Variability in exchange of CO2 across 12 northern peatland and tundra sites

Many wetland ecosystems such as peatlands and wet tundra hold large amounts of organic carbon (C) in their soils, and are thus important in the terrestrial C cycle. We have synthesized data on the carbon dioxide (CO₂) exchange obtained from eddy covariance measurements from 12 wetland sites, covering 1–7 years at each site, across Europe and North America, ranging from ombrotrophic and minerotrophic peatlands to wet tundra ecosystems, spanning temperate to arctic climate zones. The average summertime net ecosystem exchange of CO₂ (NEE) was highly variable between sites. However, all sites with complete annual datasets, seven in total, acted as annual net sinks for atmospheric CO₂. To evaluate the influence of gross primary production (GPP) and ecosystem respiration (R_eco) on NEE, we first removed the artificial correlation emanating from the method of partitioning NEE into GPP and R_eco. After this correction neither R_eco (P= 0.162) nor GPP (P= 0.110) correlated significantly with NEE on an annual basis. Spatial variation in annual and summertime R_eco was associated with growing season period, air temperature, growing degree days, normalized difference vegetation index and vapour pressure deficit. GPP showed weaker correlations with environmental variables as compared with R_eco, the exception being leaf area index (LAI), which correlated with both GPP and NEE, but not with R_eco. Length of growing season period was found to be the most important variable describing the spatial variation in summertime GPP and R_eco; global warming will thus cause these components to increase. Annual GPP and NEE correlated significantly with LAI and pH, thus, in order to predict wetland C exchange, differences in ecosystem structure such as leaf area and biomass as well as nutritional status must be taken into account.     

Diurnal, seasonal and annual variation in net ecosystem CO2 exchange of an alpine shrubland on Qinghai-Tibetan plateau

Thus far, grassland ecosystem research has mainly been focused on low‐lying grassland areas, whereas research on high‐altitude grassland areas, especially on the carbon budget of remote areas like the Qinghai‐Tibetan plateau is insufficient. To address this issue, flux of CO₂ were measured over an alpine shrubland ecosystem (37°36′N, 101°18′E; 325 above sea level [a. s. l.]) on the Qinghai‐Tibetan Plateau, China, for 2 years (2003 and 2004) with the eddy covariance method. The vegetation is dominated by formation Potentilla fruticosa L. The soil is Mol–Cryic Cambisols. To interpret the biotic and abiotic factors that modulate CO₂ flux over the course of a year we decomposed net ecosystem CO₂ exchange (NEE) into its constituent components, and ecosystem respiration (R_eco). Results showed that seasonal trends of annual total biomass and NEE followed closely the change in leaf area index. Integrated NEE were ?58.5 and ?75.5 g C m^?2, respectively, for the 2003 and 2004 years. Carbon uptake was mainly attributed from June, July, August, and September of the growing season. In July, NEE reached seasonal peaks of similar magnitude (4–5 g C m^?2 day^?1) each of the 2 years. Also, the integrated night‐time NEE reached comparable peak values (1.5–2 g C m^?2 day^?1) in the 2 years of study. Despite the large difference in time between carbon uptake and release (carbon uptake time < release time), the alpine shrubland was carbon sink. This is probably because the ecosystem respiration at our site was confined significantly by low temperature and small biomass and large day/night temperature difference and usually soil moisture was not limiting factor for carbon uptake. In general, R_eco was an exponential function of soil temperature, but with season‐dependent values of Q₁₀. The temperature‐dependent respiration model failed immediately after rain events, when large pulses of R_eco were observed. Thus, for this alpine shrubland in Qinghai‐Tibetan plateau, the timing of rain events had more impact than the total amount of precipitation on ecosystem R_eco and NEE.     

Carbon uptake in Eurasian boreal forests dominates the high-latitude net ecosystem carbon budget

Arctic-boreal landscapes are experiencing profound warming, along with changes in ecosystem moisture status and disturbance from fire. This region is of global importance in terms of carbon feedbacks to climate, yet the sign (sink or source) and magnitude of the Arctic-boreal carbon budget within recent years remains highly uncertain. Here, we provide new estimates of recent (2003–2015) vegetation gross primary productivity (GPP), ecosystem respiration (R_eco), net ecosystem CO₂ exchange (NEE; R_eco − GPP), and terrestrial methane (CH₄) emissions for the Arctic-boreal zone using a satellite data-driven process-model for northern ecosystems (TCFM-Arctic), calibrated and evaluated using measurements from >60 tower eddy covariance (EC) sites. We used TCFM-Arctic to obtain daily 1-km² flux estimates and annual carbon budgets for the pan-Arctic-boreal region. Across the domain, the model indicated an overall average NEE sink of −850 Tg CO₂-C year⁻¹. Eurasian boreal zones, especially those in Siberia, contributed to a majority of the net sink. In contrast, the tundra biome was relatively carbon neutral (ranging from small sink to source). Regional CH₄ emissions from tundra and boreal wetlands (not accounting for aquatic CH₄) were estimated at 35 Tg CH₄-C year⁻¹. Accounting for additional emissions from open water aquatic bodies and from fire, using available estimates from the literature, reduced the total regional NEE sink by 21% and shifted many far northern tundra landscapes, and some boreal forests, to a net carbon source. This assessment, based on in situ observations and models, improves our understanding of the high-latitude carbon status and also indicates a continued need for integrated site-to-regional assessments to monitor the vulnerability of these ecosystems to climate change.     

闽江河口芦苇沼泽和短叶茳芏沼泽生态系统含碳温室气体的年收支

河口感潮沼泽是全球重要的蓝碳生态系统,具有很强的固碳能力。碳收支研究是量化生态系统碳源/汇过程及固碳规模的基础。本研究运用透明箱和不同遮光率布遮盖+红外气体分析仪/气相色谱相结合的方法,模拟不同光照条件,测定闽江河口鳝鱼滩半咸水芦苇沼泽和短叶茳芏沼泽的瞬时净生态系统二氧化碳（CO₂）交换量（net ecosystem exchange,NEE）、生态系统呼吸（ecosystem respiration,ER）以及甲烷（CH₄）排放通量,并通过对总光合吸收量（gross ecosystem exchange,GEE）与光合有效辐射的拟合以及ER与气温的拟合,外推2个沼泽生态系统CO₂气体在月、年尺度上的NEE和ER,评估其年固碳量。2个沼泽生态系统的NEE和ER均具有明显的季节变化,春夏秋季为大气中CO₂的汇,而冬季则转化为大气中CO₂的源,芦苇沼泽年尺度固碳能力显著高于短叶茳芏沼泽。芦苇沼泽与短叶茳芏沼泽CH₄排放通量差异不显著。综合考虑CH₄排放,闽江河口鳝鱼滩半咸水芦苇沼泽、短叶茳芏沼泽生态系统年固碳量分别为（5371.52±336.97） g CO₂-eq/m²和（2730.32±503.67） g CO₂-eq/m²。研究表明：闽江河口半咸水沼泽湿地在年尺度上是一个较强的碳汇,在缓解全球变暖方面发挥着重要的角色。     

Seasonal and interannual variations in carbon dioxide exchange over a cropland in the North China Plain

In China, croplands account for a relatively large form of vegetation cover. Quantifying carbon dioxide exchange and understanding the environmental controls on carbon fluxes over croplands are critical in understanding regional carbon budgets and ecosystem behaviors. In this study, the net ecosystem exchange (NEE) at a winter wheat/summer maize rotation cropping site, representative of the main cropping system in the North China Plain, was continuously measured using the eddy covariance technique from 2005 to 2009. In order to interpret the abiotic factors regulating NEE, NEE was partitioned into gross primary production (GPP) and ecosystem respiration (R_eco). Daytime R_eco was extrapolated from the relationship between nighttime NEE and soil temperature under high turbulent conditions. GPP was then estimated by subtracting daytime NEE from the daytime estimates of R_eco. Results show that the seasonal patterns of the temperature responses of R_eco and light‐response parameters are closely related to the crop phenology. Daily R_eco was highly dependent on both daily GPP and air temperature. Interannual variability showed that GPP and R_eco were mainly controlled by temperature. Water availability also exerted a limit on R_eco. The annual NEE was ?585 and ?533 g C m^?2 for two seasons of 2006–2007 and 2007–2008, respectively, and the wheat field absorbed more carbon than the maize field. Thus, we concluded that this cropland was a strong carbon sink. However, when the grain harvest was taken into account, the wheat field was diminished into a weak carbon sink, whereas the maize field was converted into a weak carbon source. The observations showed that severe drought occurring during winter did not reduce wheat yield (or integrated NEE) when sufficient irrigation was carried out during spring.     

Role of the aquatic pathway in the carbon and greenhouse gas budgets of a peatland catchment

Peatland streams have repeatedly been shown to be highly supersaturated in both CO₂ and CH₄ with respect to the atmosphere, and in combination with dissolved (DOC) and particulate organic carbon (POC) represent a potentially important pathway for catchment greenhouse gas (GHG) and carbon (C) losses. The aim of this study was to create a complete C and GHG (CO₂, CH₄, N₂O) budget for Auchencorth Moss, an ombrotrophic peatland in southern Scotland, by combining flux tower, static chamber and aquatic flux measurements from 2 consecutive years. The sink/source strength of the catchment in terms of both C and GHGs was compared to assess the relative importance of the aquatic pathway. During the study period (2007–2008) the catchment functioned as a net sink for GHGs (352 g CO₂‐Eq m^?2 yr^?1) and C (69.5 g C m^?2 yr^?1). The greatest flux in both the GHG and C budget was net ecosystem exchange (NEE). Terrestrial emissions of CH₄ and N₂O combined returned only 4% of CO₂ equivalents captured by NEE to the atmosphere, whereas evasion of GHGs from the stream surface returned 12%. DOC represented a loss of 24% of NEE C uptake, which if processed and evaded downstream, outside of the catchment, may lead to a significant underestimation of the actual catchment‐derived GHG losses. The budgets clearly show the importance of aquatic fluxes at Auchencorth Moss and highlight the need to consider both the C and GHG budgets simultaneously.     

Carbon dioxide exchange above a Mediterranean C3/C4 grassland during two climatologically contrasting years

Eddy‐covariance measurements of net ecosystem carbon exchange (NEE) were carried out above a grazed Mediterranean C3/C4 grassland in southern Portugal, during two hydrological years, 2004–2005 and 2005–2006, of contrasting rainfall. Here, we examine the seasonal and interannual variation in NEE and its major components, gross primary production (GPP) and ecosystem respiration (R_eco), in terms of the relevant biophysical controls. The first hydrological year was dry, with total precipitation 45% below the long‐term mean (669 mm) and the second was normal, with total precipitation only 12% above the long‐term mean. The drought conditions during the winter and early spring of the dry year limited grass production and the leaf area index (LAI) was very low. Hence, during the peak of the growth period, the maximum daily rate of NEE and the light‐use and water‐use efficiencies were approximately half of those observed in the normal year. In the summer of 2006, the warm‐season C4 grass, Cynodon dactylon L., exerted an evident positive effect on NEE by converting the ecosystem into a carbon sink after strong rain events and extending the carbon sequestration for several days, after the end of senescence of the C3 grasses. On an annual basis, the GPP and NEE were 524 and 49 g C m^?2, respectively, for the dry year, and 1261 and ?190 g C m^?2 for the normal year. Therefore, the grassland was a moderate net source of carbon to the atmosphere, in the dry year, and a considerable net carbon sink, in the normal year. In these 2 years of experiment the total amount of precipitation was the main factor determining the interannual variation in NEE. In terms of relevant controls, GPP and NEE were strongly related to incident photosynthetic photon flux density on short‐term time scales. Changes in LAI explained 84% and 77% of the variation found in GPP and NEE, respectively. Variations in R_eco were mainly controlled by canopy photosynthesis. After each grazing event, the reduction in LAI affected negatively the NEE.     

The CO2‐equivalent balance of freshwater ecosystems is non‐linearly related to productivity

Eutrophication of fresh waters results in increased CO₂ uptake by primary production, but at the same time increased emissions of CH₄ to the atmosphere. Given the contrasting effects of CO₂ uptake and CH₄ release, the net effect of eutrophication on the CO₂‐equivalent balance of fresh waters is not clear. We measured carbon fluxes (CO₂ and CH₄ diffusion, CH₄ ebullition) and CH₄ oxidation in 20 freshwater mesocosms with 10 different nutrient concentrations (total phosphorus range: mesotrophic 39 µg/L until hypereutrophic 939 µg/L) and planktivorous fish in half of them. We found that the CO₂‐equivalent balance had a U‐shaped relationship with productivity, up to a threshold in hypereutrophic systems. CO₂‐equivalent sinks were confined to a narrow range of net ecosystem production (NEP) between 5 and 19 mmol O₂ m^?3 day^?1. Our findings indicate that eutrophication can shift fresh waters from sources to sinks of CO₂‐equivalents due to enhanced CO₂ uptake, but continued eutrophication enhances CH₄ emission and transforms freshwater ecosystems to net sources of CO₂‐equivalents to the atmosphere. Nutrient enrichment but also planktivorous fish presence increased productivity, thereby regulating the resulting CO₂‐equivalent balance. Increasing planktivorous fish abundance, often concomitant with eutrophication, will consequently likely affect the CO₂‐equivalent balance of fresh waters.     

High Arctic Dry Heath CO2 Exchange During the Early Cold Season

Climate change may alter the terrestrial ecosystem carbon balance in the Arctic, and previous studies have emphasized the importance of cold season gas exchange when considering the annual carbon balance. Here, we examined gross ecosystem production (GEP), ecosystem respiration (R _eco) and net ecosystem exchange (NEE) during autumn at a high arctic dry open heath, over a period where air temperatures decreased from +9.8 to ?16.5°C. GEP declined by 95–100% during autumn but GEP significantly different from 0 was measured on October 8 despite sub-zero temperatures. R _eco declined by 90% and dominated NEE throughout the study as the ecosystem on all measurement days was a source of atmospheric CO₂. We estimated net September carbon losses (NEE) to be 17?g?CO₂?m^?2, emphasizing the importance of autumn in relation to annual carbon budgets. The study site has been subjected to 14 summers of water addition, and occasional pulses of nitrogen (N) addition in a fully factorial design. N addition enhanced GEP up to 17-fold during September, although there was no effect in October when GEP was very low. Summer water addition decreased autumn R _eco by up to 25%. Both N amendment and water addition decreased carbon loss, that is, increased NEE; N amendment increased NEE on all dates by 13–64% whereas water addition increased NEE by 20–54% late in September and onward, demonstrating the importance of nutrient and water availability on carbon balance in high arctic tundra, also during the autumn freeze-in.     

Net ecosystem carbon dioxide exchange over grazed steppe in central Mongolia

This paper presents results of 1 year (from March 25, 2003 to March 24, 2004, 366 days) of continuous measurements of net ecosystem CO₂ exchange (NEE) above a steppe in Mongolia using the eddy covariance technique. The steppe, typical of central Mongolia, is dominated by C₃ plants adapted to the continental climate. The following two questions are addressed: (1) how do NEE and its components: gross ecosystem production (GEP) and total ecosystem respiration (R_eco) vary seasonally? (2) how do NEE, GEP, and R_eco respond to biotic and abiotic factors? The hourly minimal NEE and the hourly maximal R_eco were −3.6 and 1.2 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹, respectively (negative values denoting net carbon uptake by the canopy from the atmosphere). Peak daily sums of NEE, GEP, and R_eco were −2.3, 3.5, and 1.5 g C m⁻² day⁻¹, respectively. The annual sums of GEP, R_eco, and NEE were 179, 138, and −41 g C m⁻², respectively. The carbon removal by sheep was estimated to range between 10 and 82 g C m⁻² yr⁻¹ using four different approaches. Including these estimates in the overall carbon budget yielded net ecosystem productivity of −23 to +20 g C m⁻² yr⁻¹. Thus, within the remaining experimental uncertainty the carbon budget at this steppe site can be considered to be balanced. For the growing period (from April 23 to October 21, 2003), 26% and 53% of the variation in daily NEE and GEP, respectively, could be explained by the changes in leaf area index. Seasonality of GEP, R_eco, and NEE was closely associated with precipitation, especially in the peak growing season when GEP and R_eco were largest. Water stress was observed in late July to early August, which switched the steppe from a carbon sink to a carbon source. For the entire growing period, the light response curves of daytime NEE showed a rather low apparent quantum yield (α=−0.0047 μmol CO₂ μmol⁻¹ photons of photosynthetically active radiation). However, the α values varied with air temperature (T_a), vapor pressure deficit, and soil water content.     

Nonlinear CO2 flux response to 7 years of experimentally induced permafrost thaw

Rapid Arctic warming is expected to increase global greenhouse gas concentrations as permafrost thaw exposes immense stores of frozen carbon (C) to microbial decomposition. Permafrost thaw also stimulates plant growth, which could offset C loss. Using data from 7 years of experimental Air and Soil warming in moist acidic tundra, we show that Soil warming had a much stronger effect on CO₂ flux than Air warming. Soil warming caused rapid permafrost thaw and increased ecosystem respiration (R_eco), gross primary productivity (GPP), and net summer CO₂ storage (NEE). Over 7 years R_eco, GPP, and NEE also increased in Control (i.e., ambient plots), but this change could be explained by slow thaw in Control areas. In the initial stages of thaw, R_eco, GPP, and NEE increased linearly with thaw across all treatments, despite different rates of thaw. As thaw in Soil warming continued to increase linearly, ground surface subsidence created saturated microsites and suppressed R_eco, GPP, and NEE. However R_eco and GPP remained high in areas with large Eriophorum vaginatum biomass. In general NEE increased with thaw, but was more strongly correlated with plant biomass than thaw, indicating that higher R_eco in deeply thawed areas during summer months was balanced by GPP. Summer CO₂ flux across treatments fit a single quadratic relationship that captured the functional response of CO₂ flux to thaw, water table depth, and plant biomass. These results demonstrate the importance of indirect thaw effects on CO₂ flux: plant growth and water table dynamics. Nonsummer R_eco models estimated that the area was an annual CO₂ source during all years of observation. Nonsummer CO₂ loss in warmer, more deeply thawed soils exceeded the increases in summer GPP, and thawed tundra was a net annual CO₂ source.     

The influence of drought and heat stress on long‐term carbon fluxes of bioenergy crops grown in the Midwestern USA

Perennial grasses are promising feedstocks for bioenergy production in the Midwestern USA. Few experiments have addressed how drought influences their carbon fluxes and storage. This study provides a direct comparison of ecosystem‐scale measurements of carbon fluxes associated with miscanthus (Miscanthus × giganteus), switchgrass (Panicum virgatum), restored native prairie and maize (Zea mays)/soybean (Glycine max) ecosystems. The main objective of this study was to assess the influence of a naturally occurring drought during 2012 on key components of the carbon cycle and plant development relative to non‐extreme years. The perennials reached full maturity 3–5 years after establishment. Miscanthus had the highest gross primary production (GPP) and lowest net ecosystem exchange (NEE) in 2012 followed by similar values for switchgrass and prairie, and the row crops had the lowest GPP and highest NEE. A post‐drought effect was observed for miscanthus. Over the duration of the experiment, perennial ecosystems were carbon sinks, as indicated by negative net ecosystem carbon balance (NECB), while maize/soybean was a net carbon source. Our observations suggest that perennial ecosystems, and in particular miscanthus, can provide a high yield and a large potential for CO₂ fixation even during drought, although drought may negatively influence carbon uptake in the following year, questioning the long‐term consequence of its maintained productivity.     

干旱叠加海平面上升、氮负荷增加对河口潮汐沼泽生态系统净CO2交换的影响

河口潮汐沼泽湿地是全球重要的蓝碳生态系统之一。海平面上升和氮负荷增加是入海河流河口湿地面临的两个主要环境问题。近年来,干旱事件频发,干旱及其与海平面上升、氮负荷增加的叠加将如何影响河口潮汐沼泽湿地生态系统净CO₂交换,目前还未见报道。2020年夏秋,福建沿海经历了数月严重的气象干旱,这为揭示干旱对河口潮汐沼泽湿地生态系统净CO₂交换量(NEE)和生态系统呼吸(ER)的影响提供了一个契机。分别于2019年8—10月(正常天气)和2020年8—10月(干旱天气),在闽江河口微咸水短叶茳芏沼泽湿地运用光合作用测定仪+箱法测定不同处理(对照、模拟海平面上升、模拟氮负荷增加、模拟海平面上升+模拟氮负荷增加)短叶茳芏湿地生态系统NEE和ER,以期揭示气象干旱与海平面上升、氮负荷增加的叠加对河口沼泽湿地生态系统净CO₂交换的影响。与正常天气相比,干旱天气下各处理(包含对照)的NEE均显著降低(P<0.05);对照、海平面上升以及氮负荷增加处理样地的ER显著减少(P<0.05),海平面上升+氮负荷增加处理ER显著增加(P&l...     

On the relationship between water table depth and water vapor and carbon dioxide fluxes in a minerotrophic fen

The focus of this study is the relationship between water table depth (WTD) and water vapor [evapotranspiration (ET)] and carbon dioxide [CO₂; net ecosystem exchange (NEE)] fluxes in a fen in western Canada. We analyzed hydrological and eddy covariance measurements from four snow‐free periods (2003–2006) with contrasting meteorological conditions to establish the link between daily WTD and ET and gross ecosystem CO₂ exchange (GEE) and ecosystem respiration (R_eco; NEE=R_eco?GEE), respectively: 2003 was warm and dry, 2004 was cool and wet, and 2005 and 2006 were both wet. In 2003, the water table (WT) was below the ground surface. In 2004, the WT rose above the ground surface, and in 2005 and 2006, the WT stayed well above the ground surface. There were no significant differences in total ET (～316 mm period^?1), but total NEE was significantly different (2003: 8 g C m^?2 period^?1; 2004: ?139 g C m^?2 period^?1; 2005: ?163 g C m^?2 period^?1; 2006: ?195 g C m^?2 period^?1), mostly due to differences in total GEE (2003: 327 g C m^?2 period^?1; 2004: 513 g C m^?2 period^?1; 2005: 411 g C m^?2 period^?1; 2006: 556 g C m^?2 period^?1). Variation in ET is mostly explained by radiation (67%), and the contribution of WTD is only minor (33%). WTD controls the compensating contributions of different land surface components, resulting in similar total ET regardless of the hydrological conditions. WTD and temperature each contribute about half to the explained variation in GEE up to a threshold ponding depth, below which temperature alone is the key explanatory variable. WTD is only of minor importance for the variation in R_eco, which is mainly controlled by temperature. Our study implies that future peatland modeling efforts explicitly consider topographic and hydrogeological influences on WTD.     

Coupling between carbon cycling and climate in a high-elevation,subalpine forest: a model-data fusion analysis

Fundamental questions exist about the effects of climate on terrestrial net ecosystem CO₂ exchange (NEE), despite a rapidly growing body of flux observations. One strategy to clarify ecosystem climate–carbon interactions is to partition NEE into its component fluxes, gross ecosystem CO₂ exchange (GEE) and ecosystem respiration (R _E), and evaluate the responses to climate of each component flux. We separated observed NEE into optimized estimates of GEE and R _E using an ecosystem process model combined with 6 years of continuous flux data from the Niwot Ridge AmeriFlux site. In order to gain further insight into the processes underlying NEE, we partitioned R _E into its components: heterotrophic (R _H) and autotrophic (R _A) respiration. We were successful in separating GEE and R _E, but less successful in accurately partitioning R _E into R _A and R _H. Our failure in the latter was due to a lack of adequate contrasts in the assimilated data set to distinguish between R _A and R _H. We performed most model runs at a twice-daily time step. Optimizing on daily-aggregated data severely degraded the model’s ability to separate GEE and R _E. However, we gained little benefit from using a half-hourly time step. The model-data fusion showed that most of the interannual variability in NEE was due to variability in GEE, and not R _E. In contrast to several previous studies in other ecosystems, we found that longer growing seasons at Niwot Ridge were correlated with less net CO₂ uptake, due to a decrease of available snow-melt water during the late springtime photosynthetic period. Warmer springtime temperatures resulted in increased net CO₂ uptake only if adequate moisture was available; when warmer springtime conditions led into mid-summer drought, the annual net uptake declined.     

Radiative forcing of methane fluxes offsets net carbon dioxide uptake for a tropical flooded forest

Wetlands are important sources of methane (CH₄) and sinks of carbon dioxide (CO₂). However, little is known about CH₄ and CO₂ fluxes and dynamics of seasonally flooded tropical forests of South America in relation to local carbon (C) balances and atmospheric exchange. We measured net ecosystem fluxes of CH₄ and CO₂ in the Pantanal over 2014–2017 using tower‐based eddy covariance along with C measurements in soil, biomass and water. Our data indicate that seasonally flooded tropical forests are potentially large sinks for CO₂ but strong sources of CH₄, particularly during inundation when reducing conditions in soils increase CH₄ production and limit CO₂ release. During inundation when soils were anaerobic, the flooded forest emitted 0.11 ± 0.002 g CH₄‐C m^?2 d^?1 and absorbed 1.6 ± 0.2 g CO₂‐C m^?2 d^?1 (mean ± 95% confidence interval for the entire study period). Following the recession of floodwaters, soils rapidly became aerobic and CH₄ emissions decreased significantly (0.002 ± 0.001 g CH₄‐C m^?2 d^?1) but remained a net source, while the net CO₂ flux flipped from being a net sink during anaerobic periods to acting as a source during aerobic periods. CH₄ fluxes were 50 times higher in the wet season; DOC was a minor component in the net ecosystem carbon balance. Daily fluxes of CO₂ and CH₄ were similar in all years for each season, but annual net fluxes varied primarily in relation to flood duration. While the ecosystem was a net C sink on an annual basis (absorbing 218 g C m^?2 (as CH₄‐C + CO₂‐C) in anaerobic phases and emitting 76 g C m^?2in aerobic phases), high CH₄ effluxes during the anaerobic flooded phase and modest CH₄ effluxes during the aerobic phase indicate that seasonally flooded tropical forests can be a net source of radiative forcings on an annual basis, thus acting as an amplifying feedback on global warming.     

Spring warming and carbon dioxide exchange over low Arctic tundra in central Canada

Tundra‐atmosphere exchanges of carbon dioxide (CO₂) and water vapour were measured near Daring Lake, Northwest Territories in the Canadian Low Arctic for 3 years, 2004–2006. The measurement period spanned late‐winter until the end of the growing period. Mean temperatures during the measurement period varied from about 2 °C less than historical average in 2004 and 2005 to 2 °C greater in 2006. Much of the added warmth in 2006 occurred at the beginning of the study, when snow melt occurred 3 weeks earlier than in the other years. Total precipitation in 2006 (163 mm) was more than double that of the driest year, 2004 (71 mm). The tundra was a net sink for CO₂ carbon in all years. Mid‐summer net ecosystem exchange of CO₂ (NEE) achieved maximum values of ?1.3 g C m^?2 day^?1 (2004) to ?1.8 g C m^?2 day^?1 (2006). Accumulated NEE values over the 109‐day period were ?32,?51 and ?61 g C m^?2 in 2004, 2005 and 2006, respectively. The larger CO₂ uptake in 2006 was attributed to the early spring coupled with warmer air and soil conditions. In 2004, CO₂ uptake was limited by the shorter growing season and mid‐summer dryness, which likely reduced ecosystem productivity. Seasonal total evapotranspiration (ET) ranged from 130 mm (2004) to 181 mm (2006) and varied in accordance with the precipitation received and with the timing of snow melt. Maximum daily ET rates ranged from 2.3 to 2.7 mm day^?1, occurring in mid July. Ecosystem water use efficiency (WUE_eco) varied slightly between years, ranging from 2.2 in the driest year to 2.5 in the year with intermediate rainfall amounts. In the wettest year, increased soil evaporation may have contributed to a lower WUE_eco (2.3). We speculate that most, if not all, of the modest growing season CO₂ sink measured at this site could be lost due to fall and winter respiration leading to the tundra being a net CO₂ source or CO₂ neutral on an annual basis. However, this hypothesis is untested as yet.     

Carbon sequestration potential of tropical pasture compared with afforestation in Panama

Tropical forest ecosystems play an important role in regulating the global climate, yet deforestation and land‐use change mean that the tropical carbon sink is increasingly influenced by agroecosystems and pastures. Despite this, it is not yet fully understood how carbon cycling in the tropics responds to land‐use change, particularly for pasture and afforestation. Thus, the objectives of our study were: (1) to elucidate the environmental controls and the impact of management on gross primary production (GPP), total ecosystem respiration (TER) and net ecosystem CO₂ exchange (NEE); (2) to estimate the carbon sequestration potential of tropical pasture compared with afforestation; and (3) to compare eddy covariance‐derived carbon budgets with biomass and soil inventory data. We performed comparative measurements of NEE in a tropical C₄ pasture and an adjacent afforestation with native tree species in Sardinilla (Panama) from 2007 to 2009. Pronounced seasonal variation in GPP, TER and NEE were closely related to radiation, soil moisture, and C₃ vs. C₄ plant physiology. The shallow rooting depth of grasses compared with trees resulted in a higher sensitivity of the pasture ecosystem to water limitation and seasonal drought. During 2008, substantial amounts of carbon were sequestered by the afforestation (–442 g C m^–2, negative values denote ecosystem carbon uptake), which was in agreement with biometric observations (–450 g C m^–2). In contrast, the pasture ecosystem was a strong carbon source in 2008 and 2009 (261 g C m^–2), associated with seasonal drought and overgrazing. In addition, soil carbon isotope data indicated rapid carbon turnover after conversion from C₄ pasture to C₃ afforestation. Our results clearly show the potential for considerable carbon sequestration of tropical afforestation and highlight the risk of carbon losses from pasture ecosystems in a seasonal tropical climate.     

Multiyear greenhouse gas balances at a rewetted temperate peatland

Drained peat soils are a significant source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to the atmosphere. Rewetting these soils is considered an important climate change mitigation tool to reduce emissions and create suitable conditions for carbon sequestration. Long‐term monitoring is essential to capture interannual variations in GHG emissions and associated environmental variables and to reduce the uncertainty linked with GHG emission factor calculations. In this study, we present GHG balances: carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄) and nitrous oxide (N₂O) calculated for a 5‐year period at a rewetted industrial cutaway peatland in Ireland (rewetted 7 years prior to the start of the study); and compare the results with an adjacent drained area (2‐year data set), and with ten long‐term data sets from intact (i.e. undrained) peatlands in temperate and boreal regions. In the rewetted site, CO₂ exchange (or net ecosystem exchange (NEE)) was strongly influenced by ecosystem respiration (R_eco) rather than gross primary production (GPP). CH₄ emissions were related to soil temperature and either water table level or plant biomass. N₂O emissions were not detected in either drained or rewetted sites. Rewetting reduced CO₂ emissions in unvegetated areas by approximately 50%. When upscaled to the ecosystem level, the emission factors (calculated as 5‐year mean of annual balances) for the rewetted site were (±SD) ?104 ± 80 g CO₂‐C m^?2 yr^?1 (i.e. CO₂ sink) and 9 ± 2 g CH₄‐C m^?2 yr^?1 (i.e. CH₄ source). Nearly a decade after rewetting, the GHG balance (100‐year global warming potential) had reduced noticeably (i.e. less warming) in comparison with the drained site but was still higher than comparative intact sites. Our results indicate that rewetted sites may be more sensitive to interannual changes in weather conditions than their more resilient intact counterparts and may switch from an annual CO₂ sink to a source if triggered by slightly drier conditions.     

Spatial patterns of litter decomposition in the littoral zone of boreal lakes

1. We studied the patterns of litter decomposition in lake littoral habitats and investigated whether decay rates, as an integrating proxy for environmental conditions in the sediment, would co‐vary with net carbon dioxide (CO₂) exchange and methane (CH₄) efflux. These gas fluxes are known to be sensitive to environmental conditions. Losses in the mass of cellulose, root, rhizome and moss litter were measured during 2 years in boreal littoral wetlands in Finland and compared with published data on concurrently measured gas fluxes. Four study sites covered a range of sediment types and hydrological conditions. 2. Decomposition was not linearly related to the duration of flooding but depended on sediment type. Readily decomposable litter fractions, such as cellulose and rhizome litter, lost mass at a faster rate in marshes with a longer period of flooding but wide water level fluctuations that hinder establishment of a Sphagnum cover, than in peat‐forming fens. In marshes, the mean first‐year mass losses were 83–99% and 19–62% for cellulose and rhizomes, respectively. In fens, the respective losses were 40–53% and 33%. In the first year, the loss in the mass of the more recalcitrant root litter did not differ between sites (mean 19–30%) and moss litter lost no mass. 3. The estimated first‐year carbon loss from belowground litter was about 0.1–0.3 times ecosystem respiration and roughly similar to net carbon gas (CO₂, CH₄) efflux, suggesting that vascular plants and recent plant residues contribute substantially to ecosystem release of carbon gases. On the other hand, at least 40% of the mass of the belowground litter remained on a littoral site after the first 2 years of decomposition. Slow decomposition may indicate the accumulation of organic‐rich sediments. The accumulated carbon could explain the excess CO₂ release found in most littoral sites. In continuously inundated sites decomposition rates were similar to those in periodically flooded sites, but ecosystem‐atmosphere CO₂ exchange fell to close to zero. This discrepancy implies that the released CO₂ is dissolved in water and may be exported into the pelagic zone of the lake.