Carbon storage in the plant biomass of the Villavicencio nature reserve (Mendoza-Argentina).

Abstract

Carbon storage in the plant biomass of the Villavicencio Nature Reserve (Mendoza-Argentina). Nature reserves play a relevant role in carbon storage in arid lands. The vegetation of theNature Reserve of Villavicencio stores 98798 Mg (2.1 Mg/ha) of carbon in total; considering the Punaand unburned Monte vegetation, 91.2% of carbon occurs in aboveground parts (leaves and stems)and 8.8% in the root system. Monte vegetation, characterized by Larrea cuneifolia shrubland, stores77905 Mg C (3.9 Mg/ha), 78.8% of the total carbon in the area. Nanophanerophytes store 28.8% in theunburned shrubland, and 50.4% in the area burned in 2000, while chamaephytes store 95.5% in thearea burned in 2005. In the Puna belt, with 20893 Mg C (0.78 Mg/ha) stored, Jarava vaginata grasslanddominates and stores 88% of carbon, aboveground parts (leaves of grasses and leaves and stems ofchamaephytes) store 90% of carbon. In general, and taking into account both vegetation belts, 19.8% ofthe carbon present in the Reserve is stored in nanophanerophytes, 32.8% in hemicryptophytes, 28.8% inchamaephytes and 18.4% in succulents (cactaceae). Assessment of carbon storage, taking into accountthe different phytogeographic units, is necessary for management of the protected area and for a betterunderstanding of the role of these environments in the mitigation of atmospheric carbon.