including tree species, for nesting by the Black-faced Ibis (Theristicus melanopis melanopis) in an urban area of southern Chile. Variables were compared between 30 trees with nests and 30 randomly selected trees without nests. Nests were found in big trees with large diameters and heights. However, the only variable found to have a significant effect on site selection was tree species, which explained 57.9% of data variability (deviance) and suggested a selection of exotic conifers, mainly Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii). Tree species and tree diameter also had significant effects upon the number of nests per tree, jointly explaining 68.9% of data deviance. Our results suggest that in urban environments the Black-faced Ibis uses larger trees that provide greater nest stability and protection.