Long-Term Impacts of the Hemlock Woolly Adelgid on Forest Carbon at Harvard Forest 2008-2011

This study used a comparative approach to study potential changes in C fluxes and storage and N cycling associated with Hemlock Wooly Adelgid induced hemlock decline and replacement. The stands include primary and secondary growth hemlock forests (230 and 132 years old, respectively), recently disturbed stands (5 and 18 years old) that now have rapidly growing black birch saplings, and a mature black birch stand of age similar to the second-growth hemlock stand.本研究采用比较研究方法，旨在探究由铁杉绒球蚜（Hemlock Wooly Adelgid）诱导的铁杉衰退及林分替代过程中，相关碳通量（C fluxes）、碳储量变化与氮循环（N cycling）特征。本次研究选取的林分包括：树龄分别为230年与132年的原生铁杉林与次生铁杉林；受干扰年限分别为5年与18年的近期受干扰林分，此类林分目前已生长出快速生长的黑桦幼树；以及一处树龄与该次生铁杉林相近的成熟黑桦林。