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Hydroclimatic vulnerability of peat carbon in the central Congo Basin

Author

Listed:
  • Yannick Garcin

    (Aix Marseille University, CNRS, IRD, INRAE, CEREGE
    University of Potsdam)

  • Enno Schefuß

    (University of Bremen)

  • Greta C. Dargie

    (University of Leeds)

  • Donna Hawthorne

    (University of St Andrews)

  • Ian T. Lawson

    (University of St Andrews)

  • David Sebag

    (Earth Sciences and Environmental Technologies Division
    University of Lausanne)

  • George E. Biddulph

    (University of St Andrews)

  • Bart Crezee

    (University of Leeds)

  • Yannick E. Bocko

    (Université Marien Ngouabi)

  • Suspense A. Ifo

    (Université Marien Ngouabi)

  • Y. Emmanuel Mampouya Wenina

    (Université Marien Ngouabi)

  • Mackline Mbemba

    (Université Marien Ngouabi)

  • Corneille E. N. Ewango

    (Université de Kisangani
    Université de Kisangani)

  • Ovide Emba

    (Institut Supérieur Pédagogique de Mbandaka)

  • Pierre Bola

    (Institut Supérieur Pédagogique de Mbandaka)

  • Joseph Kanyama Tabu

    (Université de Kisangani)

  • Genevieve Tyrrell

    (University of Leicester)

  • Dylan M. Young

    (University of Leeds)

  • Ghislain Gassier

    (Aix Marseille University, CNRS, IRD, INRAE, CEREGE)

  • Nicholas T. Girkin

    (Cranfield University)

  • Christopher H. Vane

    (Centre for Environmental Geochemistry)

  • Thierry Adatte

    (University of Lausanne)

  • Andy J. Baird

    (University of Leeds)

  • Arnoud Boom

    (University of Leicester)

  • Pauline Gulliver

    (Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre (SUERC))

  • Paul J. Morris

    (University of Leeds)

  • Susan E. Page

    (University of Leicester)

  • Sofie Sjögersten

    (University of Nottingham)

  • Simon L. Lewis

    (University of Leeds
    University College London)

Abstract

The forested swamps of the central Congo Basin store approximately 30 billion metric tonnes of carbon in peat1,2. Little is known about the vulnerability of these carbon stocks. Here we investigate this vulnerability using peat cores from a large interfluvial basin in the Republic of the Congo and palaeoenvironmental methods. We find that peat accumulation began at least at 17,500 calibrated years before present (cal. yr bp; taken as ad 1950). Our data show that the peat that accumulated between around 7,500 to around 2,000 cal. yr bp is much more decomposed compared with older and younger peat. Hydrogen isotopes of plant waxes indicate a drying trend, starting at approximately 5,000 cal. yr bp and culminating at approximately 2,000 cal. yr bp, coeval with a decline in dominant swamp forest taxa. The data imply that the drying climate probably resulted in a regional drop in the water table, which triggered peat decomposition, including the loss of peat carbon accumulated prior to the onset of the drier conditions. After approximately 2,000 cal. yr bp, our data show that the drying trend ceased, hydrologic conditions stabilized and peat accumulation resumed. This reversible accumulation–loss–accumulation pattern is consistent with other peat cores across the region, indicating that the carbon stocks of the central Congo peatlands may lie close to a climatically driven drought threshold. Further research should quantify the combination of peatland threshold behaviour and droughts driven by anthropogenic carbon emissions that may trigger this positive carbon cycle feedback in the Earth system.

Suggested Citation

  • Yannick Garcin & Enno Schefuß & Greta C. Dargie & Donna Hawthorne & Ian T. Lawson & David Sebag & George E. Biddulph & Bart Crezee & Yannick E. Bocko & Suspense A. Ifo & Y. Emmanuel Mampouya Wenina & , 2022. "Hydroclimatic vulnerability of peat carbon in the central Congo Basin," Nature, Nature, vol. 612(7939), pages 277-282, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:612:y:2022:i:7939:d:10.1038_s41586-022-05389-3
    DOI: 10.1038/s41586-022-05389-3
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    Cited by:

    1. Padfield, Rory & Varkkey, Helena & Manzo, Kate & Ganesan, Vignaa, 2023. "Time bomb or gold mine? Policy, sustainability and media representations of tropical peatlands in Malaysia," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 131(C).
    2. Bradley Hiller & Judith Fisher, 2023. "A Multifunctional ‘Scape Approach for Sustainable Management of Intact Ecosystems—A Review of Tropical Peatlands," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-23, January.
    3. Chuma B. Géant & Joost Wellens & Mushagalusa N. Gustave & Serge Schmitz, 2024. "How Rural Communities Relate to Nature in Sub-Saharan Regions: Perception of Ecosystem Services Provided by Wetlands in South-Kivu," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(16), pages 1-31, August.

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