The impact of abiotic and biotic factors on growth, mortality and net tree C stock in mountain forest ecosystems in southwest China

Abstract Mountain forest ecosystems play an important role in global carbon sequestration and may respond differently to variations climate. The timely accurate assessment of the factors (abiotic biotic) that affect types will improve our understanding ecological mechanisms underlying stock dynamics. Here, we used linear mixed effect models assess impact abiotic biotic on rate net tree C accumulation, growth, mortality, over nearly four decades 1248 permanent plots, different along elevational gradient eastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau China. We found annual rise ranged from 0.13 0.23 Mg ha −1 yr , as growth increased 1979 2017. highest rates mortality were coniferous broad-leaved (CBMF), followed by deciduous forests (BDF), evergreen, (EDBMF), (CF). Mortality EDBMF CF during study period. most richness density, especially BDF CBMF. driving these biological responses a significant monthly mean temperature (MMT) decline precipitation growing season. decrease was negatively correlated with CBMF CF. increase MMT positively each type, generally more than overall had positive Overall, suggest stocks continue coming due warming.