COST Action FP0803: Belowground carbon turnover in European forests

Official COST site COST Action FP0803 Participants and countries

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Abstract:

The importance of belowground carbon (C) turnover in the functioning of forest ecosystems is often underestimated. While inputs and outputs of C in the aboveground part of forest ecosystems can be measured relatively easily and continuously, little is known about the mechanisms and processes of belowground C allocation. These include processes affecting the turnover rates of fine roots, mycorrhizal fungi, and soil organic matter. This Action aims to harmonise and improve knowledge on the benefits provided by belowground C processes.

The Action will focus on the four key areas:

• Fine root turnover,
• Mycorrhizal mycelia turnover,
  
• Soil C stocks, and
  
• Biogeochemical modelling,
  

with the intention of linking the different research fields involved, evaluating the potential of new and innovative methodologies, and developing new process-based descriptions of belowground C dynamics within biogeochemical models. This is important as the projections of C dynamics in forest ecosystems under changes in climate and atmospheric CO2 concentrations need to be improved, and most European countries need to assess changes of belowground C stocks in forests under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol.

Keywords:

belowground carbon dynamics, biogeochemical modelling, fine root and mycorrhizal mycelia turnover, forest soils, soil organic matter 

Joint Publications:

• Brunner I, Bakker MR, Björk RG, Hirano Y, Lukac M, Aranda X, Børja I, Eldhuset TD, Helmisaari HS, Jourdan C, Konôpka B, López BC, Miguel Pérez C, Persson H, Ostonen. I. 2013. Fine-root turnover of European forest trees revisited: an analysis of data from sequential coring and ingrowth cores. Plant and Soil 362, 357-372. Download open access pdf.
  

• Wallander H, Ekblad A, Godbold DL, Johnson D, Bahr A, Baldrian P, Björk RG, Kieliszewska-Rokicka, Kjoller R, Kraigher H, Plassard C, Rudawska M. 2013. Evaluation of methods to estimate production, biomass and turnover of ectomycorrhizal mycelium in forest soils – A review. Soil Biology and Biochemistry. DOI.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2012.08.027.

• Cerli C, Celi L, Kalbitz K, Guggenberger G, Kaiser K. 2012. Separation of light and heavy organic matter fractions in soil - Testing for proper density cut-off and dispersion level. Geoderma 170, 403-416.

• Brunner I. (editor) 2010. Belowground carbon turnover in European forests - State of the art. COST Action FP0803 Conference, January 26-28, 2010.Birmensdorf, Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL. 81 S. Download pdf.