Variation in ecosystem carbon allocation patterns among different vegetation types in Western Ghats, India

A major global challenge is the urgent need to bend the curve of rising atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) concentration. Carbon (C) pools in forests play an important role in regulating the regional and global C cycles. In this study, C stocks of all the pools {live biomass (trees and non-tree vegetation), detritus (deadwood and forest floor litter), and soil} were assessed from six vegetation types {3 natural forests (tropical dry deciduous, semi-evergreen and evergreen) and 3 plantations (teak, rubber and areca nut)} in Kanyakumari Wildlife Sanctuary, Western Ghats, India. The total ecosystem C stock averaged 262.7 ± 56 Mg C ha^-1 and ranged between 94.7 and 506.8 56 Mg C ha^-1. Soil was the major C pool in tropical dry deciduous forest and areca nut plantation, whereas biomass was the largest pool in other vegetation types. The C stocks of teak and rubber plantations were comparable with those of dry deciduous and semi-evergreen forest types respectively. The C stocks were significantly positively correlated with stand density, basal area and mean annual precipitation, and negatively correlated with mean annual temperature. The present study would improve our understanding on C allocation patterns at ecosystem-level in different vegetation types of Western Ghats, and can be used for ecosystem restoration and forest management programmes to enhance C sequestration.