泥炭沼泽湿地关键元素地球化学特征及其对碳排放的影响机制

硫、铁是泥炭沼泽湿地（泥炭地）中重要的生源要素,其参与下的生物地球化学过程对泥炭地碳循环意义重大。选取德国中部两处典型的雨养型泥炭地高海拔样点（TBP）和低海拔样点（TSP）,通过原位采集泥炭剖面孔隙水和可溶性气体等,研究了硫、铁元素等地球化学变化规律,结合DOC、甲烷（CH₄）和二氧化碳（CO₂）浓度分布,探讨其对泥炭地碳排放的影响。研究结果表明：（1） TBP中总还原无机硫（TRIS）浓度随深度先增后减,且上部0-87 cm平均浓度远高于87 cm深度以下,上部硫酸盐还原作用强烈。结合上部亚铁、硫化氢（H₂S）浓度分布,得知该范围内H₂S主要是通过微生物硫酸盐还原作用（BSR）生成,同时H₂S在孔隙水扩散过程中易与亚铁结合为硫化亚铁,进而生成稳定的黄铁矿,这一反应过程在约60 cm处减缓。（2） TBP、TSP两处采样点中DOC与亚铁、硫酸盐均有较强相关性,是由于地下水位的波动影响氧化还原程度以及微生物活性。两处采样点DOC均与亚铁呈显著正相关关系,表明铁氧化物在厌氧环境中被还原溶解产生亚铁,与其结合的有机碳被释放到溶液中从而导致DOC浓度的升高。TBP中DOC与硫酸盐呈显著负相关关系,表明硫酸盐作为电子受体被还原的过程中消耗酸度使pH值升高,增强了其中微生物的活性,DOC浓度由此增加。（3） CH₄与硫酸盐、TRIS浓度在剖面上均呈现相反变化趋势,表明硫酸盐输入的增加以及硫酸盐还原活动均会抑制CH₄生成。CO₂/CH₄均大于4,表明硫酸盐作为替代电子受体会使厌氧条件下碳矿化转向多CO₂和少CH₄生成。此外,亚铁对于CH₄生成一定程度上会起到低促高抑的效果,而对于CO₂的生成的影响较弱。表明硫酸盐对于CH₄和CO₂生成的影响高于亚铁。研究着重探究硫、铁等关键元素地下部生物地球化学过程对碳排放的影响机制,研究结果可为泥炭地碳排放核算提供理论支撑。     

Carbon balance of a boreal patterned peatland

Measurements of the spatial variability of methane (CH₄) emissions, net CO₂ ecosystem exchange (NEE), and dissolved carbon (CH₄, CO₂, and DOC) were made in a boreal patterned peatland in northern Sweden in the summers (May to September) of 1992 and 1993. Carbon balance terms were measured and the carbon balance inferred at different peatland surface topography features (e.g. ridges, lawns, and pools) and at different positions within the peatland (e.g. plateau, margin). Combining these data permits a comparison of the carbon balance at the peatland scale for the two field seasons. Trends in the spatial variability of the net carbon storage, as determined by the difference between inputs and outputs, suggest that carbon storage decreased in lawns from the margin of the peatland to the central plateau, while the reverse trend occurred in ridges. This indicates a difference in carbon exchange processes between sites with different surface topography due to differences in soil moisture and temperature. Total carbon storage for the peatland, weighted for topographic variability, indicates that the peatland gained carbon in 1992 (2.0 g C m^{? 2}), but lost carbon in 1993 ( ? 7.6 g C m^{? 2}). There was little variation in mean seasonal air temperature and total precipitation between the two years suggesting that the timing and magnitude of temperature and precipitation variation within the growing season are important for the season carbon balance. Because the carbon storage differences were small relative to the potential errors we conclude that the peatland was neither a net sink nor source of atmospheric carbon. This research demonstrates the importance of position in a peatland for the inference of long‐term carbon accumulation and the assessment of contemporary exchange rates.     

Nutrient dynamics of drained peatland forests

Forest drainage has been used rather widely to improve tree growth in peatlands in northern and northeastern Europe and some parts of North America. The consequent fundamental change in the vegetation presumably gives rise to a concomitant change in the distribution of nutrients within the ecosystem. We investigated the post-drainage dynamics of soil properties (top 30-cm) and tree stand biomass on a series of peatlands drained for forestry in Finland to evaluate the sufficiency of soil nutrient pools for production forestry, and the ability of a floristic-ecological peatland site type classification for estimating soil nutrient status. The nutrient dynamics were assessed by comparing the nutrient pools in a large number of peatland sites differing in drainage age. Drainage unambiguously influenced stand biomass and structure and, consequently, the nutrient pool bound in trees. Nevertheless, with the exception of Mg, ditching did not decrease soil nutrient pools over the 75-year observation period. Thus, the soil pools seem sufficient for forest production on these sites. The decreasing trend in the soil Mg pool points on a potential risk in the long run, however. Peat depth and temperature sum were identified as significant sources of variation for the soil nutrient pools. Using soil Ca, K, Fe and N pools, on average 49% of our sites were grouped correctly according to the floristic-ecological site type classification. This classification most successfully described soil nutrient status among the most nutrient-poor sites. We concluded that the floristic-ecological classification of drained peatlands successfully describes their production potential, but not their total nutrient pools in varying thermoclimatic conditions.     

The effect of forestry drainage on vertical distributions of major plant nutrients in peat soils

Vertical distributions of total N, P, K, Ca and Mg in a 0–60 cm surface peat layer were studied at 80 pine mire sites in southern Finland. The sites fell into two categories according to the soil nutrient regime: Meso-oligotrophic and oligo-ombrotrophic, and formed a chronosequence from undrained sites to sites drained 55 years ago. A statistically significant drainage age effect on the gravimetric (mg g-1) concentration profile forms was detected for all nutrients except K. In oligo-ombrotrophic sites the concentration of N increased following drainage in the topmost layer (0–10 cm) and that of P in all layers. In meso-oligotrophic sites the changes in N and P profiles were obscure. The concentration profiles of K remained clearly surface-enriched in both site type groups, but there was a general drop in the concentration values immediately after drainage. Ca and Mg decreased, especially in the 10–20 and 25–35 cm layers in both site type groups. The volumetric (kg m-3) nutrient concentrations clearly reflected the increase in the bulk density of the surface peat occurring after drainage. The compaction of peat had compensated for the effect of the processes removing nutrients from the soil (increased tree stand uptake, leaching); for Ca and Mg to a lesser degree than for the other nutrients. It was concluded that the N, P and K profiles did not show changes that would be likely to affect site productivity, whereas the net loss of Ca and Mg may cause problems in the longer term. As the total K capital of the sites was in general rather small, a disturbance in the biological cycle, such as cutting of the tree stand, may be critical. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Effect of geographical sources and biochemical traits on plant litter decomposition in a peatland

不同地理来源的泥炭地植物残体在同一环境中的分解速率一直缺乏比较研究。该研究沿纬度梯度, 选择大九湖、哈泥和满归3处泥炭地, 以三地的10种植物为分解材料, 使用分解袋包装, 埋藏于长白山哈泥泥炭地, 开展为期1年的分解实验, 研究地理来源及生物化学属性对泥炭地植物残体分解的影响。结果表明, 如不考虑物种差异, 从总体上看, 随着纬度增加, 3处泥炭地植物残体的初始氮(N)含量下降, 初始木质素含量、碳氮比(C/N)和木质素/N上升。经一年分解后残体分解速率因植物类群不同而不同, 桦木属(Betula)和薹草属(Carex)植物残体的干质量损失率均接近50%, 远大于泥炭藓属(Sphagnum)植物(约为10%)。3处来源地植物残体干质量损失率总体上无差异, 但比较同种植物残体发现, 来自中纬度泥炭地哈泥的中位泥炭藓(S. magellanicum)的干质量损失率(19%)远高于来自高纬度泥炭地满归的(9%)。制约残体分解的因素因植物类群不同而不同, 残体初始总酚/N是决定属间残体干质量损失率差异的重要指标。薹草属植物初始N含量和C/N与残体分解速率、泥炭藓属植物初始Klason木质素含量和总酚/N与残体分解速率均呈正相关关系。该研究一定程度上表明, 若以纬度降低指代气候变暖, 当前持续的气候变暖可能通过改变高纬度泥炭地的植物组成和植物的生物化学属性, 来改变植物残体分解速率, 进而影响泥炭地的碳汇功能。     

Ecosystem-scale flux of CO2 from a restored vacuum harvested peatland

At the ecosystem scale, the water and gasexchange processes are strongly coupled.Drainage and removal of a peatland'ssurface vegetation cover for peatharvesting alters its hydrology, and as adirect consequence the carbon budget.Previous studies have measuredpeatland-atmosphere carbon exchange usingthe chamber methodology. These studies haveindicated that the spatial and temporalvariability is large, suggesting the needfor continuous ecosystem-scalemeasurements. This paper presents ecosystemscale measurements of the atmosphericexchange of water and carbon dioxide(CO₂) from a restored vacuum-harvestedpeatland in eastern Québec, Canada,using the eddy correlation measurementapproach.Results indicate that the adoptedrestoration practices reduce the loss ofwater from the peat. Evapotranspirationfrom the restored site was 20 and 25% lessthan that from an adjacent abandonedcomparison site in 2000 and 2001respectively. However, CO₂ emissionsremain large during non-snow periods (478and 468 g C m^-2 in 2000 and 2001,respectively). The blockage of drainageditches and the existence of a mulch coverat the site keep the moisture and thermalconditions more or less constant.Consequently, the CO₂ flux, which ispredominantly soil respiration, is stronglycontrolled by peat temperaturefluctuations.     

地理来源与生物化学属性对泥炭地植物残体分解的影响

不同地理来源的泥炭地植物残体在同一环境中的分解速率一直缺乏比较研究。该研究沿纬度梯度, 选择大九湖、哈泥和满归3处泥炭地, 以三地的10种植物为分解材料, 使用分解袋包装, 埋藏于长白山哈泥泥炭地, 开展为期1年的分解实验, 研究地理来源及生物化学属性对泥炭地植物残体分解的影响。结果表明, 如不考虑物种差异, 从总体上看, 随着纬度增加, 3处泥炭地植物残体的初始氮(N)含量下降, 初始木质素含量、碳氮比(C/N)和木质素/N上升。经一年分解后残体分解速率因植物类群不同而不同, 桦木属(Betula)和薹草属(Carex)植物残体的干质量损失率均接近50%, 远大于泥炭藓属(Sphagnum)植物(约为10%)。3处来源地植物残体干质量损失率总体上无差异, 但比较同种植物残体发现, 来自中纬度泥炭地哈泥的中位泥炭藓(S. magellanicum)的干质量损失率(19%)远高于来自高纬度泥炭地满归的(9%)。制约残体分解的因素因植物类群不同而不同, 残体初始总酚/N是决定属间残体干质量损失率差异的重要指标。薹草属植物初始N含量和C/N与残体分解速率、泥炭藓属植物初始Klason木质素含量和总酚/N与残体分解速率均呈正相关关系。该研究一定程度上表明, 若以纬度降低指代气候变暖, 当前持续的气候变暖可能通过改变高纬度泥炭地的植物组成和植物的生物化学属性, 来改变植物残体分解速率, 进而影响泥炭地的碳汇功能。     

Methane dynamics of recolonized cutover minerotrophic peatland: Implications for restoration

In North America, mulching of vacuum-harvested sites combined with blocking of the drainage system is widely used for peatland restoration to accelerate Sphagnum establishment. However, peat extraction in fen peatlands or exposure of deeper minerotrophic peat layers results in soil chemistry that is less suitable for re-establishment of Sphagnum moss. In this situation, restoration of plant species characteristic of minerotrophic peatlands is desirable to return the site to a carbon accumulating system. In these cases, it may be worthwhile to maintain spontaneously revegetating species as part of restoration if they provide desirable ecosystem functions. We studied the role of six spontaneously recolonizing vegetation communities for methane (CH₄) emissions and pore water CH₄ concentration for two growing seasons (2008 and 2009) at an abandoned minerotrophic peatland in southeastern Quebec. We then compared the results with bare peat and adjacent natural fen vegetation. Communities dominated by Eriophorum vaginatum, Carex aquatilis and Typha latifolia had CH₄ flux an order of magnitude greater than other cutover vegetation types and natural sites. In contrast, Scirpus atrocinctus and Equisetum arvense had CH₄ emission rates lower than natural hollow vegetation. We found seasonal average water table and vegetation volume had significant correlation with CH₄ flux. Water table and soil temperature were significantly correlated with CH₄ flux at plots where the water table was near or above the surface. Pore water CH₄ concentration suggests that CH₄ is being produced at the cutover peatland and that low measured fluxes likely result from substantial oxidation of CH₄ in the unsaturated zone. Understanding ecosystem functions of spontaneously recolonizing species on cutover fens can be used to help make decisions about the inclusion of these communities for future restoration measures.     

Aspects of the nitrogen cycle in peatland and plantation forest ecosystems in western Ireland

Extensive plantation forests cover large areas of blanket peatland in western Ireland. Sites are characterised by the ombrotrophic nature of the peat and the often extreme maritime conditions prevailing. The study area is located close to two coastlines and in consequence, ions of marine origin are dominant in the bulk precipitation. Mean annual nitrogen deposition is 2.26 kg ha^-1. Forestry development in the region dates from the early 1950s. Deficiency of phosphorus is universally encountered, sometimes accompanied by a shortage of nitrogen. A fertilizer experiment in the study area was maintained for 16 years. The principal response was to applied phosphorus and although nitrogen had a positive influence on growth in the early years, it was of little consequence in the longer term.Over 900 kg N ha^-1 was accumulated in the forest floor. In a mineralisation study of peat collected from plots fertilized 14 years previously, differences in total mineral nitrogen production between treatments were small, but in nitrogen-treated plots a higher proportion of the mineral nitrogen was as nitrate than in those which had not received fertilizer nitrogen. Throughfall measurements in pole-stage crops of Sitka spruce and lodgepole pine which had received no fertilizer nitrogen, showed significantly greater quantities of nitrogen than bulk precipitation.     

Contemporary carbon balance and late Holocene carbon accumulation in a northern peatland

Northern peatlands contain up to 25% of the world's soil carbon (C) and have an estimated annual exchange of CO₂‐C with the atmosphere of 0.1–0.5 Pg yr⁻¹ and of CH₄‐C of 10–25 Tg yr⁻¹. Despite this overall importance to the global C cycle, there have been few, if any, complete multiyear annual C balances for these ecosystems. We report a 6‐year balance computed from continuous net ecosystem CO₂ exchange (NEE), regular instantaneous measurements of methane (CH₄) emissions, and export of dissolved organic C (DOC) from a northern ombrotrophic bog. From these observations, we have constructed complete seasonal and annual C balances, examined their seasonal and interannual variability, and compared the mean 6‐year contemporary C exchange with the apparent C accumulation for the last 3000 years obtained from C density and age‐depth profiles from two peat cores. The 6‐year mean NEE‐C and CH₄‐C exchange, and net DOC loss are −40.2±40.5 (±1 SD), 3.7±0.5, and 14.9±3.1 g m⁻² yr⁻¹, giving a 6‐year mean balance of −21.5±39.0 g m⁻² yr⁻¹ (where positive exchange is a loss of C from the ecosystem). NEE had the largest magnitude and variability of the components of the C balance, but DOC and CH₄ had similar proportional variabilities and their inclusion is essential to resolve the C balance. There are large interseasonal and interannual ranges to the exchanges due to variations in climatic conditions. We estimate from the largest and smallest seasonal exchanges, quasi‐maximum limits of the annual C balance between 50 and −105 g m⁻² yr⁻¹. The net C accumulation rate obtained from the two peatland cores for the interval 400–3000 bp (samples from the anoxic layer only) were 21.9±2.8 and 14.0±37.6 g m⁻² yr⁻¹, which are not significantly different from the 6‐year mean contemporary exchange.     

Restored cut-away peatland as a sink for atmospheric CO2

In a field study, we examined the relationship between vegetation, abiotic factors and the CO₂ exchange dynamics of a cut-away peatland 20 years after production had ended. The main objective was to determine the effect of rewetting on the CO₂ exchange dynamics, measured separately in Eriophorum vaginatum tussocks and intertussocks (almost non-vegetated surfaces) using closed-chamber techniques, one growing season before and three growing seasons after the rewetting treatment. Rewetting lowered total respiration (R _TOT) and increased gross photosynthesis (P _G), which resulted in a higher incorporation of CO₂ into the system. The seasonal CO₂ balance for the almost continuously submerged section of the rewetted site became positive 2 years after rewetting (9.1 g CO₂-C m⁻²), and it was still higher in the 3rd year (64.5 g CO₂-C m⁻²), i.e. the system accumulated carbon. In the driest section of the rewetted site the seasonal balance increased strongly, but the balance was still negative during the 3 years following rewetting with losses from the system of 44.1, 26.1, 38.3 g CO₂-C m⁻² in 1995, 1996 and 1997 respectively. At the control site seasonal balance during 1995–1997 varied between ecosystem C losses of 41.8 and 95.3 in an area with high Eriophorum cover and between 52.1 and 109.9 g CO₂-C m⁻² with lower cover. Simulation of a cut-away peatland with dense Eriophorum vegetation (Eriophorum cover 70%) showed that if the water level (WT) is low, the seasonal CO₂ balance of the ecosystem can reach the compensation point of no net C change (P _G = R _TOT) only if weather conditions are favourable, but with a high WT the seasonal CO₂ balance would be positive even under varying weather conditions. It can be concluded that with dense Eriophorum vegetation a restored cut-away peatland acts as a functional mire and becomes a sink for atmospheric CO₂. Received: 21 September 1998 / Accepted: 18 May 1999     

温度和水分变化对冻土区泥炭地土壤氮循环功能基因丰度的影响

以大兴安岭多年冻土区泥炭地为研究对象,通过室内模拟增温实验,研究温度升高对不同深度（0-150 cm）土壤氮循环功能基因丰度的影响。同时针对0-20 cm和20-40 cm土壤设置两个水分处理,分别为土壤原始含水量和淹水状态,研究水分变化对表层土壤氮循环功能基因丰度的影响。结果表明温度升高显著提高了活动层（0-60 cm）、过渡层（60-80 cm）、永冻层（80-100 cm）中nifH、nirK基因丰度,温度升高显著提高了活动层（0-40 cm）和过渡层（60-80 cm）中nirS基因丰度。温度升高显著提高了过渡层（60-80 cm）NH₄⁺-N和较深永冻层（140-150 cm）NO₃^--N的含量,但降低了过渡层（60-80 cm）NO₃^--N和较深永冻层（120-150 cm）NH₄⁺-N的含量,相关性分析表明,NH₄⁺-N含量与nifH和nirS基因丰度呈显著正相关,NO₃^--N含量与nirK基因丰度呈显著正相关,说明温度升高能够通过改变微生物丰度促进过渡层固氮作用和反硝化作用。在增温条件下,淹水处理使表层土壤nirS和nirK基因丰度及NH₄⁺-N含量降低,但提高了NO₃^--N含量,说明淹水造成了过度还原的条件使反硝化底物浓度降低,降低反硝化微生物活性进而抑制了土壤反硝化作用。该结果对于明确未来气候变化影响下冻土区泥炭地土壤氮循环过程具有重要意义。     

Peat CO2 production in a natural and cutover peatland: Implications for restoration

Although studies have shown that peatland drainage andharvesting alter local hydrology, microclimate, and peatcharacteristics, little is known about the effects of these changes onCO₂ production rates. This study examines the differentfactors affecting CO₂ production from natural and cutoverpeatlands. Laboratory peat incubations were performed under aerobic andanaerobic conditions to determine the influence of temperature, soilmoisture, and peat depth on CO₂ production rates from peatsamples taken from: (1) a natural peatland; (2) a 2-yearpost-cutover peatland and; (3) a 7-year post-cutover peatland.CO₂ production rates ranged from 0.21 to 4.87 µmolg^–1 d^–1 under anaerobic conditions,and from 0.37 to 15.69 µmol g^–1d^–1 in the aerobic trials. While no significantdifferences were found between the CO₂ production rates ofthe two cutover sites, the natural site consistently displayed higherproduction values. The natural site was also the only site to exhibitstrong depth dependent trends, thus indicating the importance of theupper peat layer with respect to substrate quality. Higher productionrates were found under aerobic than anaerobic conditions, with thegreatest response to oxygen observed at the natural site. Productionrates increased with both temperature and soil moisture, with maximumproduction rates found at 20 °C and 92% moisture content.Temperature responses were generally greater at the cutover sites, whilesoil moisture had greater effects on the natural site peat.Results of this work agree with previous studies that suggest that itis essential to begin restoration once a cutover peatland is abandoned.Re-wetting a cutover peatland (through restoration practices) isnecessary to prevent an increase in peat temperature and CO₂production since cutover peat has higher Q₁₀ values thannatural peat. A decrease in overall peatland oxidation should reduce thepersistent source of atmospheric CO₂ from cutover peatlandsand the irreversible changes in peat structure that impedeSphagnum re-establishment.     

Global and regional importance of the tropical peatland carbon pool

Accurate inventory of tropical peatland is important in order to (a) determine the magnitude of the carbon pool; (b) estimate the scale of transfers of peat‐derived greenhouse gases to the atmosphere resulting from land use change; and (c) support carbon emissions reduction policies. We review available information on tropical peatland area and thickness and calculate peat volume and carbon content in order to determine their best estimates and ranges of variation. Our best estimate of tropical peatland area is 441 025 km² (～11% of global peatland area) of which 247 778 km² (56%) is in Southeast Asia. We estimate the volume of tropical peat to be 1758 Gm³ (～18–25% of global peat volume) with 1359 Gm³ in Southeast Asia (77% of all tropical peat). This new assessment reveals a larger tropical peatland carbon pool than previous estimates, with a best estimate of 88.6 Gt (range 81.7–91.9 Gt) equal to 15–19% of the global peat carbon pool. Of this, 68.5 Gt (77%) is in Southeast Asia, equal to 11–14% of global peat carbon. A single country, Indonesia, has the largest share of tropical peat carbon (57.4 Gt, 65%), followed by Malaysia (9.1 Gt, 10%). These data are used to provide revised estimates for Indonesian and Malaysian forest soil carbon pools of 77 and 15 Gt, respectively, and total forest carbon pools (biomass plus soil) of 97 and 19 Gt. Peat carbon contributes 60% to the total forest soil carbon pool in Malaysia and 74% in Indonesia. These results emphasize the prominent global and regional roles played by the tropical peat carbon pool and the importance of including this pool in national and regional assessments of terrestrial carbon stocks and the prediction of peat‐derived greenhouse gas emissions.     

水位下降对若尔盖泥炭地垂直剖面土壤甲烷产生及厌氧氧化潜势的影响

泥炭地是主要的甲烷（CH₄）排放源,甲烷循环过程对水位变化响应敏感。研究选取两块具有水位差异的泥炭地土壤,通过厌氧培养实验探究水位变化对泥炭地甲烷产生和甲烷厌氧氧化（Methane Anaerobic Oxidation,AOM）潜势的影响,并分析影响其潜势大小的生物地球化学因子。结果显示,高水位泥炭地（0 cm） CH₄产生累积量为（0.89±0.01）μg/g,要显著高于低水位（-30 cm：（0.70±0.03）μg/g）泥炭地甲烷产生量,但低水位AOM累积量要显著高于高水位泥炭地（0 cm：（2829.93±35.99）μg/g）,低水位泥炭地AOM量为（3588.06±24.78）μg/g。通过相关性分析发现甲烷产生潜势与含水量和DOC具有显著相关性,AOM潜势与含水量、pH、DOC具有显著相关性,含水量和DOC是影响若尔盖泥炭地甲烷产生及AOM潜势大小的重要因子。此外,发现高水位泥炭地甲烷产生潜势对温度升高的响应较为明显,特别是表层土壤（0-20 cm）。本研究明确了水位变化对若尔盖泥炭地甲烷产生及AOM潜势的影响特征,估算了全国泥炭地甲烷产生及AOM潜势的大小,以期为减缓全球气候变暖提供一定的理论支撑。     

Isoprene emission from a subarctic peatland under enhanced UV-B radiation

Isoprene is a reactive hydrocarbon with an important role in atmospheric chemistry, and emissions from vegetation contribute to atmospheric carbon fluxes. The magnitude of isoprene emissions from arctic peatlands is not known, and it may be altered by increasing UV-B radiation. Isoprene emission was measured with the dynamic chamber method from a subarctic peatland under long-term enhancement of UV-B radiation targeted to correspond to a 20% loss in the stratospheric ozone layer. The site type of the peatland was a flark fen dominated by the moss Warnstorfia exannulata and sedges Eriophorum russeolum and Carex limosa. The relationship between species densities and the emission was also assessed. Isoprene emissions were significantly increased by enhanced UV-B radiation during the second (2004) and the fourth (2006) growing seasons under the UV-B exposure. Emissions were related to the density of E. russeolum. The dominant moss, W. exannulata, proved to emit small amounts of isoprene in a laboratory trial. Subarctic fens, even without Sphagnum moss, are a significant source of isoprene to the atmosphere, especially under periods of warm weather. Warming of the Arctic together with enhanced UV-B radiation may substantially increase the emissions.     

Where old meets new: An ecosystem study of methanogenesis in a reflooded agricultural peatland

Reflooding formerly drained peatlands has been proposed as a means to reduce losses of organic matter and sequester soil carbon for climate change mitigation, but a renewal of high methane emissions has been reported for these ecosystems, offsetting mitigation potential. Our ability to interpret observed methane fluxes in reflooded peatlands and make predictions about future flux trends is limited due to a lack of detailed studies of methanogenic processes. In this study we investigate methanogenesis in a reflooded agricultural peatland in the Sacramento Delta, California. We use the stable‐and radio‐carbon isotopic signatures of wetland sediment methane, ecosystem‐scale eddy covariance flux observations, and laboratory incubation experiments, to identify which carbon sources and methanogenic production pathways fuel methanogenesis and how these processes are affected by vegetation and seasonality. We found that the old peat contribution to annual methane emissions was large (~30%) compared to intact wetlands, indicating a biogeochemical legacy of drainage. However, fresh carbon and the acetoclastic pathway still accounted for the majority of methanogenesis throughout the year. Although temperature sensitivities for bulk peat methanogenesis were similar between open‐water (Q₁₀ = 2.1) and vegetated (Q₁₀ = 2.3) soils, methane production from both fresh and old carbon sources showed pronounced seasonality in vegetated zones. We conclude that high methane emissions in restored wetlands constitute a biogeochemical trade‐off with contemporary carbon uptake, given that methane efflux is fueled primarily by fresh carbon inputs.     

Impact of forest plantation on methane emissions from tropical peatland

Tropical peatlands are a known source of methane (CH₄) to the atmosphere, but their contribution to atmospheric CH₄ is poorly constrained. Since the 1980s, extensive areas of the peatlands in Southeast Asia have experienced land‐cover change to smallholder agriculture and forest plantations. This land‐cover change generally involves lowering of groundwater level (GWL), as well as modification of vegetation type, both of which potentially influence CH₄ emissions. We measured CH₄ exchanges at the landscape scale using eddy covariance towers over two land‐cover types in tropical peatland in Sumatra, Indonesia: (a) a natural forest and (b) an Acacia crassicarpa plantation. Annual CH₄ exchanges over the natural forest (9.1 ± 0.9 g CH₄ m^?2 year^?1) were around twice as high as those of the Acacia plantation (4.7 ± 1.5 g CH₄ m^?2 year^?1). Results highlight that tropical peatlands are significant CH₄ sources, and probably have a greater impact on global atmospheric CH₄ concentrations than previously thought. Observations showed a clear diurnal variation in CH₄ exchange over the natural forest where the GWL was higher than 40 cm below the ground surface. The diurnal variation in CH₄ exchanges was strongly correlated with associated changes in the canopy conductance to water vapor, photosynthetic photon flux density, vapor pressure deficit, and air temperature. The absence of a comparable diurnal pattern in CH₄ exchange over the Acacia plantation may be the result of the GWL being consistently below the root zone. Our results, which are among the first eddy covariance CH₄ exchange data reported for any tropical peatland, should help to reduce the uncertainty in the estimation of CH₄ emissions from a globally important ecosystem, provide a more complete estimate of the impact of land‐cover change on tropical peat, and develop science‐based peatland management practices that help to minimize greenhouse gas emissions.