Standing biomass and carbon distribution in a papyrus (Cyperus papyrus L.) swamp on Lake Naivasha, Kenya
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Date
1997-05
Authors
Muthuri, F. M.
Jones, M. B.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Cambridge University Press
Abstract
The standing live biomass of papyrus swamps is high compared with most other communities dominated by herbaceous vegetation. For the first time, measurements of below-ground rhizome and root biomass are reported here, in addition to measurements of shoot biomass, for a papyrus swamp located on Lake Naivasha, Kenya. The ratio of rhizome and root to shoot dry weight was 1.38: 1 and the total standing live biomass was 7.8 kg(dry weight) m−2. Detritus, formed from slowly decomposing papyrus, is normally the most important sink for carbon in this ecosystem. The amount of detritus retained by swamps varies but at L. Naivasha it contained almost 20 times the carbon found in living biomass. The net primary production of the swamp was calculated to be 6.28 kg(dry weight) m−2 y−1, which is amongst the highest recorded productivities for natural ecosystems. Model estimates of carbon input into the system from photosynthesis are incorporated into a carbon flow diagram for the swamp and this emphasises the importance of detritus as a sink for carbon in this ecosystem.
Description
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0266467400010555
Keywords
biomass, carbon, primary production, Cyperus papyrus, tropical swamps
Citation
Journal of Tropical Ecology / Volume 13 / Issue 03 / May 1997, pp 347-356