Positive relationships between above- and below-ground carbon stocks in mangrove forests at different spatial scales

Abstract:

Aims: Although great efforts have been made to quantify mangrove carbon storage at large scales using both field survey and remote sensing data, reliable estimation of below-ground carbon pools in mangrove forests at large scales still remains big challenges. In this study, we aim to establish possible relationships between above- and below-ground carbon stocks for mangrove forests, providing scientific bases for estimating mangrove carbon stocks over large scale by remote sensing.

Methods: We examined distribution patterns of mangrove carbon stocks in China and other countries with our own filed observations and datasets from published literatures. Possible relationships between above- and below-ground carbon stocks were evaluated statistically for mangrove forests of various species and community structure, geological locations and conservation status as well as over regional and global scales.

Results: In China, carbon stock ranged from 58.7 to 538.7 Mg ha among different mangrove conservation areas. which were smaller but comparable with global mangrove average. There are significant positive relationships between above- and below-ground carbon stocks of mangrove forests, but such relationship depends significantly on vegetation, geography or scale factors.

Conclusions: Strong positive relationships between above- and below-ground carbon stocks provide feasibility for estimating mangrove carbon stocks using remote sensing, but possible effects of biological, geographical and scale factors on such relationship should be taken into accounted.