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