<p>It sounds like you are asking about plants taking up carbon at different stages of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecological_succession" rel="nofollow">Ecological Succession</a> that occur after some catastrophic event (e.g. a wildfire or lava flow).  </p>

<p>If the prior ecosystem was dominated by live vegetation such that the detritus emitting $\ce{CO_2}$ was much less than the $\ce{CO_2}$ uptake by plants, then a catastrophe will generally lower the $\ce{CO_2}$ uptake. </p>

<p>When the catastrophe (e.g. lava flow or land slide) creates a new land-surface, then primary succession begins with the establishment of generally small forms of life and $\ce{CO_2}$ sequestration would be minimal. Otherwise, if the catastrophe leaves behind some form of the prior ecological community, then secondary succession can occur and the region would be able to return to higher $\ce{CO_2}$ sequestration rates much sooner relative to a primary succession event.</p>

<p>You might enjoy the following references:</p>

<ul>
<li>"Carbon sequestration is related to mycorrhizal fungal community shifts during long-term succession in boreal forests."
available here: <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25494880" rel="nofollow">http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25494880</a></li>
<li>"Chapter 3: Effects of Disturbance, Succession and Management on Carbon Sequestration" in the book "Carbon Sequestration in Forest Ecosystems" available here: <a href="http://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007%2F978-90-481-3266-9_3" rel="nofollow">http://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007%2F978-90-481-3266-9_3</a></li>
</ul>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-04-23T18:26:14.657Z
2015-04-24T01:35:13.380Z
2015-04-24T01:35:13.380Z
f.thorpe
<p>It sounds logical, but I wonder if the regeneration rate of nature (natural absorption of $\ce{CO_2}$) is decreased after an environmental catastrophe (resource stock depletion, etc.)?</p>

<p>Or are most catastrophes mainly caused by the decrease of regeneration rate of nature?</p>

<p>I would really appreciate academic references on this issue.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-04-23T17:50:32.150Z
Welcome to http://earthscience.stackexchange.com. It may help if you define what you mean by regeneration rate of nature?
Isopycnal Oscillation
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-04-23T17:53:44.250Z
@IsopycnalOscillation natural absorption of CO2 could an example.
optimal control
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-04-23T18:26:29.820Z
I think it might help to give a specific example of the sort of scenarios you're thinking of, or maybe some references to things you've read on the subject. When you say 'nature' I guess you mean living things? Are you most interested in natural or man-made disasters?
Matt Hall
<resources><environmental-protection>
Regeneration rate of nature after environmental catastrophes
optimal control
# Regeneration rate of nature after environmental catastrophes

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-04-23)

It sounds logical, but I wonder if the regeneration rate of nature (natural absorption of $\ce{CO\_2}$) is decreased after an environmental catastrophe (resource stock depletion, etc.)?

Or are most catastrophes mainly caused by the decrease of regeneration rate of nature?

I would really appreciate academic references on this issue.

**Tags:** resources, environmental-protection

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Welcome to http://earthscience.stackexchange.com. It may help if you define what you mean by regeneration rate of nature?  
> **username_0**: @username_1 natural absorption of CO2 could an example.  
> **username_2**: I think it might help to give a specific example of the sort of scenarios you're thinking of, or maybe some references to things you've read on the subject. When you say 'nature' I guess you mean living things? Are you most interested in natural or man-made disasters?  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2015-04-23. Score: 5 | Accepted answer

It sounds like you are asking about plants taking up carbon at different stages of [Ecological Succession](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecological_succession) that occur after some catastrophic event (e.g. a wildfire or lava flow).

If the prior ecosystem was dominated by live vegetation such that the detritus emitting $\ce{CO\_2}$ was much less than the $\ce{CO\_2}$ uptake by plants, then a catastrophe will generally lower the $\ce{CO\_2}$ uptake.

When the catastrophe (e.g. lava flow or land slide) creates a new land-surface, then primary succession begins with the establishment of generally small forms of life and $\ce{CO\_2}$ sequestration would be minimal. Otherwise, if the catastrophe leaves behind some form of the prior ecological community, then secondary succession can occur and the region would be able to return to higher $\ce{CO\_2}$ sequestration rates much sooner relative to a primary succession event.

You might enjoy the following references:

* "Carbon sequestration is related to mycorrhizal fungal community shifts during long-term succession in boreal forests."
  available here: <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25494880>
* "Chapter 3: Effects of Disturbance, Succession and Management on Carbon Sequestration" in the book "Carbon Sequestration in Forest Ecosystems" available here: <http://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007%2F978-90-481-3266-9_3>


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