Massive peatland carbon banks vulnerable to rising temperatures

	Journal Article
Year of Publication	2020
Author	Anya Hopple Rachel Wilson Max Kolton Cassandra Zalman Jeffrey Chanton Joel Kostka Paul Hanson Jason Keller Scott Bridgham
Keywords	General Physics and Astronomy General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology General Chemistry
Journal	Nature Communications
Volume	11
Issue	1
ISSN Number	2041-1723
Abstract	AbstractPeatlands contain one-third of the world’s soil carbon (C). If destabilized, decomposition of this vast C bank could accelerate climate warming; however, the likelihood of this outcome remains unknown. Here, we examine peatland C stability through five years of whole-ecosystem warming and two years of elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations (eCO2). Warming exponentially increased methane (CH4) emissions and enhanced CH4 production rates throughout the entire soil profile; although surface CH4 production rates remain much greater than those at depth. Additionally, older deeper C sources played a larger role in decomposition following prolonged warming. Most troubling, decreases in CO2:CH4 ratios in gas production, porewater concentrations, and emissions, indicate that the peatland is becoming more methanogenic with warming. We observed limited evidence of eCO2 effects. Our results suggest that ecosystem responses are largely driven by surface peat, but that the vast C bank at depth in peatlands is responsive to prolonged warming.
DOI	10.1038/s41467-020-16311-8
Download citation	DOI Google Scholar