LAUSR

Abstract Western Hubei is the most concentrated area of forest resources in Hubei Province, and the knowledge of the distribution characteristics of ecosystem carbon density is important to understand the regional characteristics of carbon density and its mechanism of formation. Carbon density and factors influencing different layers in the ecosystem were studied by using field data. The average carbon density of ecosystems in western Hubei was 159.05 t/hm2; the carbon density of different forest types in descending order was Abies fargesii forests (362.25 t/hm2), mixed broadleaf-conifer forests (154.13 t/hm2), broad-leaved forests (146.09 t/hm2), and coniferous forests (135.76 t/hm2), and ecosystem carbon density increased with increasing age. The carbon density of the arborous layer, shrub layer, and soil layer of A. fargesii forests was significant higher than that of the other forests (P  100 mm.