A Treasure in the Desert?

Carbon Stock Estimates for Haloxylon aphyllum in the

Northeastern Karakum Desert
Allan Buras1*, Niels Thevs1, Stefan Zerbe2, Walter Wucherer3 and Martin Wilmking1

Affiliations:
1 Institute of Botany and Landscape Ecology, University of Greifswald, Grimmer Strae 88,
D17489 Greifswald, Germany; Phone: 00493834864188; Fax: 00493834864114
2 Faculty of Science and Technology, Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, Universittsplatz 1,
I-39100 Bozen-Bolzano, Italy
3 Michael-Succow-Foundation, Ellernholzstr. 1/3, 17489 Greifswald, Germany; Phone:
004938348354221

Katie Susko 3/19/15 10:26 AM

Comment [1]: It would be better to list the
academic affiliations after the authors name. It will
keep the reader from having to look back and forth.

E-mail: allan@buras.eu
Abstract
Among terrestrial ecosystems, the average carbon density of deserts is low. However, due to
their large spatial extent, their contribution to global carbon stocks is important for
understanding the global carbon cycle. Therefore, this study presents carbon stock estimates
related to mono-specific Haloxylon aphyllum forest-like stands in the Northeastern Karakum
Desert of Turkmenistan because they represent the locally most-productive ecosystem

Katie Susko 3/19/15 10:29 AM

Comment [2]: Since this is the first time the
reader has seen this word, it may be good to define
it briefly.

components. The total carbon stock related to H. aphyllum, in the region was estimated at
68,000,000 lb with an average carbon density of 38,100 15,300 lb C a-1 (range 13,60085,000 lb C a-1) of the stands investigated.

Katie Susko 3/19/15 10:28 AM

Keywords: remote sensing; allometry; NDVI; upscaling; ecosystem services; black saxaul
1

Comment [3]: Instead of saying that these are

keywords, just make sure that they are clearly
defined in the text. This will show the reader that
they are keywords.

Introduction
Among the earths terrestrial ecosystems, deserts and other dryland ecosystems are the least
productive and thus exhibit the lowest vegetation carbon densities, i.e. mass of carbon per
area [lb C a-1] (e.g., Cao & Woodward, 1998; Townsend et al., 2008). Despite their low
carbon densities, dryland ecosystems may contribute significantly to global carbon stocks as
they cover an area of approximately 10.8 million square miles and thus represent the largest
of all terrestrial biomes (e.g., Trumper et al., 2009; Epple, 2012). However, detailed studies
on the contribution of particular desert ecosystem components to global carbon stocks are
rarely available (Cao & Woodward, 1998; Lal, 2002; Trumper et al., 2008 and 2009; Epple,
2012).
In contrast to the hot deserts of the low latitudes that are mainly bare of higher vegetation, the
winter-cold Karakum, Kysylkum, and Muyunkum deserts of Central Asia are sparsely

Katie Susko 3/19/15 10:34 AM

Deleted: mainly are

vegetated in general (Walter & Breckle, 1986; Rachkovskaya, 1995). However, within these
deserts and in particular in the Northeastern Karakum comparably dense, forest-like
stands of Haloxylon aphyllum, also known as black saxaul (Minkw.) are found where
groundwater conditions provide suitable living conditions (Rotov, 1969; Netchayeva et al.,

Katie Susko 3/19/15 10:37 AM

Comment [4]: Is this a citation? If so, make sure
to add a comma and the year it was published.

1973; Rachkovskaya, 1995). These stands protrude from the surrounding desert due to an
above-average water supply and thus an above-average plant cover (and therefore carbon
stock). The value of these stands may relate to different ecosystem services:
I)

Provisioning service: Saxaul wood has long been used as firewood by the local
populations and is still preferred for preparing shashlik, a traditional food, due to
its high content of essential oils (personal communication with locals).

II)

Regulating (and possibly economic) service: sequestration of carbon dioxide. If

this sequestration is accounted for financially -- for example, in terms of the
2

Katie Susko 4/14/16 6:18 PM

Comment [5]: I would put this as a personal
interview reference in the bibliography. if you were
able to get a name from one of the locals.

REDD-plus program (Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and forest

Degradation), CDM (Clean Development Mechanism), or the UNCCD (United
Nations Convention to Combat Desertification), the stands may contribute to the
low income of local residents because they are not logged (UNFCCC 2002a and

III)

Katie Susko 3/19/15 10:42 AM

Deleted: s

2002b; Parker et al., 2009).

Supporting service: shelter and habitat for a large variety of desert animals, such as
the saxaul sparrow (Passer ammodendri), the Panders hog (Podoces panderi),
turtles, and mice.
The absolute carbon stock values of these stands are mandatory information for estimating the
quantity of I and II. Their spatial distribution and extent is relevant information for III.
However, within the literature, there is little relevant and up-to-date data available
(Kurochkina, 1966; Walter & Breckle, 1986; Buras et al., 2012; Thevs et al., 2012), and none
of these references estimate in detail the total carbon stock of H. aphyllum on a larger scale.
This information may be relevant to stakeholder parties, such as:

Ecologists with respect to the contribution of Central Asian desert ecosystems to the
global carbon cycle;

Foresters in terms of monitoring and managing H. aphyllum stands;

Policymakers and nature conservationists in terms of climate change mitigation

activities, combating desertification, and nature conservation.

To provide a first step in filling these knowledge gaps, the aim of this study is to derive
remotely sensed carbon stock estimates for H. aphyllum stands in the Northeastern Karakum.

Katie Susko 4/14/16 6:18 PM

Comment [6]: This section is a bit lengthy.
According to the style sheet, we would like to keep
this section as short as possible, so look for places to
condense this information.

Material and Methods

Katie Susko 3/19/15 10:48 AM

Study object: mono-specific Haloxylon aphyllum stands

3

Comment [7]: It would be beneficial to provide

more clearly-written research questions or
hypotheses between these two sections, so that this
chapter fits in with the rest of the book.

Haloxylon aphyllum is more salt-tolerant and expresses a higher affinity to groundwater

compared to other frequently occurring woody plant species (e.g. Calygonum spec.,
Haloxylon persicum) in the Northeastern Karakum (Rotov, 1969; Netchayeva, 1973). This
affinity limits its distribution to dune depressions with an above-regional-average
groundwater supply where it is a dominant woody species and, thus, forms mono-specific
forest-like stands with Carex physodes as the dominant grass understory (Kurochkina, 1966;
Rotov, 1969; Netchayeva et al., 1973; Rachkovskaya, 1995). Single individuals of Calygonum
spec. may occur but will likely not contribute substantially to the carbon stock of these stands
due to their local rarity and comparably low carbon stock contribution (Buras et al., 2012).
Training area for GIS calibration
The training area for calibration of the satellite images was in Charlak the core area of the
biosphere state reserve Repetek (38.4 North, 63.3 East) in the Northeastern Karakum Desert
of Turkmenistan (Figure Buras 1). We chose Charlak as the training area because it has been a
nature reserve since 1927, was recognized by UNESCO as a Biosphere Reserve in 1978, and
contains an undisturbed mono-specific stand of H. aphyllum. The GPS coordinates, height,
canopy area, and basal area of sixty H. aphyllum individuals were recorded according to the
Point Centered Quarter method (Mueller-Dombois and Ellenberg, 1974). By applying an
allometric formula and average carbon contents (Buras et al., 2012), we estimated the total
above- and below-ground carbon stock for each specimen.
Figure Buras 1 here
Figure Buras 2 here
To create a basis for remote sensing of Haloxylon carbon stock, we calculated a root-root
regression (Model I) between the estimated carbon stock and the in-situ measured canopy area
of these specimens. This allowed us to estimate Haloxylon carbon stock based on a high
4

Katie Susko 3/19/15 11:10 AM

Comment [8]: This may be confusing to the
readers