Dataset Information

Climate Sensitivity of Peatland Methane Emissions Mediated by Seasonal Hydrologic Dynamics.

ABSTRACT: Peatlands are among the largest natural sources of atmospheric methane (CH4) worldwide. Peatland emissions are projected to increase under climate change, as rising temperatures and shifting precipitation accelerate microbial metabolic pathways favorable for CH4 production. However, how these changing environmental factors will impact peatland emissions over the long term remains unknown. Here, we investigate a novel data set spanning an exceptionally long 11 years to analyze the influence of soil temperature and water table elevation on peatland CH4 emissions. We show that higher water tables dampen the springtime increases in CH4 emissions as well as their subsequent decreases during late summer to fall. These results imply that any hydroclimatological changes in northern peatlands that shift seasonal water availability from winter to summer will increase annual CH4 emissions, even if temperature remains unchanged. Therefore, advancing hydrological understanding in peatland watersheds will be crucial for improving predictions of CH4 emissions.

SUBMITTER: Feng X

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7894081 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Climate Sensitivity of Peatland Methane Emissions Mediated by Seasonal Hydrologic Dynamics.

Feng Xue X Deventer M Julian MJ Lonchar Rachel R Ng G H Crystal GHC Sebestyen Stephen D SD Roman D Tyler DT Griffis Timothy J TJ Millet Dylan B DB Kolka Randall K RK

Geophysical research letters 20200821 17

Peatlands are among the largest natural sources of atmospheric methane (CH<sub>4</sub>) worldwide. Peatland emissions are projected to increase under climate change, as rising temperatures and shifting precipitation accelerate microbial metabolic pathways favorable for CH<sub>4</sub> production. However, how these changing environmental factors will impact peatland emissions over the long term remains unknown. Here, we investigate a novel data set spanning an exceptionally long 11 years to analy ...[more]

PMID: 33612875

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Project description:Peatlands are important sources of the greenhouse gas methane emissions equipoised by methanogens and methanotrophs. However, knowledge about how microbial functional groups associated with methane production and oxidation respond to water table fluctuations has been limited to date. Here, methane-related microbial communities and the potentials of methane production and oxidation were determined along sectioned peat layers in a subalpine peatland across four Sphagnum-dominated sites with different water table levels. Methane fluxes were also monitored at these sites. The results showed that mcrA gene copies for methanogens were the highest in the 10- to 15-cm peat layer, which was also characterized by the maximum potential methane production (24.53 ± 1.83 nmol/g/h). Copy numbers of the pmoA gene for type Ia and Ib methanotrophs were enriched in the 0-5 cm peat layer with the highest potential methane oxidation (43.09 ± 3.44 nmol/g/h). For the type II methanotrophs, the pmoA gene copies were higher in the 10- to 15-cm peat layer. Hydrogenotrophic methanogens and type II methanotrophs dominated the methane functional groups. Deterministic process contributed more to methanogenic and methanotrophic community assemblages in comparison with stochastic process. The level of water table significantly shaped methanogenic and methanotrophic community structures and regulated methane fluxes. Compared with vascular plants, Sphagnum mosses significantly reduced the methane emissions in peatlands. Collectively, these findings enhance a comprehensive understanding of the effect of the water table level on methane functional groups, with consequential implications for reducing methane emissions within peatland ecosystems.IMPORTANCEThe water table level is recognized as a critical factor in regulating methane emissions, which are largely dependent on the balance of methanogens and methanotrophs. Previous studies on peat methane emissions have been mostly focused on spatial-temporal variations and the relationship with meteorological conditions. However, the role of the water table level in methane emissions remains unknown. In this work, four representative microhabitats along a water table gradient in a Sphagnum-dominated peatland were sampled to gain an insight into methane functional communities and methane emissions as affected by the water table level. The changes in methane-related microbial community structure and assembly were used to characterize the response to the water table level. This study improves the understanding of the changes in methane-related microbial communities and methane emissions with water table levels in peatlands.

Dataset Information

Climate Sensitivity of Peatland Methane Emissions Mediated by Seasonal Hydrologic Dynamics.

Publications

Climate Sensitivity of Peatland Methane Emissions Mediated by Seasonal Hydrologic Dynamics.

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