CH4 emission from a hollow-ridge complex in a raised bog: The role of CH4 production and oxidation

The aim of this study was to correlate magnitude andcontrols of CH₄ fluxes with the microtopographyand the vegetation in a hollow-ridge complex of araised bog. High CH₄ emission rates were measuredfrom hollows and mud-bottom hollows, while hummocksconsumed atmospheric CH₄ at a low rate. Thehighest emissions were measured from plots with Eriophorum vaginatum and Scheuchzeriapalustris. CH₄ emission ceased after Scheuchzeria had been clipped below the water table,indicating the importance of this aerenchymatic plantas a conduit for CH₄.Peat in the upper catotelm of hollows was younger andless decomposed than in hummocks. Potential CH₄production in vitro was higher and themethanogenic association was better adapted to highertemperatures in hollow than in hummock peat. Highertemperatures in hollows resulted in a strongerCH₄ source in hollows than in hummocks. Negativefluxes from hummocks indicated that even in wetlandsmethanotrophic bacteria exist that are able to oxidizeCH₄ at atmospheric mixing ratios, and thatoxidation controls CH₄ emission completely. TheCH₄ mixing ratio was low in the acrotelm, but itincreased within the catotelm. Comparing fluxesmeasured in static chambers with fluxes calculatedfrom the porewater CH₄ profiles it was deducedthat the zone of methane oxidation was located closeto the water table.In hollows, CH₄ production at in situtemperature was far higher than emission into theatmosphere, corresponding to an oxidation rate ofnearly 99%. The CH₄ flux between the catotelmand the acrotelm of hollows was also higher than theemission, indicating the importance of CH₄oxidation in the aerobic acrotelm, too. CH₄microprofiles showed that CH₄ oxidation inmud-bottom hollows was confined to the topmost 2 mm,and that in Sphagnum-covered hollows CH₄oxidation occurred at the lower edge of green Sphagnum-parts.