Disturbance Interactions, Management, and Implications for Future Carbon Sequestration

自然干扰是影响生态系统碳平衡的主要因素，因为它们破坏碳储存并增加大气排放。预计北美西部森林受到的干扰在频率、范围、强度和种类上都将增加。然而，关于干扰对碳固存的影响仍然存在根本问题。该项目的目标是提高对森林碳固存的多重干扰后果的认识。 测量的树木再生和碳含量，地理信息系统和建模将被用来检查碳固存的多个相互作用的干扰的结果。将使用一个森林生长模型来估计生物量的积累，并评价整个地貌以及各种管理和干扰情况下的碳固存情况。干旱、虫害和火灾等大规模干扰将相互作用，影响未来的森林景观，从而影响碳平衡。森林管理活动也会影响干扰，并受干扰的影响。这项研究建立在一个数据库的土壤和再生在北方科罗拉多，表明在森林恢复的阈值干扰相互作用的证据。拟议的项目将为管理备选方案提供宝贵的见解。这项工作的一个重要组成部分将致力于两个博士生的支持和几个本科生的参与。将尽一切努力，通过科学，数学和工程方面的科罗拉多多样性倡议，从代表性不足的少数群体中招募研究生和本科生。 研究活动将被纳入生态教育，使用案例研究作为经验学习工具。 这项工作也将用于科罗拉多大学景观生态学课程的学生在跨学科的决策课程。在整个项目期间，将与落基山脉地区的美国林务局办事处保持对话，并在项目的最后一年为资源管理人员举办讲习班。

Natural disturbances are major factors affecting the carbon balance of ecosystems because they disrupt carbon stocks and increase atmospheric emissions. Disturbances of forests in western North America are expected to increase in frequency, extent, intensity and variety. However, fundamental questions remain about the effects of disturbance on carbon sequestration. The goal of this project is to improve understanding of the consequences of multiple disturbances on carbon sequestration in forests. Measured tree regeneration and carbon contents, geographic information systems, and modeling will be used to examine the outcomes of multiple interacting disturbances for carbon sequestration. A forest growth model will be used to estimate biomass accumulation and evaluate carbon sequestration across the landscape and under a variety of management and disturbance scenarios. Cascading large-scale disturbances such as drought, insect infestations, and fire will interact to shape future forest landscapes and consequently carbon balances. Forest management activities will also influence and be influenced by disturbances. This research builds on a database of soils and regeneration in northern Colorado that shows evidence of thresholds in forest recovery resulting from disturbance interactions. The proposed project will lend valuable insights into management options. A significant component of this work will be devoted to the support of two Doctoral students and the participation of several undergraduates. Every effort will be made to recruit graduate and undergraduate students from underrepresented minority groups through the Colorado Diversity Initiative in Science, Math, and Engineering. Research activities will be integrated into ecological education using case studies as experiential learning tools. This work will also be used in University of Colorado Landscape Ecology courses for students in interdisciplinary decision making curricula. Dialog with U.S. Forest Service offices in the Rocky Mountain Region will be maintained throughout this project, with a workshop conducted for resource managers in the final year of the project.