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Stability of peatland carbon to rising temperatures

Author

Listed:
  • R. M. Wilson

    (Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, Florida State University)

  • A. M. Hopple

    (Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Oregon)

  • M. M. Tfaily

    (Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory—Pacific Northwest National Laboratory)

  • S. D. Sebestyen

    (USDA Forest Service Northern Research Station)

  • C. W. Schadt

    (Oak Ridge National Laboratory)

  • L. Pfeifer-Meister

    (Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Oregon)

  • C. Medvedeff

    (Schmid College of Science and Technology, Chapman University)

  • K. J. McFarlane

    (Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory)

  • J. E. Kostka

    (School of Biological Sciences and School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology)

  • M. Kolton

    (School of Biological Sciences and School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology)

  • R.K. Kolka

    (USDA Forest Service Northern Research Station)

  • L. A. Kluber

    (Oak Ridge National Laboratory)

  • J. K. Keller

    (Schmid College of Science and Technology, Chapman University)

  • T. P. Guilderson

    (Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory)

  • N. A. Griffiths

    (Oak Ridge National Laboratory)

  • J. P. Chanton

    (Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, Florida State University)

  • S. D. Bridgham

    (Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Oregon)

  • P. J. Hanson

    (Oak Ridge National Laboratory)

Abstract

Peatlands contain one-third of soil carbon (C), mostly buried in deep, saturated anoxic zones (catotelm). The response of catotelm C to climate forcing is uncertain, because prior experiments have focused on surface warming. We show that deep peat heating of a 2 m-thick peat column results in an exponential increase in CH4 emissions. However, this response is due solely to surface processes and not degradation of catotelm peat. Incubations show that only the top 20–30 cm of peat from experimental plots have higher CH4 production rates at elevated temperatures. Radiocarbon analyses demonstrate that CH4 and CO2 are produced primarily from decomposition of surface-derived modern photosynthate, not catotelm C. There are no differences in microbial abundances, dissolved organic matter concentrations or degradative enzyme activities among treatments. These results suggest that although surface peat will respond to increasing temperature, the large reservoir of catotelm C is stable under current anoxic conditions.

Suggested Citation

  • R. M. Wilson & A. M. Hopple & M. M. Tfaily & S. D. Sebestyen & C. W. Schadt & L. Pfeifer-Meister & C. Medvedeff & K. J. McFarlane & J. E. Kostka & M. Kolton & R.K. Kolka & L. A. Kluber & J. K. Keller , 2016. "Stability of peatland carbon to rising temperatures," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 7(1), pages 1-10, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:7:y:2016:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms13723
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms13723
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    Cited by:

    1. Nicholas O. E. Ofiti & Michael W. I. Schmidt & Samuel Abiven & Paul J. Hanson & Colleen M. Iversen & Rachel M. Wilson & Joel E. Kostka & Guido L. B. Wiesenberg & Avni Malhotra, 2023. "Climate warming and elevated CO2 alter peatland soil carbon sources and stability," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-10, December.
    2. Yizhu Zhu & J. Iwan Jones & Adrian L. Collins & Yusheng Zhang & Louise Olde & Lorenzo Rovelli & John F. Murphy & Catherine M. Heppell & Mark Trimmer, 2022. "Separating natural from human enhanced methane emissions in headwater streams," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-11, December.
    3. Tri Wira Yuwati & Dony Rachmanadi & Pratiwi & Maman Turjaman & Yonky Indrajaya & Hunggul Yudono Setio Hadi Nugroho & Muhammad Abdul Qirom & Budi Hadi Narendra & Bondan Winarno & Sri Lestari & Purwanto, 2021. "Restoration of Degraded Tropical Peatland in Indonesia: A Review," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-31, November.
    4. Yanyu Song & Changchun Song & Jiusheng Ren & Xiuyan Ma & Wenwen Tan & Xianwei Wang & Jinli Gao & Aixin Hou, 2019. "Short-Term Response of the Soil Microbial Abundances and Enzyme Activities to Experimental Warming in a Boreal Peatland in Northeast China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-16, January.
    5. A. Campeau & D. Vachon & K. Bishop & M. B. Nilsson & M. B. Wallin, 2021. "Autumn destabilization of deep porewater CO2 store in a northern peatland driven by turbulent diffusion," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-13, December.

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