Forecasting Carbon Storage of Eastern Forests: Can American Chestnut Restoration Improve Storage Potential in an Uncertain Future?.

The wide scale reduction of American chestnut (Castanea dentata) trees due to the exotic pathogen chestnut blight (Cryphonectria parasitica) in the Appalachians is one among many examples of human-induced changes to forest tree species composition that affect both ecological values and forest carbon (C) storage. We coupled an established, one-dimensional tree biophysical model (PnET) with a spatially explicit species distribution model (LANDIS) to analyze C, N and soil water dynamics in association with several management options to reintroduce a blight-resistant American chestnut. By doing so, we expect to increase critical knowledge on interactions between species composition, biogeochemistry of forest ecosystems, and climate change.