Older Oak Forests Store More Carbon, Impacting Climate Change Fight
The study looked at how the age of Quercus acutissima trees affects where they store their biomass. They measured the weight of different parts of the trees in four different age groups. They found that as the trees get older, they put more of their biomass into their stems. Younger trees put more biomass into branches, leaves, and roots. The researchers also created equations to predict how much biomass a tree has based on its age and height. They found that these equations work best for trees in the middle age range. Overall, the study shows that the age of the trees affects how they store biomass, and this needs to be considered when estimating the amount of carbon stored in these forests.