Three Methods for Assessing Carbon Storage and Carbon Sink Potential of Temperate Arid Eucalyptus Forest Ecosystems

Abstract

This study adopted an integrated methodological framework combining field plot measurement, long-term carbon flux monitoring, and ecological model simulation to comprehensively evaluate the carbon storage characteristics and carbon sink potential of temperate arid eucalyptus forests in Victoria, Australia. Field surveys were systematically conducted to compare carbon storage across multiple carbon pools in two representative sample plots and to analyze the influence of stand structure on carbon distribution patterns. Long-term net ecosystem exchange data spanning from 1996 to 2014 were applied to explore interannual, seasonal, and diurnal variations in forest carbon flux, as well as the driving effects of key meteorological factors including precipitation, light availability, and temperature. The FullCAM model was further employed to simulate carbon storage dynamics over an 80-year projection period under two native tree restoration scenarios. The results demonstrated that differences in tree diameter class composition and stand age led to distinct total carbon storage between the sample plots. Severe drought conditions significantly weakened forest carbon sink capacity, while light and temperature were identified as the dominant drivers of seasonal and daily carbon exchange dynamics. Continuous planting of native tree species achieved more stable and higher long-term carbon storage compared with conventional rotation management practices. This research provides valuable references for forest carbon inventory, carbon cycle analysis, and the optimization of ecological restoration strategies for similar temperate forest ecosystems globally.