Title: Linking Soils and Down Woody Material Inventories for Cohesive Assessments of Ecosystem Carbon Pools

Author: O'Neill, Katherine P.; Woodall, Christopher; Amacher, Michael; Holden, Geoffrey

Year: 2005

Publication: In: McRoberts, Ronald E.; Reams, Gregory A.; Van Deusen, Paul C.; McWilliams, William H.; Cieszewski, Chris J., eds. Proceedings of the fourth annual forest inventory and analysis symposium; Gen. Tech. Rep. NC-252. St. Paul, MN: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, North Central Research Station. 27-32

Abstract: The Soils and Down Woody Materials (DWM) indicators collected by the Forest Inventory and Analysis program provide the only data available for nationally consistent monitoring of carbon storage in soils, the forest floor, and down woody debris. However, these indicators were developed and implemented separately, resulting in field methods and compilation procedures that overlap and are not entirely compatible. Here we outline an initial approach for combining carbon estimates from the soil and DWM indicators, highlight the potential limitations of this approach, and discuss future research or protocol changes that may improve regional C estimation.