Author : Gavin Ross Kenney
Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 126 pages
Book Rating : 4.:/5 (131 download)
Book Synopsis The Effect of Hurricane Michael on the Structure and Function of Longleaf Pine Woodlands by : Gavin Ross Kenney
Download or read book The Effect of Hurricane Michael on the Structure and Function of Longleaf Pine Woodlands written by Gavin Ross Kenney and published by . This book was released on 2021 with total page 126 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Hurricanes are increasing in intensity due to climate change and can physically alter ecosystems, causing immediate and potentially long-lasting effects on carbon dynamics. On October 10, 2018, Hurricane Michael hit the southeastern United States with category 2 winds reaching over 100 miles inland, resulting in extensive damage. The longleaf pine ecosystems of this region have long been recognized for their high biodiversity, and initiatives have targeted the preservation and restoration of remnant stands. Multiple longleaf pine woodlands of the region were damaged during Hurricane Michael, but the severity of damage varied based on their structure. Climate change-induced disturbances, like hurricanes, could permanently alter forest structure, limit carbon sequestration, and further threaten survival. In this study we used a combination of eddy covariance measurements, airborne LiDAR and ground-level forest inventory data to determine how the hurricane affected the structure, function and recovery of two longleaf pine woodlands at the ends of an edaphic gradient. We hypothesized that the xeric site's ecological memory which developed due to long-term water stress would contribute to the site experiencing less structural damage and alteration to carbon dynamics and would recover more quickly than the mesic site. Eddy covariance data revealed that both carbon budgets were diminished following the storm, but the xeric site saw smaller losses over the course of the study. Light response curves revealed signs of recovery for the xeric site before the mesic site as indicated by maximum ecosystem CO2 uptake rates. Two years following the hurricane both locations continued to have reduced net ecosystem exchange (NEE). We determined that long-term reductions in NEE were due to lower rates of photosynthesis, as respiration was not significantly affected by Hurricane Michael; short-term respiration pulses were observed immediately after the storm but decreased by the next Spring. It is notable that the carbon dynamics at both sites remain changed two years post-storm, which may signal altered function. We expect both locations to recover their lost carbon stocks in ~10 to 35 years; however long-term studies and continued monitoring are needed to examine how longleaf woodlands respond to severe disturbance, which may vary significantly across its distributional range.
