Luna Ardila Holzinger

As climate change intensifies and populations grow, causing urban areas to expand, fragmented forests from deforestation become an increasing concern. Such areas experience altered exposure to light, water, and temperature, which subsequently impact tree growth as well as the tree's survival. Another essential aspect that is also impacted is carbon sequestration, the process in which trees capture and store carbon in their trunks, branches, and roots. In this ongoing project, researchers examine the carbon sequestered at the Harvard Forest, a research forest in upstate New York. Baseline data has been collected to understand carbon sequestration in trees under no stress (control). This was completed by collecting soil samples from the Harvard Forest, to measure root biomass, soil pH, and carbon-nitrogen ratios. This data is being assessed to understand underlying differences in the ecosystem and why they occur. Samples will be collected again in a few years when drought and extreme precipitation have been simulated at the study site. They will then be compared to baseline data and the prior difference found will be taken into account when analyzing the effects of drought and extreme precipitation. With climate change severely altering numerous environmental conditions, it is essential to understand how carbon is stored in fragmented forests. Understanding these impacts on forest edges is crucial for improving scientists’ capacity to predict changes in the global carbon balance. Subsequently, this knowledge can inform policies and forest management strategies for climate mitigation and sustainability.