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Climate-driven shifts in sediment chemistry enhance methane production in northern lakes

Author

Listed:
  • E. J. S. Emilson

    (University of Cambridge, Downing St.
    Great Lakes Forestry Centre)

  • M. A. Carson

    (Laurentian University)

  • K. M. Yakimovich

    (Laurentian University)

  • H. Osterholz

    (Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment, Carl von Ossietzky University Oldenburg)

  • T. Dittmar

    (Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment, Carl von Ossietzky University Oldenburg)

  • J. M. Gunn

    (Laurentian University)

  • N. C. S. Mykytczuk

    (Laurentian University)

  • N. Basiliko

    (Laurentian University)

  • A. J. Tanentzap

    (University of Cambridge, Downing St.)

Abstract

Freshwater ecosystems are a major source of methane (CH4), contributing 0.65 Pg (in CO2 equivalents) yr−1 towards global carbon emissions and offsetting ~25% of the terrestrial carbon sink. Most freshwater CH4 emissions come from littoral sediments, where large quantities of plant material are decomposed. Climate change is predicted to shift plant community composition, and thus change the quality of inputs into detrital food webs, with the potential to affect CH4 production. Here we find that variation in phenol availability from decomposing organic matter underlies large differences in CH4 production in lake sediments. Production is at least 400-times higher from sediments composed of macrophyte litter compared to terrestrial sources because of inhibition of methanogenesis by phenol leachates. Our results now suggest that earth system models and carbon budgets should consider the effects of plant communities on sediment chemistry and ultimately CH4 emissions at a global scale.

Suggested Citation

  • E. J. S. Emilson & M. A. Carson & K. M. Yakimovich & H. Osterholz & T. Dittmar & J. M. Gunn & N. C. S. Mykytczuk & N. Basiliko & A. J. Tanentzap, 2018. "Climate-driven shifts in sediment chemistry enhance methane production in northern lakes," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 9(1), pages 1-6, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:9:y:2018:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-018-04236-2
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-04236-2
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    Cited by:

    1. Alex C Valach & Kuno Kasak & Kyle S Hemes & Tyler L Anthony & Iryna Dronova & Sophie Taddeo & Whendee L Silver & Daphne Szutu & Joseph Verfaillie & Dennis D Baldocchi, 2021. "Productive wetlands restored for carbon sequestration quickly become net CO2 sinks with site-level factors driving uptake variability," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 16(3), pages 1-22, March.

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