Positive effect of forest structural diversity on aboveground stand carbon stocks for even-aged Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) stands in the Sarıçiçek Forest, Northern Turkey

ABSTRACT

This study examines the relationships between forest structural diversity indices and aboveground stand carbon storage for even-aged and pure Scots pine stands located in the Sarıçiçek Forest, Northern Turkey. In the even-aged Scots pine stands, 293 sample plots were selected to represent various stand conditions such as site quality, age, and stand density. The stand structural diversity, including Shannon’s, improved Shannon, Simpson’s, McIntosh, Margalef, and Berger–Parker indices, was used to correlate the stand carbon storage values. Positive partial correlation coefficients between stand carbon storage and forest structural diversity indices, including the improved Shannon index (r = 0.770), Shannon’s index (r = 0.742), Simpson’s index (r = 0.703), the Berger–Parker index (r = 0.657), the Gini index (r = 0.390), and the Margalef index (r = 0.327), were found at the 0.01 level. These results offer an enhancement of theories concerning positive relationships between stand carbon storage and stand structural diversity for pure and single-species forests. Moreover, regarding biodiversity suitability and stand carbon storage as carbon sinks, the results illustrate that forest stands with higher structural diversity may be preferred when used to mitigate global warming.

KEYWORDS:

• Aboveground carbon stock
• structural diversity
• partial correlation analysis

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the Head of Forest Management and Planning Department, General Directorate of Forestry, Republic of Turkey, for providing study data.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.