Environmental Science › Ecology

Peatlands and Wetlands Ecology

Works Count: 47512

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Description

This cluster of papers explores the dynamics of carbon storage, methane emissions, and microbial processes in peatland ecosystems, with a focus on the impacts of climate change, hydrological factors, and nitrogen deposition. It addresses the role of peatlands in the global carbon cycle, their response to environmental disturbances, and their potential as both carbon sinks and sources. The research also delves into the interactions between wetland vegetation, soil microbial communities, and biogeochemical processes influencing carbon and nitrogen cycling.

Keywords

Peatlands; Carbon; Methane Emissions; Wetlands; Climate Change; Microbial Processes; Hydrology; Nitrogen Deposition; Boreal Ecosystems; Ecosystem Resilience

Global peatland dynamics since the Last Glacial Maximum

2010-07-01

Zicheng Yu , Julie Loisel , Daniel P. Brosseau +2 more

Here we present a new data synthesis of global peatland ages, area changes, and carbon (C) pool changes since the Last Glacial Maximum, along with a new peatland map and … Here we present a new data synthesis of global peatland ages, area changes, and carbon (C) pool changes since the Last Glacial Maximum, along with a new peatland map and total C pool estimates. The data show different controls of peatland expansion and C accumulation in different regions. We estimate that northern peatlands have accumulated 547 (473–621) GtC, showing maximum accumulation in the early Holocene in response to high summer insolation and strong summer – winter climate seasonality. Tropical peatlands have accumulated 50 (44–55) GtC, with rapid rates about 8000–4000 years ago affected by a high and more stable sea level, a strong summer monsoon, and before the intensification of El Niño. Southern peatlands, mostly in Patagonia, South America, have accumulated 15 (13–18) GtC, with rapid accumulation during the Antarctic Thermal Maximum in the late glacial, and during the mid‐Holocene thermal maximum. This is the first comparison of peatland dynamics among these global regions. Our analysis shows that a diversity of drivers at different times have significantly impacted the global C cycle, through the contribution of peatlands to atmospheric CH 4 budgets and the history of peatland CO 2 exchange with the atmosphere.

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Critical Loads for Sulphur and Nitrogen

1988-01-01

Julia Nilsson

An enzymic 'latch' on a global carbon store

2001-01-01

Chris Freeman , Nick Ostle , Hojeong Kang

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The effects of air‐borne nitrogen pollutants on species diversity in natural and semi‐natural European vegetation

1998-10-01

Roland Bobbink , Michael Hornung , Jan G. M. Roelofs

Summary The effects of increased atmospheric nitrogen inputs, from both NO y and NH x, on diversity in various semi‐natural and natural ecosystems are reviewed. The severity of these impacts … Summary The effects of increased atmospheric nitrogen inputs, from both NO y and NH x, on diversity in various semi‐natural and natural ecosystems are reviewed. The severity of these impacts depends on abiotic conditions (e.g. buffering capacity, soil nutrient status and soil factors that influence the nitrification potential and nitrogen immobilization rate) in the particular system. The sensitivity of fresh water ecosystems, wetlands and bogs, species‐rich grasslands, heathlands and field layer of forests, all of which have conservational value, are discussed in detail. The most important effects of nitrogen deposition are: (i) accumulation of nitrogenous compounds resulting in enhanced availability of nitrate or ammonium; (ii) soil‐mediated effects of acidification; and (iii) increased susceptibility to secondary stress factors. Long‐term nitrogen enrichment has gradually increased the availability of nitrogen in several vegetation types, leading to competitive exclusion of characteristic species by more nitrophilic plants, especially under oligo‐ to mesotrophic soil conditions. Soil acidification (with losses of buffering capacity and increased concentrations of toxic metals) is especially important after nitrification of ammonium in weakly buffered environments: acid‐resistant plant species then become dominant at the expense of the often rare plants typical of intermediate pH. The related change in the balance between ammonium and nitrate may also affect the performance of several species. The susceptibility of plant species to secondary stress factors (pathogens; frost and drought) may be affected by air‐borne nitrogen but data are only available for a few communities (e.g. dry heathlands). Most global biodiversity is contained within natural and semi‐natural vegetation. It is thus crucial to control emissions of nitrogenous compounds to the atmosphere, in order to reduce or prevent effects on diversity in these systems. Most research has focused on acidification in forestry stands and lakes and on the effects on trees. We highlight serious gaps in knowledge of other ecosystems.

Partialling out the Spatial Component of Ecological Variation

1992-06-01

Daniel Borcard , Pierre Legendre , Pierre Drapeau

A method is proposed to partition the variation of species abundance data into independent components: pure spatial, pure environmental, spatial component of environmental influence, and undetermined. The new method uses … A method is proposed to partition the variation of species abundance data into independent components: pure spatial, pure environmental, spatial component of environmental influence, and undetermined. The new method uses pre—existing techniques and computer programs of canonical ordination. The intrinsic spatial component of community structure is partialled out of the species—environment relationship in order to see if the environmental control model still holds. The method is illustrated using oribatid mites in a peat blanket, forest vegetation data, and aquatic heterotrophic bacteria. In this latter example, the new method is shown to be complementary to another approach based on partial Mantel tests.

Wetlands, carbon, and climate change

2012-06-11

William J. Mitsch , Blanca Bernal , Amanda M. Nahlik +5 more

Wetland ecology: principles and conservation

2011-04-01

Paul A. Keddy

Preface Acknowledgements Part I. Properties of Wetlands: 1. Wetlands: an overview 2. Zonation 3. Diversity Part II. Factors Controlling Properties of Wetlands: 4. Hydrology 5. Fertility 6. Disturbance 7. Competition … Preface Acknowledgements Part I. Properties of Wetlands: 1. Wetlands: an overview 2. Zonation 3. Diversity Part II. Factors Controlling Properties of Wetlands: 4. Hydrology 5. Fertility 6. Disturbance 7. Competition 8. Grazing 9. Burial Part III. The Path Forward: 10. Wetland restoration: assembly rules in the service of conservation 11. A functional approach 12. Wetland conservation, management and research Index.

Exchange of greenhouse gases between soil and atmosphere: interactions of soil physical factors and biological processes

2018-01-01

Keith A. Smith , Tom Ball , Franz Conen +3 more

Summary This review examines the interactions between soil physical factors and the biological processes responsible for the production and consumption in soils of greenhouse gases. The release of CO 2 … Summary This review examines the interactions between soil physical factors and the biological processes responsible for the production and consumption in soils of greenhouse gases. The release of CO 2 by aerobic respiration is a non‐linear function of temperature over a wide range of soil water contents, but becomes a function of water content as a soil dries out. Some of the reported variation in the temperature response may be attributable simply to measurement procedures. Lowering the water table in organic soils by drainage increases the release of soil carbon as CO 2 in some but not all environments, and reduces the quantity of CH 4 emitted to the atmosphere. Ebullition and diffusion through the aerenchyma of rice and plants in natural wetlands both contribute substantially to the emission of CH 4 ; the proportion of the emissions taking place by each pathway varies seasonally. Aerated soils are a sink for atmospheric CH 4 , through microbial oxidation. The main control on oxidation rate is gas diffusivity, and the temperature response is small. Nitrous oxide is the third greenhouse gas produced in soils, together with NO, a precursor of tropospheric ozone (a short‐lived greenhouse gas). Emission of N 2 O increases markedly with increasing temperature, and this is attributed to increases in the anaerobic volume fraction, brought about by an increased respiratory sink for O 2 . Increases in water‐filled pore space also result in increased anaerobic volume; again, the outcome is an exponential increase in N 2 O emission. The review draws substantially on sources from beyond the normal range of soil science literature, and is intended to promote integration of ideas, not only between soil biology and soil physics, but also over a wider range of interacting disciplines.

The Vegetation N:P Ratio: a New Tool to Detect the Nature of Nutrient Limitation

1996-12-01

Willem Koerselman , A.F.M. Meuleman

Nutrient limitation (mostly N or P) is a driving force in ecosystem development. Current techniques to determine the nature of nutrient limitation use laborious fertilization experiments. It was hypothesized that … Nutrient limitation (mostly N or P) is a driving force in ecosystem development. Current techniques to determine the nature of nutrient limitation use laborious fertilization experiments. It was hypothesized that the N:P ratio of'the vegetation directly indicates the nature of nutrient limitation on a community level (N vs. P limitation). This hypothesis was tested by reviewing data on fertilization studies in a variety of European freshwater wetland ecosystems (bogs, fens, wet heathlands, dune slacks, wet grasslands). In a subset of the data (dune slacks) between-site intraspecific variation and within-site interspecific variation in nutrient content and N:P ratio was studied in five plant species. A review of 40 fertilization studies reveals that an N:P ratio >16 indicates P limitation on a community level, while an N:P ratio < 14 is indicative of N limitation. At N:P ratios between 14 and 16, either N or P can be limiting or plant growth is colimited by N and P together. In only one out of 40 fertilization studies, the N:P ratio gave a false indication of the nature of nutrient limitation. Measuring the N:P ratio of the vegetation is a simple and cheap alternative to fertilization studies. The method can only be used under conditions where either N or P controls plant growth. The dataset contains a large variety of vegetation types and plant species, and 11 I of the 40 sites were near-monocultures. This suggests that interspecific differences in critical N:P ratios among species may be insignificant. However, a rigorous test of this hypothesis is required. A survey in 18 dune slacks showed large within-site variation in N:P ratio among five species (Calamagrostis epigejos, Phragmites australis, Lycopus europaeus, Mentha aquatica and Eupatorium cannabinum). The N:P ratios of the five species suggested that within plant communities species can be differentially limited by N or P. Moreover, species with an N:P ratio that suggested P-limitation were found at sites where N controlled community biomass production, and vice versa. Between-site intraspecific variation in N and P contents and N:P ratios was also large, and about equal for the five species. This illustrates the plasticity of plant species with respect to N and P contents, probably in response to differences in N and P supply ratios. The vegetation N:P ratio is of diagnostic value and its use may increase our understanding of numerous facets of physiological, population, community and ecosystem ecology.

Northern Peatlands: Role in the Carbon Cycle and Probable Responses to Climatic Warming

1991-05-01

Eville Gorham

Boreal and subarctic peatlands comprise a carbon pool of 455 Pg that has accumulated during the postglacial period at an average net rate of 0.096 Pg/yr (1 Pg = 1015 … Boreal and subarctic peatlands comprise a carbon pool of 455 Pg that has accumulated during the postglacial period at an average net rate of 0.096 Pg/yr (1 Pg = 1015 g). Using Clymo's (1984) model, the current rate is estimated at 0.076 Pg/yr. Longterm drainage of these peatlands is estimated to be causing the oxidation to CO2 of a little more than 0.0085 Pg/yr, with conbustion of fuel peat adding °0.026 Pg/yr. Emissions of CH4 are estimated to release ° 0.046 Pg of carbon annually. Uncertainties beset estimates of both stocks and fluxes, particularly with regard to Soviet peatlands. The influence of water table alterations upon fluxes of both CO2 and CH4 is in great need of investigation over a wide range of peatland environments, especially in regions where permafrost melting, thermokarst erosion, and the development of thaw lakes are likely results of climatic warming. The role of fire in the carbon cycle of peatlands also deserves increased attention. Finally, satellite-monitoring of the abundance of open water in the peatlands of the West Siberian Plain and the Hudson/James Bay Lowland is suggested as a likely method of detecting early effects of climatic warming upon boreal and subarctic peatlands.

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Global distribution of natural freshwater wetlands and rice paddies, their net primary productivity, seasonality and possible methane emissions

1989-05-01

I. Aselmann , Paul J. Crutzen

Export of organic carbon from peat soils

2001-08-01

Chris Freeman , Chris Evans , Don Monteith +2 more

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Limnology, Lake and River Ecosystems

2001-12-01

Carole A. Lembi

Estimating carbon accumulation rates of undrained mires in Finland–application to boreal and subarctic regions

2002-01-01

Jukka Turunen , Erkki Tomppo , Kimmo Tolonen +1 more

Equations based on empirical relationships of peat physical properties were used to estimate the average long-term apparent rate of carbon accumulation (LORCA) in Finnish mire vegetation regions. The results were … Equations based on empirical relationships of peat physical properties were used to estimate the average long-term apparent rate of carbon accumulation (LORCA) in Finnish mire vegetation regions. The results were generalized to the boreal and subarctic regions. Analyses of 1302 dated peat cores were used to infer carbon accumulation for each mire vegetation region of Finland. The area-weighted LORCA for Finnish undrained mire areas was 18.5 g m 2 yr 1 and the total carbon sink 0.79 Tg yr 1 (1 Tg = 10 12 g). The total carbon pool of Finnish undrained mires was estimated as 2257 Tg. The aapa-mire region included 80% of the total net accumulation rate of carbon and 85% of the total carbon reservoirs of Finnish undrained mires. LORCA was signi” cantly higher in the raised-bog region, 26.1 g m 2 yr 1, compared with the aapa-mire region, 17.3 g m 2 yr 1, and bogs generally had a higher LORCA 20.8 g m 2 yr 1, than fens 16.9 g m 2 yr 1. The total C sink for boreal and subarctic mires was estimated at 66 Tg yr 1 which is about 31% lower than the previous estimates. The total C pool of all boreal and subarctic mires was estimated at 270–370 Pg (1 Pg = 10 15 g).

Carbon respiration from subsurface peat accelerated by climate warming in the subarctic

2009-07-01

Ellen Dorrepaal , Sylvia Toet , Richard S. P. van Logtestijn +4 more

Biogeochemistry of Methane Exchange between Natural Wetlands and the Atmosphere

2005-01-01

Stephen C. Whalen

This review examines the interactions among physical, chemical, and biological factors responsible for methane (CH4) emission from natural wetlands. Methane is a chemically and radiatively important atmospheric trace gas. Emission … This review examines the interactions among physical, chemical, and biological factors responsible for methane (CH4) emission from natural wetlands. Methane is a chemically and radiatively important atmospheric trace gas. Emission from wetlands is a significant component of the atmospheric CH4 budget, releasing 145 Tg CH4 annually to the atmosphere, or about 25% of total emissions from all anthropogenic and natural sources. Wetlands are characterized by a subsurface, anaerobic zone of CH4 production by methanogenic bacteria and an surficial, aerobic zone of CH4 oxidation by methanotrophic bacteria. Wetlands transfer CH4 to the atmosphere by diffusion, ebullition, and by transport through arenchymous vascular plants. However, about 20 to 40% of the CH4 produced in anaerobic wetland soils is oxidized in the rhizosphere and in surficial oxic layers during diffusive transport to the soil surface. Rates of CH4 emission in wetlands are commonly 100 mg m-2 day-1, and represent the net effect of production and consumption. Water table position, temperature, and plant community composition are important ecosystemlevel controls on wetland CH4 emission.

Study of the Sorption of Divalent Metal Ions on to Peat

2000-09-01

Yuh‐Shan Ho , Gordon McKay , D.A.J. Wase +1 more

A pseudo-second order rate equation describing the kinetics of sorption of divalent metal ions on to sphagnum moss peat at various initial metal ion concentrations and peat doses has been … A pseudo-second order rate equation describing the kinetics of sorption of divalent metal ions on to sphagnum moss peat at various initial metal ion concentrations and peat doses has been developed. The sorption kinetics were followed based on the concentrations of metal sorbed at various time intervals. Results show that chemical sorption processes might be rate-limiting for the sorption of divalent metal ions on to peat during agitated batch contact time experiments. The rate constant, the equilibrium sorption capacity and the initial sorption rate were calculated. From these parameters, an empirical model for predicting the concentrations of metal ions sorbed was derived.

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Methane emission from natural wetlands: Global distribution, area, and environmental characteristics of sources

1987-03-01

Elaine Matthews , Inez Fung

A global data base of wetlands at 1° resolution has been developed from the integration of three independent global, digital sources: (1) vegetation, (2) soil properties and (3) fractional inundation … A global data base of wetlands at 1° resolution has been developed from the integration of three independent global, digital sources: (1) vegetation, (2) soil properties and (3) fractional inundation in each 1° cell. The integration yielded a global distribution of wetland sites identified with in situ ecological and environmental characteristics. The wetland sites have been classed into five major wetland groups on the basis of environmental characteristics governing methane emissions. The global wetland area derived in this study is ∼5.3 × 10 12 m 2 , approximately twice the wetland area previously used in methane‐emission studies. Methane emission was calculated using methane fluxes for the major wetland groups, and simple assumptions about the duration of the methane production season. The annual methane emission from wetlands is ∼110 Tg, well within the range of previous estimates (11‐300 Tg). Tropical/subtropical peat‐poor swamps from 20°N‐30°S account from ∼30% of the global wetland area and ∼25% of the total methane emission. About 60% of the total emission comes from peat‐rich bogs concentrated from 50°‐7O°N, suggesting that the highly seasonal emission from these ecosystems is the major contributor to the large annual oscillations observed in atmospheric methane concentrations at these latitudes.

Review and assessment of methane emissions from wetlands

1993-01-01

Karen B. Bartlett , Robert C. Harriss

Primary production control of methane emission from wetlands

1993-08-01

Gary J. Whiting , Jeffrey P. Chanton

Temperature sensitivity of soil carbon decomposition and feedbacks to climate change

2006-03-01

Eric A. Davidson , Ivan A. Janssens

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Wetlands and global climate change: the role of wetland restoration in a changing world

2008-11-06

Kevin L. Erwin

How Sphagnum bogs down other plants

1995-07-01

N. van Breemen

The limits to peat bog growth

1984-01-30

R. S. Clymo

Not less than 2% of the Earth’s land surface is peat-covered, so it is important to try to understand the dynamics of peat accumulation. Peat-forming systems (mires) accumulate peat because … Not less than 2% of the Earth’s land surface is peat-covered, so it is important to try to understand the dynamics of peat accumulation. Peat-forming systems (mires) accumulate peat because conditions within them impede the decay of the plant material produced by their surface vegetation. This paper concerns the rate of peat production and some unexpected consequences of the processes of decay. These consequences are likely to be of interest to those concerned with mire ecology and with the history of vegetation during Flandrian times. Most peat-forming systems consist of two layers: an upper 10-50 cm deep aerobic layer of high hydraulic conductivity, the acrotelm, in which the rate of decay is relatively high; and a thicker, usually anaerobic, lower layer, the catotelm, of low conductivity and with a much lower rate of decay. Plant structure at the base of the acrotelm collapses as a consequence of aerobic decay, and the hydraulic conductivity consequently decreases. As long as precipitation continues the water table therefore rises to this level, thus engulfing material at the base of the acrotelm. The rate, p c , of this input to the catotelm is exactly analogous to the rate, p a of input to the acrotelm i.e. of primary productivity of the vegetation. During passage through the acrotelm the peat becomes richer in the more slowly decaying components. The depth of, and the time for transit through, the acrotelm thus control p c . The catotelm, however, usually forms much the largest part of the peat mass. Selective decay may continue in the catotelm. The specific composition of the peat thus becomes a progressively poorer indicator of the surface vegetation that formed it, and to a degree that is not generally realized: reconstructions of the past surface vegetation may become very inaccurate. If p c were constant and there were no decay in the catotelm then for the centre of a peat bog the profile of age against depth (measured as cumulative mass below the surface) would be a straight line. But if either or both these conditions is untrue then the profile would probably be concave. Most of the cases for which data exist are consistent with a concave profile and a value (constant over several thousand years) of p c of about 50 g m -2 a -1 and a decay rate coefficient, α c , proportional to the amount of mass remaining, of about 10 -4 a -1 . This rate of input to the catotelm is about 10% of the primary productivity i.e. about 90% of the matter is lost during passage through the acrotelm. The relation seems to hold in spite of short-term fluctuations such as those represented by recurrence surfaces. Although 10 -4 a -1 seems a very slow rate, it has important consequences. (i) The peat mass tends towards a steady state in which the rate of addition of matter at the surface, p a , is balanced by losses at all depths: rate of accumulation is zero. This depth is, for the cases examined, about 5-10 m. (ii) The very concept of ‘peat accumulation rate’ thus needs careful consideration. To calculate it as the difference between two 14 C dates divided by the depth between the samples from which they were measured, as is commonly done, may be seriously misleading. The error is likely to increase with age, depth and time span. (iii) Progress in such studies can be made only if the easily measured profile of bulk density is known . The position of the profile in the peat bog must also be known. There is some evidence that peat contains, or comes to contain, about 1% or less of the original mass in a highly refractory state, so that the concept of a steady state is unlikely to be correct if times much greater than about 50 000 years are involved. Three more consequences of the continued very slow decay in the catotelm may be of interest to mire ecologists. (iv) Most of the mass that leaves the catotelm probably does so as methane gas. The concentration of methane increases with depth and may be as high as 5 μmol cm -3 at 5 m depth (about 10% by volume). Diffusion alone is able to remove mass at the necessary rate and would create concentration profiles similar to those observed. The solubility of methane in water is exceeded, however, and much of the methane may in practice be lost by mass flow of bubbles to the surface. (v) The amplitude of temperature fluctuations, as well as the mean temperature, may have a significant effect on the rate of peat decay, particularly in a cold climate. (vi) If this analysis is correct then the maximum depth of peat which can accumulate in 50 000 years is determined largely by the value of the quotient p c /α c . The usual view that the maximum depth is determined directly by climate operating through hydrology may be incorrect, though hydrology may have an indirect effect on the value of p c , the rate of input to the catotelm at the bog centre. Away from the centre p c is probably variable p c and determined by hydrology. Its dependence on distance from the centre and on time is complicated: p c / p c may be more than, equal to, or less than 1.0. The age against depth profile away from the bog centre may be directly affected by hydrology, though the effect is not large except near the edge of the bog or near the base of the peat. There may, of course, be catastrophic failure - a bog-burst or ‘flow’ - before the p c /α c limit is reached in the centre, or slower but equally destructive development of gullies and erosion.

Soil microorganisms as controllers of atmospheric trace gases (H2, CO, CH4, OCS, N2O, and NO)

1996-12-01

Rachel Conrad

Production and consumption processes in soils contribute to the global cycles of many trace gases (CH4, CO, OCS, H2, N2O, and NO) that are relevant for atmospheric chemistry and climate. … Production and consumption processes in soils contribute to the global cycles of many trace gases (CH4, CO, OCS, H2, N2O, and NO) that are relevant for atmospheric chemistry and climate. Soil microbial processes contribute substantially to the budgets of atmospheric trace gases. The flux of trace gases between soil and atmosphere is usually the result of simultaneously operating production and consumption processes in soil: The relevant processes are not yet proven with absolute certainty, but the following are likely for trace gas consumption: H2 oxidation by abiontic soil enzymes; CO cooxidation by the ammonium monooxygenase of nitrifying bacteria; CH4 oxidation by unknown methanotrophic bacteria that utilize CH4 for growth; OCS hydrolysis by bacteria containing carbonic anhydrase; N2O reduction to N2 by denitrifying bacteria; NO consumption by either reduction to N2O in denitrifiers or oxidation to nitrate in heterotrophic bacteria. Wetland soils, in contrast to upland soils are generally anoxic and thus support the production of trace gases (H2, CO, CH4, N2O, and NO) by anaerobic bacteria such as fermenters, methanogens, acetogens, sulfate reducers, and denitrifiers. Methane is the dominant gaseous product of anaerobic degradation of organic matter and is released into the atmosphere, whereas the other trace gases are only intermediates, which are mostly cycled within the anoxic habitat. A significant percentage of the produced methane is oxidized by methanotrophic bacteria at anoxic-oxic interfaces such as the soil surface and the root surface of aquatic plants that serve as conduits for O2 transport into and CH4 transport out of the wetland soils. The dominant production processes in upland soils are different from those in wetland soils and include H2 production by biological N2 fixation, CO production by chemical decomposition of soil organic matter, and NO and N2O production by nitrification and denitrification. The processes responsible for CH4 production in upland soils are completely unclear, as are the OCS production processes in general. A problem for future research is the attribution of trace gas metabolic processes not only to functional groups of microorganisms but also to particular taxa. Thus, it is completely unclear how important microbial diversity is for the control of trace gas flux at the ecosystem level. However, different microbial communities may be part of the reason for differences in trace gas metabolism, e.g., effects of nitrogen fertilizers on CH4 uptake by soil; decrease of CH4 production with decreasing temperature; or different rates and modes of NO and N2O production in different soils and under different conditions.

Biotic Control over the Functioning of Ecosystems

1997-07-25

F. Stuart Chapin , Brian Walker , Richard J. Hobbs +4 more

Changes in the abundance of species — especially those that influence water and nutrient dynamics, trophic interactions, or disturbance regime — affect the structure and functioning of ecosystems. Diversity is … Changes in the abundance of species — especially those that influence water and nutrient dynamics, trophic interactions, or disturbance regime — affect the structure and functioning of ecosystems. Diversity is also functionally important, both because it increases the probability of including species that have strong ecosystem effects and because it can increase the efficiency of resource use. Differences in environmental sensitivity among functionally similar species give stability to ecosystem processes, whereas differences in sensitivity among functionally different species make ecosystems more vulnerable to change. Current global environmental changes that affect species composition and diversity are therefore profoundly altering the functioning of the biosphere.

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Carbon sequestration in the agricultural soils of Europe

2004-02-28

Annette Freibauer , Mark Rounsevell , Pete Smith +1 more

Global and regional importance of the tropical peatland carbon pool

2010-06-21

Susan Page , J.O. Rieley , Christopher J. Banks

Abstract Accurate inventory of tropical peatland is important in order to (a) determine the magnitude of the carbon pool; (b) estimate the scale of transfers of peat‐derived greenhouse gases to … Abstract Accurate inventory of tropical peatland is important in order to (a) determine the magnitude of the carbon pool; (b) estimate the scale of transfers of peat‐derived greenhouse gases to the atmosphere resulting from land use change; and (c) support carbon emissions reduction policies. We review available information on tropical peatland area and thickness and calculate peat volume and carbon content in order to determine their best estimates and ranges of variation. Our best estimate of tropical peatland area is 441 025 km 2 (∼11% of global peatland area) of which 247 778 km 2 (56%) is in Southeast Asia. We estimate the volume of tropical peat to be 1758 Gm 3 (∼18–25% of global peat volume) with 1359 Gm 3 in Southeast Asia (77% of all tropical peat). This new assessment reveals a larger tropical peatland carbon pool than previous estimates, with a best estimate of 88.6 Gt (range 81.7–91.9 Gt) equal to 15–19% of the global peat carbon pool. Of this, 68.5 Gt (77%) is in Southeast Asia, equal to 11–14% of global peat carbon. A single country, Indonesia, has the largest share of tropical peat carbon (57.4 Gt, 65%), followed by Malaysia (9.1 Gt, 10%). These data are used to provide revised estimates for Indonesian and Malaysian forest soil carbon pools of 77 and 15 Gt, respectively, and total forest carbon pools (biomass plus soil) of 97 and 19 Gt. Peat carbon contributes 60% to the total forest soil carbon pool in Malaysia and 74% in Indonesia. These results emphasize the prominent global and regional roles played by the tropical peat carbon pool and the importance of including this pool in national and regional assessments of terrestrial carbon stocks and the prediction of peat‐derived greenhouse gas emissions.

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Production, oxidation, emission and consumption of methane by soils: A review

2001-01-01

Jean Le Mer , P. A. Roger

The kinetics of sorption of divalent metal ions onto sphagnum moss peat

2000-02-15

Yuh‐Shan Ho

Ecosystem carbon loss with woody plant invasion of grasslands

2002-08-01

Robert B. Jackson , Jay L. Banner , Estéban G. Jobbágy +2 more

Ecological impacts of early 21st century agricultural change in Europe – A review

2009-08-30

Chris Stoate , András Báldi , Pedro Beja +6 more

The global nitrogen cycle in the twenty-first century

2013-05-28

D. Fowler , Mhairi Coyle , Ute Skiba +7 more

Global nitrogen fixation contributes 413 Tg of reactive nitrogen (N r ) to terrestrial and marine ecosystems annually of which anthropogenic activities are responsible for half, 210 Tg N. The … Global nitrogen fixation contributes 413 Tg of reactive nitrogen (N r ) to terrestrial and marine ecosystems annually of which anthropogenic activities are responsible for half, 210 Tg N. The majority of the transformations of anthropogenic N r are on land (240 Tg N yr −1 ) within soils and vegetation where reduced N r contributes most of the input through the use of fertilizer nitrogen in agriculture. Leakages from the use of fertilizer N r contribute to nitrate (NO 3 − ) in drainage waters from agricultural land and emissions of trace N r compounds to the atmosphere. Emissions, mainly of ammonia (NH 3 ) from land together with combustion related emissions of nitrogen oxides (NO x ), contribute 100 Tg N yr −1 to the atmosphere, which are transported between countries and processed within the atmosphere, generating secondary pollutants, including ozone and other photochemical oxidants and aerosols, especially ammonium nitrate (NH 4 NO 3 ) and ammonium sulfate (NH 4 ) 2 SO 4 . Leaching and riverine transport of NO 3 contribute 40–70 Tg N yr −1 to coastal waters and the open ocean, which together with the 30 Tg input to oceans from atmospheric deposition combine with marine biological nitrogen fixation (140 Tg N yr −1 ) to double the ocean processing of N r . Some of the marine N r is buried in sediments, the remainder being denitrified back to the atmosphere as N 2 or N 2 O. The marine processing is of a similar magnitude to that in terrestrial soils and vegetation, but has a larger fraction of natural origin. The lifetime of N r in the atmosphere, with the exception of N 2 O, is only a few weeks, while in terrestrial ecosystems, with the exception of peatlands (where it can be 10 2 –10 3 years), the lifetime is a few decades. In the ocean, the lifetime of N r is less well known but seems to be longer than in terrestrial ecosystems and may represent an important long-term source of N 2 O that will respond very slowly to control measures on the sources of N r from which it is produced.

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Peatlands and the carbon cycle: from local processes to global implications – a synthesis

2008-10-31

Juul Limpens , Frank Berendse , C. Blodau +6 more

Abstract. Peatlands cover only 3% of the Earth's land surface but boreal and subarctic peatlands store about 15–30% of the world's soil carbon (C) as peat. Despite their potential for … Abstract. Peatlands cover only 3% of the Earth's land surface but boreal and subarctic peatlands store about 15–30% of the world's soil carbon (C) as peat. Despite their potential for large positive feedbacks to the climate system through sequestration and emission of greenhouse gases, peatlands are not explicitly included in global climate models and therefore in predictions of future climate change. In April 2007 a symposium was held in Wageningen, the Netherlands, to advance our understanding of peatland C cycling. This paper synthesizes the main findings of the symposium, focusing on (i) small-scale processes, (ii) C fluxes at the landscape scale, and (iii) peatlands in the context of climate change. The main drivers controlling C fluxes are largely scale dependent and most are related to some aspects of hydrology. Despite high spatial and annual variability in Net Ecosystem Exchange (NEE), the differences in cumulative annual NEE are more a function of broad scale geographic location and physical setting than internal factors, suggesting the existence of strong feedbacks. In contrast, trace gas emissions seem mainly controlled by local factors. Key uncertainties remain concerning the existence of perturbation thresholds, the relative strengths of the CO2 and CH4 feedback, the links among peatland surface climate, hydrology, ecosystem structure and function, and trace gas biogeochemistry as well as the similarity of process rates across peatland types and climatic zones. Progress on these research areas can only be realized by stronger co-operation between disciplines that address different spatial and temporal scales.

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The carbon balance of North American wetlands

2006-12-01

Scott D. Bridgham , J. Patrick Megonigal , Jason K. Keller +2 more

Reservoir Surfaces as Sources of Greenhouse Gases to the Atmosphere: A Global Estimate

2000-01-01

Vincent L. St. Louis , Carol A. Kelly , Éric Duchemin +2 more

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The Ecology of Soil Carbon: Pools, Vulnerabilities, and Biotic and Abiotic Controls

2017-09-06

Robert B. Jackson , Kate Lajtha , Susan E. Crow +3 more

Soil organic matter (SOM) anchors global terrestrial productivity and food and fiber supply. SOM retains water and soil nutrients and stores more global carbon than do plants and the atmosphere … Soil organic matter (SOM) anchors global terrestrial productivity and food and fiber supply. SOM retains water and soil nutrients and stores more global carbon than do plants and the atmosphere combined. SOM is also decomposed by microbes, returning CO 2 , a greenhouse gas, to the atmosphere. Unfortunately, soil carbon stocks have been widely lost or degraded through land use changes and unsustainable forest and agricultural practices. To understand its structure and function and to maintain and restore SOM, we need a better appreciation of soil organic carbon (SOC) saturation capacity and the retention of above- and belowground inputs in SOM. Our analysis suggests root inputs are approximately five times more likely than an equivalent mass of aboveground litter to be stabilized as SOM. Microbes, particularly fungi and bacteria, and soil faunal food webs strongly influence SOM decomposition at shallower depths, whereas mineral associations drive stabilization at depths greater than ∼30 cm. Global uncertainties in the amounts and locations of SOM include the extent of wetland, peatland, and permafrost systems and factors that constrain soil depths, such as shallow bedrock. In consideration of these uncertainties, we estimate global SOC stocks at depths of 2 and 3 m to be between 2,270 and 2,770 Pg, respectively, but could be as much as 700 Pg smaller. Sedimentary deposits deeper than 3 m likely contain >500 Pg of additional SOC. Soils hold the largest biogeochemically active terrestrial carbon pool on Earth and are critical for stabilizing atmospheric CO 2 concentrations. Nonetheless, global pressures on soils continue from changes in land management, including the need for increasing bioenergy and food production.

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PEATMAP: Refining estimates of global peatland distribution based on a meta-analysis

2017-09-23

Jiren Xu , Paul J. Morris , Junguo Liu +1 more

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The Community Land Model Version 5: Description of New Features, Benchmarking, and Impact of Forcing Uncertainty

2019-10-19

David M. Lawrence , Rosie A. Fisher , Charles D. Koven +7 more

The Community Land Model (CLM) is the land component of the Community Earth System Model (CESM) and is used in several global and regional modeling systems. In this paper, we … The Community Land Model (CLM) is the land component of the Community Earth System Model (CESM) and is used in several global and regional modeling systems. In this paper, we introduce model developments included in CLM version 5 (CLM5), which is the default land component for CESM2. We assess an ensemble of simulations, including prescribed and prognostic vegetation state, multiple forcing data sets, and CLM4, CLM4.5, and CLM5, against a range of metrics including from the International Land Model Benchmarking (ILAMBv2) package. CLM5 includes new and updated processes and parameterizations: (1) dynamic land units, (2) updated parameterizations and structure for hydrology and snow (spatially explicit soil depth, dry surface layer, revised groundwater scheme, revised canopy interception and canopy snow processes, updated fresh snow density, simple firn model, and Model for Scale Adaptive River Transport), (3) plant hydraulics and hydraulic redistribution, (4) revised nitrogen cycling (flexible leaf stoichiometry, leaf N optimization for photosynthesis, and carbon costs for plant nitrogen uptake), (5) global crop model with six crop types and time-evolving irrigated areas and fertilization rates, (6) updated urban building energy, (7) carbon isotopes, and (8) updated stomatal physiology. New optional features include demographically structured dynamic vegetation model (Functionally Assembled Terrestrial Ecosystem Simulator), ozone damage to plants, and fire trace gas emissions coupling to the atmosphere. Conclusive establishment of improvement or degradation of individual variables or metrics is challenged by forcing uncertainty, parametric uncertainty, and model structural complexity, but the multivariate metrics presented here suggest a general broad improvement from CLM4 to CLM5.

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Soil carbon storage informed by particulate and mineral-associated organic matter

2019-11-18

Maurizio Cotrufo , Maria Giovanna Ranalli , Michelle L. Haddix +2 more

The role of soil carbon in natural climate solutions

2020-03-16

Déborah Bossio , Susan C. Cook‐Patton , Peter W. Ellis +7 more

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Soil microorganisms as controllers of atmospheric trace gases (H2, CO, CH4, OCS, N2O, and NO).

1996-01-01

Ralf Conrad

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The Exchange of Dissolved Substances between Mud and Water in Lakes

1942-02-01

Clifford H. Mortimer

Exchange of greenhouse gases between soil and atmosphere: interactions of soil physical factors and biological processes

2003-10-17

Keith A. Smith , Tom Ball , Franz Conen +3 more

Biogeochemistry of Wetlands

2008-07-28

K. R. Reddy , Ronald D. DeLaune

Wetland ecosystems maintain a fragile balance of soil, water, plant, and atmospheric components in order to regulate water flow, flooding, and water quality. Marginally covered in traditional texts on biogeochemistry … Wetland ecosystems maintain a fragile balance of soil, water, plant, and atmospheric components in order to regulate water flow, flooding, and water quality. Marginally covered in traditional texts on biogeochemistry or on wetland soils, Biogeochemistry of Wetlands is the first to focus entirely on the biological, geological, physical, and chemical

Biogeochemistry of a Forested Ecosystem

1977-01-01

Gene E. Likens , Franz–Josef Bormann , Robert S. Pierce +2 more

Erlengraben/Lipp-Tal (Östringen)

2018-01-01

Registry-Migration.Gbif.Org

This dataset holds the observations recorded during the GEO Biodiversity Day "Erlengraben/Lipp-Tal (Östringen)" in Östringen This dataset holds the observations recorded during the GEO Biodiversity Day "Erlengraben/Lipp-Tal (Östringen)" in Östringen

Concepts and Controversies in Tidal Marsh Ecology

2000-01-01

Michael P. Weinstein , Daniel A. Kreeger

Methods in Ecosystem Science

2000-01-01

Osvaldo E. Sala , Robert B. Jackson , Harold A. Mooney +1 more

Microbial biomass – not diversity – drives soil carbon and nitrogen mineralization in Spanish holm oak ecosystems

2025-06-25

Elisa Bruni , Jorge Curiel Yuste , Lorenzo Menichetti +7 more | Geoderma

Development of biogeochemical processes on a residual in-situ oil well pad undergoing restoration to a boreal peatland

2025-06-25

Murdoch McKinnon , Felix Nwaishi , Bin Xu +1 more | Wetlands Ecology and Management

Different responses of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria and archaea to yak dung addition regulate nitrogen cycle in an alpine meadow

2025-06-25

Xiaoyue Yin , Luming Ding , Tianyang Zhou +3 more | Applied Soil Ecology

An Overview of Upland Peatlands’ Vegetation of Apennines, Sicily, and Sardinia (Italy)

2025-06-23

Enrico Bajona , Emilio Di Gristina , Giuseppe Venturella | Plants

Upland mires in Italy, excluding the Alps, have a fragmentary distribution, and most of them persist in climatically optimal mountain refugia. Based on the literature data, we assessed that the … Upland mires in Italy, excluding the Alps, have a fragmentary distribution, and most of them persist in climatically optimal mountain refugia. Based on the literature data, we assessed that the state of knowledge of Italian upland mires distributed in the Apennines, Sicily, and Sardinia is outdated. We analyzed 54 publications, and 220 peatland sites were found. Only a few publications were published in the last ten years, and most of the peat bogs described in the past have not been resurveyed. The largest number of sites is concentrated in the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines (60), followed by Sicily (51 sites) and Calabria (42). The vegetation belongs to 38 phytosociological associations, 19 sub-associations and variants, and 54 communities of 6 different classes; the most represented class is Scheuchzerio palustris-Caricetea fuscae. The most widespread disturbances are uncontrolled grazing by domestic livestock and wild fauna, groundwater extraction, and road construction. New investigations are urgently needed to update the state of Italian upland mires knowledge, which is the basis for all conservation strategies prescribed by national, European, and international policies.

Digital mapping of peat thickness and carbon stock of global peatlands

2025-06-23

Marliana Tri Widyastuti , Budiman Minasny , José Padarian +7 more | CATENA

Climate buffering effects of western Canadian boreal lakes: the effect of lake size and depth on shoreline and nearshore forests

2025-06-23

Ashley Hillman , Scott E. Nielsen | Landscape Ecology

Lakes can provide thermal refugia effects by buffering shoreline and inland temperatures, potentially delaying forest transitions. However, this effect has not been quantified for the majority of boreal Canada lakes, … Lakes can provide thermal refugia effects by buffering shoreline and inland temperatures, potentially delaying forest transitions. However, this effect has not been quantified for the majority of boreal Canada lakes, which are often excluded in general circulation model predictions of climate, thus potentially underestimating the effects of lake-mediated buffering. Here, we quantify the effects of varying lake morphometry on temperature buffering potential of 11 boreal lakes in central to western Canada. We aim to provide context for lake-mediated climate buffering in Canada's boreal forest. We established inland transects at 11 lakes in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and the NWT of Canada, with temperature stations at 10 m, 100 m, 1 km, 10 km, and 100 km from shore. We predicted the effects of lake characteristics on mean July temperature anomaly, net ice-off period temperature anomaly, and the proportion of coniferous trees at sites. July temperatures were coolest on the downwind side of lakes, within 10 km of shore, and at lakes with a high volume (R2c = 0.71), Near-shore sites were cooler than inland sites, particularly at a lower altitude above the lake and larger lake volumes (R2c = 0.66). Ice-off temperature anomalies were best predicted by the interaction between lake area and average lake depth (R2c = 0.55). Lastly, the proportion of coniferous trees at sites was best predicted by mean July temperature (R2c = 0.41). We identified lakes across boreal Canada large enough to provide seasonal temperature buffering on their shoreline and nearshore forests, with an aim for inclusion in circulation models and to guide management and conservation efforts associated with lake-mediated climate refugia. The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10980-025-02146-5.

Interannual spectral consistency and spatial uncertainties in <scp>UAV</scp>‐based detection of boreal and subarctic mire plant communities

2025-06-22

Franziska Wolff , Tiina H. M. Kolari , Aleksi Räsänen +7 more | Remote Sensing in Ecology and Conservation

Abstract Unoccupied Aerial Vehicle (UAV) imagery is widely used for detailed vegetation modeling and ecosystem monitoring in peatlands. Despite high‐resolution data, the spatial complexity and heterogeneity of vegetation, along with … Abstract Unoccupied Aerial Vehicle (UAV) imagery is widely used for detailed vegetation modeling and ecosystem monitoring in peatlands. Despite high‐resolution data, the spatial complexity and heterogeneity of vegetation, along with temporal fluctuations in spectral reflectance, complicate the assessment of spatial patterns in these ecosystems. We used interannual multispectral UAV data, collected at the same time of the year, from two aapa and two palsa mires in Finland. We applied Random Forest classification to map plant communities and assessed spectral, temporal and spatial consistency, class relationships and area estimates. Further, we used the class membership probabilities from the classification to derive a secondary classification map, representing the second most likely class label per‐pixel and an alternative map to account for spatial uncertainty in area estimates. The accuracies of the primary classifications varied between 66 and 85%. The best results were achieved using interannual data, improving accuracy by up to 14%‐points when compared to single‐year imagery, particularly benefiting classes with lower accuracies. Spectral and temporal inconsistencies in the UAV data collected in different years led to variations in the classifications, notably for the Rubus chamaemorus community in palsa mires, likely due to weather fluctuations and phenology. The transformations from primary to secondary classifications in areas of high uncertainty aligned well with the class relationships in the confusion matrix, supporting the model's reliability. Confidence interval‐based adjusted estimates aligned largely with unadjusted area estimates of the alternative map. Our findings support incorporating class membership probabilities and alternative maps to capture spatially explicit uncertainty, especially when spatial variability is high or key plant communities are involved. Our presented approach is particularly beneficial for upscaling ecological processes, such as carbon fluxes, where spatial variability is driven by plant community distribution and where informed decision‐making requires detailed spatial assessments.

Soil moisture and abundance of microbial groups are key determinants of greenhouse gas fluxes in a semi-arid wetland ecosystem

2025-06-21

Jiahui Yin , Junyi Li , Yongman Wang +5 more | Journal of Environmental Management

Organic topsoil thickness as a proxy to assess spatial variability of carbon stocks in boreal pine and spruce forest floors

2025-06-20

Mikael Ohlson , Johan Asplund , Vilde L. Haukenes | Scandinavian Journal of Forest Research

Old-Age Fen Ecosystems; their Loss of Biodiversity and Management Options. 65 Years of Succession Recorded in Ilperveld (NL)

2025-06-20

B. Beltman , Hermann Held , A. Barendregt +1 more | Wetlands

Does peatland rewetting mitigate flooding from extreme rainfall events?

2025-06-19

Shirin Karimi , Virginia Mosquera , Eliza Maher Hasselquist +2 more | Hydrology and earth system sciences

Abstract. Pristine peatlands are believed to play an important role in regulating hydrological extremes because they can act as reservoirs for rainwater and release it gradually during dry periods. Rewetting … Abstract. Pristine peatlands are believed to play an important role in regulating hydrological extremes because they can act as reservoirs for rainwater and release it gradually during dry periods. Rewetting of drained peatlands has therefore been considered an important strategy to reduce the catastrophic effects of flooding. With the anticipation of more frequent extreme rainfall events in the future due to a changing global climate, the importance of peatland rewetting in flood mitigation becomes even more important. To date, however, empirical data showing that rewetting of drained peatlands actually restores their hydrological function similar to pristine peatlands are largely lacking, particularly for boreal fens. To assess whether peatland rewetting can mitigate flooding from extreme rainfall events and ensure water security in a future climate, we measured event-based runoff responses before and after rewetting using a BACI approach (before–after and control–impact) within a replicated, catchment-scale study at the Trollberget Experimental Area in northern Sweden. High-resolution hydrological field observations, including groundwater level (GWL), discharge, and rainfall data, were collected over 4 years, allowing us to detect and analyze 17 rainfall-runoff events before and 30 events after rewetting. We found that the rewetted sites experienced an increase in the GWL following rewetting and that this was consistently observed across all distances from the blocked ditch within the peatland. Our rainfall-runoff analysis revealed that rewetting significantly decreased peak flow and the runoff coefficient and reduced the overall flashiness of hydrographs, making the rewetted sites function more like the pristine control peatland. However, “lag time”, which was already similar to pristine conditions, was pushed farther away from pristine conditions following rewetting. Yet, our results showed that the effectiveness of ditch blocking in flood moderation was strongly influenced by the initial condition and the catchment percentage of restoration, as one of our two rewetted peatlands did not show significant change, attributed to it being already similar to the pristine site, suggesting less treatment effect, and the other catchment, with higher restoration percentage, had a better response to treatment. In summary, our findings suggest that peatland rewetting has the potential to mitigate flood responses; however, further research over a longer time period is needed, as peat properties and the peatland vegetation will develop and change over time.

О распространении и хозяйственном использовании естественных и антропогенно трансформированных торфяников в горно-лесной зоне Республики Башкортостан и Башкирском Зауралье

2025-06-19

Э. З. Баишева , П. С. Широких , В. Б. Мартыненко +2 more | Ecosystem Transformation

На основе данных экспедиционных исследований и методов ДЗЗ созданы перечень и ГИС-карта естественных и антропогенно измененных торфяников горно-лесной зоны Республики Башкортостан и Башкирского Зауралья, представленного лесостепными и степными районами. Выявлено … На основе данных экспедиционных исследований и методов ДЗЗ созданы перечень и ГИС-карта естественных и антропогенно измененных торфяников горно-лесной зоны Республики Башкортостан и Башкирского Зауралья, представленного лесостепными и степными районами. Выявлено 360 торфяников общей площадью более 45.6 тыс. га. Установлено, что осушению и добыче торфа было подвержено более трети площадей обследованных торфяников, причем степень их нарушенности в Башкирском Зауралье (около 60% площади) значительно выше, чем в горно-лесной зоне РБ (25%). Среди торфяников, сохранившихся в естественном состоянии, не используются для сельского хозяйства более 70% площадей. Среди антропогенно трансформированных торфяников наиболее востребованы земли осушенных, но не разработанных торфяников. Меньшую хозяйственную ценность представляют торфяники, на которых производилась добыча торфа, более 40% их площадей не востребованы в сельском хозяйстве. An inventory and a GIS-map of natural and anthropogenically transformed peatlands of the mountain-forest zone of the Republic of Bashkortostan and the Bashkir Trans-Urals, represented by forest-steppe and steppe regions, are created in this study on the basis of expeditionary research data and Earth remote sensing methods. A total of 360 peatlands, encompassing more than 45.6 thousand ha, are detected. It is found that more than one third of the peatlands under study were subject to drainage and peat extraction, and the degree of their disturbance in the Bashkir Trans-Urals (about 60% of the area) is much higher than in the mountain-forest zone of the Republic of Bashkortostan (25%). Among the peatlands preserved in their natural state, more than 70% of the areas are not used for agriculture. Drained but undeveloped peatlands are the most in demand among anthropogenically transformed peat mires. Peatlands from which peat was extracted are of lower economic value, with more than 40% of their area not used for agriculture. Keywords: mires, the Southern Urals region, GIS-map, drained peatlands

Temperature and moisture changes altered soil organic carbon decomposition and its temperature sensitivity in Poyang Lake wetland

2025-06-19

Jinfeng Liang , Qiong Ren , Bo Yao +4 more | Plant and Soil

Persistent resilience and bimodal stability of herbaceous peatlands in the Southeastern Tibetan Plateau over 600 years of climatic shifts

2025-06-19

Chengyu Miao , Hanxiang Liu , Ying Wang +2 more | CATENA

Satellite data indicates recent Arctic peatland expansion with warming

2025-06-19

Katherine Crichton , Karen Anderson , Richard E. Fewster +7 more | Communications Earth & Environment

Abstract Northern peatlands are an important carbon store in mid to high latitudes, but become increasingly discontinuous in the higher latitudes, associated with temperature and precipitation limits on plant growth. … Abstract Northern peatlands are an important carbon store in mid to high latitudes, but become increasingly discontinuous in the higher latitudes, associated with temperature and precipitation limits on plant growth. During the last four decades, mean annual temperatures in the Arctic have increased on average by ~3 °C. Warmer temperatures and longer growing seasons likely drive increases in plant productivity throughout northern latitudes, but it is not clear whether warming has resulted in lateral spread of Arctic peatlands. Using long time-series Landsat satellite data, coupled with information gathered from fieldwork in situ, we show that Arctic peatlands have likely undergone lateral expansion over the last 40 years. On 21 transects from the edges of 16 extant peatlands in the European and Canadian Arctic (both high and low Arctic locations from 62 to 79°N), over two thirds of the peatland edges we studied showed statistically significant peak-summer greening (as Normalised Difference Vegetation Index) in the last 15 to 20 years, compared to the period 1985–1995. Peak summer moisture (as normalised Difference Moisture Index) levels remained stable or increased at most study sites. The lateral expansion of Arctic peatlands suggests they are an increasingly important natural carbon sink, at least in the near term.

Spatial and temporal dynamics of methane and carbon dioxide fluxes in a constructed wetland

2025-06-18

Charlotte Dykes , Jonathan Pearson , Gary D. Bending +1 more | Journal of Water Process Engineering

Surface Conditions Affect How Mosses Take to Former Well Pads in Canada’s Boreal Fens

2025-06-18

Kaja Šeruga | Eos

With the help of key moss species, a new approach aims to restore the fens of the Western Boreal Plain. With the help of key moss species, a new approach aims to restore the fens of the Western Boreal Plain.

Modeling the Influence of Environmental Factors on Plant Species Composition in Riparian Wetlands

2025-06-17

Kun Woo Kim , Ho Choi , Jae Geun Kim | Wetlands

Drastic peatland regime shift and landscape disturbances connected to warm and cold climate events over the past centuries in subarctic Finland

2025-06-16

Sanna Piilo , Mari Kuoppamaa , Teemu Tahvanainen +4 more | Boreas

Palaeoecological studies reporting long‐term development histories of subarctic fens—explicitly, orohemiarctic peatlands—are scarce, and overall, permafrost‐free peatlands located in the immediate vicinity of permafrost zones have received little attention in Fennoscandia. … Palaeoecological studies reporting long‐term development histories of subarctic fens—explicitly, orohemiarctic peatlands—are scarce, and overall, permafrost‐free peatlands located in the immediate vicinity of permafrost zones have received little attention in Fennoscandia. Here, we use a multiproxy approach to study the millennial‐scale dynamics of two neighbouring peatlands located in Finnish Lapland (Katsapuli and Maader). In addition to studying autogenic succession and external forcing, we aimed to resolve the impact of surrounding landscape changes, potentially related to reindeer herding. The pollen data did not indicate major changes in regional vegetation, except for an increase in the proportion of sedges towards modern times and a decrease in the proportion of tree pollen. This, together with an increase in regional fire (microcharcoal) and erosion rates (measured as the mineral component in the sediments) in the area, coincided with both colder temperatures (Little Ice Age) and the emergence of reindeer‐based pastoralism. The macrofossil peat plant data of the two profiles suggested a clear and relatively simultaneous local regime shift from sedge‐dominated local habitat conditions to a Sphagnum community, where S. lindbergii became increasingly dominant towards the present day, suggesting a prevalence of relatively moist conditions. In both sites, the regime shift was coeval with the onset of Medieval Climate Anomaly climate conditions and is sustained thereafter. Vegetation changes in Sphagnum mosses induced high peat growth rates, and most of the peat stock is relatively young. Based on these data, we suggest that Sphagnum moss communities are resilient to climate fluctuations and might continue to act as effective carbon accumulation systems under warmer climates.

A Moss-Based Approach for Assessing the Potential for Ecological Restoration in Vegetation-Degraded Volcanic Landscapes: A Case Study of Doneori Oreum in Jeju Island

2025-06-16

Jae‐Hong Park , Jung Hwan Jang , Do-Yeon Kim | Research Square (Research Square)

<title>Abstract</title> Aims This study aims to assess the potential for ecological restoration in vegetation-degraded volcanic landscapes by examining the effects of moss on soil functionality. The goal is to identify … <title>Abstract</title> Aims This study aims to assess the potential for ecological restoration in vegetation-degraded volcanic landscapes by examining the effects of moss on soil functionality. The goal is to identify the ecological contributions of pioneer moss species to the rehabilitation of these landscapes, focusing on Jeju Island’s Doneori Oreum. Methods Soils were collected from vegetation-degraded and vegetation-rich areas within Doneori Oreum, a parasitic volcanic cone on Jeju Island. After characterizing soil physicochemical properties, three native moss species—<italic>Rhacomitrium canescens</italic>, <italic>Hypnum plumaeforme</italic>, and <italic>Ceratodon purpureus</italic>—were applied to the degraded soil under controlled indoor conditions. Changes in soil properties such as pH, organic matter (OM), cation exchange capacity (CEC), total nitrogen (T-N), and available phosphorus (AP) were analyzed. Results Degraded soils showed significantly lower OM, CEC, and exchangeable cations compared to vegetation-rich soils, despite higher levels of T-N and AP. This contrast suggests that the absence of vegetation may have limited nutrient uptake and cycling, resulting in the accumulation of unutilized nutrients in degraded soils. Moss application significantly improved all measured soil properties. Each moss species enhanced pH, OM, CEC, AP, T-N, and exchangeable cations (Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, K⁺), with variation in magnitude, indicating species-specific effects. Conclusions Mosses contribute to early-stage soil restoration by stabilizing surface soils, increasing organic matter, and potentially supporting microbial colonization. These findings highlight mosses as promising agents in ecological restoration. However, field-based and long-term studies are necessary to validate their practical effectiveness and to develop optimized restoration strategies.

The effect of granulated wood ash fertilisation on soil CO2 efflux and biomass production in two boreal peatland forests

2025-06-16

Marja Maljanen , Maarit Liimatainen , Jyrki Hytönen | BALTIC FORESTRY

Wood ash from bioenergy production can be recycled as a fertiliser, especially in boreal peatland forests naturally rich in nitrogen (N). We studied the effects of granulated wood ash fertilisation … Wood ash from bioenergy production can be recycled as a fertiliser, especially in boreal peatland forests naturally rich in nitrogen (N). We studied the effects of granulated wood ash fertilisation (5,000 kg ha–1) on soil carbon dioxide (CO2) efflux and accumulation of carbon (C) in the stem biomass of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) between a nitrogen-poor (Cladonia-type peatland forest) and a nitrogen-rich site (Vaccinium vitis-idaea-type peatland forest) located in western Finland. The CO2 efflux was measured from the bare peat surface using the manual chamber method eight years after ash fertilisation. In this case study, CO2 loss from the peat without ash application was twice as much at the nitrogen-rich site as at the nitrogen-poor site. Ash fertilisation increased tree stand biomass but also CO2 loss from the peat. At the nitrogen-rich site with higher stem volume (79–108 m3 ha–1), tree stem biomass and soil CO2 efflux increased at the same rate after ash fertilisation. On the nitrogen-poor site, where stand volume was low (7–17 m3 ha–1), soil CO2-C efflux increased more than the accumulation of C in the stem biomass, thus increasing C loss considerably. Therefore, this case study suggests that to optimise the increase of tree growth and at the same time avoid negative climate impacts, wood ash fertilisation should be used in well-stocked nitrogen-rich peatland forests. Key words: forestry; wood ash; soil respiration; Scots pine; carbon dioxide; biomass

Plasticity in bog plant nitrogen concentration is related to recent weather conditions

2025-06-16

R. Kelman Wieder , Melanie A. Vile , Kimberli D. Scott | Plant and Soil

Changes in soil moisture and its relationships with nitrogen cycle processes in a northern hardwood forest

2025-06-16

Geoff Wilson , Peter M. Groffman , Laurence Martel +5 more | Canadian Journal of Forest Research

Identifying which aspects of global environmental change are driving observed ecosystem process responses is a great challenge. Here, we address how long-term (10-25 year) alterations in soil moisture, and nitrogen … Identifying which aspects of global environmental change are driving observed ecosystem process responses is a great challenge. Here, we address how long-term (10-25 year) alterations in soil moisture, and nitrogen (N) oligotrophication (i.e. decreases in soil N availability relative to plant demand), alter the production of plant-available N via net mineralization and nitrification in a northern hardwood forest. Our objectives were to determine whether soil moisture has changed over the past decade and whether N cycle processes have become less sensitive to soil moisture over time due to N oligotrophication. We used long-term data sets from several related studies to show: (i) increasing winter soil temperatures and declining summer soil moisture from late 2010 into 2024; (ii) reductions in sensitivity of N cycling rates to soil moisture, and (iii) declining moisture-adjusted N cycle processes (the ratio of rate of N process:soil moisture) over time in both summer and winter. These changes suggest continued reductions in N availability to plants in these forests, with potential effects on forest productivity and response to disturbance.

A global development and dynamics of peatland restoration: a bibliometric analysis

2025-06-16

Harsanto Mursyid , Ramli Ramadhan , Andri Irawan +3 more | Ecological Indicators

Ammonium preference and microbial nitrification inhibition drive the expansion of a poisonous plant in alpine ‐meadows

2025-06-16

J.H. Ma , Fujiang Hou , Xingguo Han +1 more | Journal of Ecology

Abstract Poisonous plants are proliferating unprecedentedly across global terrestrial ecosystems, threatening ecosystem health. However, the mechanisms underlying their rapid expansion, including nitrogen (N) uptake strategies and effects on soil processes, … Abstract Poisonous plants are proliferating unprecedentedly across global terrestrial ecosystems, threatening ecosystem health. However, the mechanisms underlying their rapid expansion, including nitrogen (N) uptake strategies and effects on soil processes, remain poorly understood. We hypothesized that poisonous plants may possess specialized N acquisition and utilization strategies (e.g. preference for particular N forms) via rhizosphere microbiome alterations, thereby influencing ecosystem N transformations and gaining a competitive advantage. To test this idea, we investigated Ligularia virgaurea ( L. virgaurea ), a dominant poisonous plant on the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau (QTP), which thrives in degraded alpine meadows. Our study integrated (1) long‐term multi‐site spatiotemporal surveys (2010–2020) to assess L. virgaurea population dynamics and associated vegetation and soil changes; (2) 15 N‐tracing techniques to compare N form preferences (NO 3 − vs. NH 4 + ), soil N transformations and ecological consequences between L. virgaurea and the non‐poisonous grass Elymus nutans ( E. nutans ); and (3) qPCR and amplicon sequencing techniques to analyse rhizosphere microbiome, particularly ammonia‐oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and archaea (AOA). From 2010 to 2020, L. virgaurea density increased 4.9‐fold. Higher L. virgaurea densities correlated with elevated soil organic carbon, total N, NH 4 + ‐N, available phosphorus and microbial biomass, but reduced soil NO 3 − ‐N. Compared with E. nutans , L. virgaurea demonstrated a greater N uptake efficiency with particular affinity for ammonium, suppressed AOA/AOB abundance, altered phylogenetic composition of nitrifiers, attenuated nitrification rates and reduced nitrous oxide (N 2 O) emissions. Synthesis . Ligularia virgaurea 's expansion is driven by enhanced N utilization efficiency via nitrification inhibition, likely mediated by rhizosphere microbiome shifts. This unique N acquisition and utilization strategy likely gives L. virgaurea a competitive advantage in degraded QTP grasslands, with implications for restraining poisonous plant expansion through targeted nutrient management strategies in alpine grassland ecosystem.

Herbarium digitisation sheds light on historical distribution and drivers of population extinction of a peat bog specialist

2025-06-16

Gabriel F. Ulrich , Alessia Guggisberg , Loïc Pellissier +2 more | Plants People Planet

Societal Impact Statement Biodiversity loss threatens ecosystem services and human well‐being. Understanding the extent and causes of changes in biodiversity over time can help protect species and their habitats. Herbaria … Societal Impact Statement Biodiversity loss threatens ecosystem services and human well‐being. Understanding the extent and causes of changes in biodiversity over time can help protect species and their habitats. Herbaria house carefully documented and curated specimens collected by generations of botanists. We show how historical herbarium specimens can be made usable for the conservation of species through digitisation and georeferencing. Revisiting localities where a species occurred in the past can reveal population extinctions, identify the causes of biodiversity change and contribute to the development of effective conservation measures. Summary Habitat loss and degradation threaten biodiversity globally. The habitat of the peat bog specialist Eriophorum vaginatum has declined dramatically over the past two centuries, and contemporary habitat degradation and climate change may threaten remaining populations. We aimed to estimate population extinction frequencies, identify drivers of extinctions, and assess the extinction risk of remaining E. vaginatum populations in Switzerland. We searched, digitised and georeferenced historical E. vaginatum specimens from nine Swiss herbaria, and revisited 197 localities where the species was collected between 1803 and 1949, to assess population extinctions. To identify environmental predictors of local extinctions, we used species distribution modelling (SDM). With the resulting model, we predicted extinction probabilities for contemporary E. vaginatum populations. Our revisitation study revealed that extinctions were most common on the Swiss Plateau, a densely populated and intensively farmed region, where 68% of populations became extinct. Extinctions were less common in the other biogeographic areas of Switzerland. The strongest predictors of extinction were soil nutrient content, pH and nearby plantations, whereas the presence of large wetland and wetland‐like areas and nearby shrubland were the strongest predictors of persistence. We predicted a high risk of extinction for 3.2% of the remaining populations. This study highlights the value of historical herbarium records in assessing long‐term environmental impacts on species. We emphasise the ongoing threats to E. vaginatum from agriculture and climate change and underscore the importance of conserving and restoring large habitats with protective buffer zones.

Dissolved organic matter characteristics of soil aggregates on slopes covered by natural successional vegetations with different root structures

2025-06-15

Dongxu Wu , Hao Wang , Qingwei Zhang +2 more | Geoderma

Comparative investigation of biomass carbon reserve under different management system in church and natural forests: Implications for mitigation of climate change impact

2025-06-15

Tekola Aschalew , Tolera Motuma , Teshome Tamirat | Climate Change

40 years of restoration: Temporal effects on nitrogen levels and carbon stability of post-extracted bogs

2025-06-13

Heike Schimmel , Melanie Braun , Wulf Amelung | Geoderma

Explaining hot spots of methane flux in a restored wetland: the role of water level, soil disturbance, and methanotrophy.

2025-06-13

Camilo Rey‐Sánchez , Ariane Arias‐Ortiz , Kuno Kasak +7 more | Environmental Research Letters

Abstract A high degree of uncertainty persists regarding current and future emissions of methane from both natural and constructed wetlands. Part of the problem is the existence of “hot spots” … Abstract A high degree of uncertainty persists regarding current and future emissions of methane from both natural and constructed wetlands. Part of the problem is the existence of “hot spots” of methane flux, which have not been clearly identified and studied at multiple scales. Methane has a short lifetime compared to carbon dioxide; thus, efforts to avoid methane hot spots from constructed wetlands can promptly decelerate the rate of atmospheric warming. In this study we measured methane fluxes using flux towers in a restored oligohaline wetland in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, where we previously identified a hot spot of methane flux using footprint-weighed flux maps and chambers. Our main objectives with this study were to determine why this hot spot occurs and what are the biogeochemical and microbiological conditions that lead to these high methane fluxes. We found four main mechanisms that explain the existence of the hot spot. 1) The hot spot was associated with areas where the water level was closer to the surface 2) Methane originated mostly from older unoxidized peat in deeper layers, which had a shorter migration pathway to the atmosphere at the hot spot location due to soil disturbance during wetland construction. 3) Relatively lower methane oxidation in the hot spot in the upper soil layer (10-30 cm under the surface), deduced from isotopic profiles in porewater carbon and upper-level methanotroph abundance. 4) Higher ebullition events at the hot spot that can be related to low water levels and lower bulk density throughout the soil profile. This study thus suggests that mitigating soil disturbances during wetland construction and managing water level can reduce the occurrence and magnitude of hot spots of methane flux in constructed wetlands.

Environmental and biogeochemical drivers of CH4 and N2O flux variability in treatment wetlands

2025-06-13

Isaac Okiti , Gideon Efakwu , Mihkel Pindus +1 more | Ecological Engineering

Naturbasierte Klimaanpassung in Bebauungsplänen an der niedersächsischen Nordseeküste

2025-06-13

Marieke Stammermann | Raumforschung und Raumordnung / Spatial Research and Planning

Climate change is associated with manifold consequences worldwide and thus also at the German North Sea coast. Climate adaptation is therefore important as a consideration in land-use plans for sustainable … Climate change is associated with manifold consequences worldwide and thus also at the German North Sea coast. Climate adaptation is therefore important as a consideration in land-use plans for sustainable spatial development. For this article, the extent to which nature-based climate adaptation is already integrated in land-use planning in rural areas on the North Sea coast of Lower Saxony (Germany). For this purpose, 211 land-use plans of rural communities on the North Sea coast of Lower Saxony were analysed for measures that could serve climate adaptation using quantitative content analysis. Predominantly, climate adaptation measures that have synergies with other development goals are integrated, such as defining green areas or limiting sealing. Challenges for further sustainable integration of climate adaptation may lie in the fields of knowledge and participation, resolution of trade-offs and flexibility.

From the top: surface-derived carbon fuels greenhouse gas production at depth in a peatland

2025-06-13

Alexandra Hedgpeth , Alison M. Hoyt , Kyle C. Cavanaugh +2 more | Biogeosciences

Abstract. Tropical peatlands play an important role in global carbon (C) cycling, but little is known about factors driving carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) emissions from these ecosystems, especially … Abstract. Tropical peatlands play an important role in global carbon (C) cycling, but little is known about factors driving carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) emissions from these ecosystems, especially production in deeper soils. This study aimed to identify source material and processes regulating C emissions originating deep in three sites in a peatland on the Caribbean coast of Panama. We hypothesized that (1) surface-derived organic matter transported down the soil profile is the primary C source for respiration products at depth and that (2) high lignin content results in hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis as the dominant CH4 production pathway throughout the profile. We used radiocarbon isotopic values to determine whether CO2 and CH4 at depth are produced from modern substrates or ancient deep peat, and we used stable C isotopes to identify the dominant CH4 production pathway. Peat organic chemistry was characterized using 13C solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (13C-NMR). We found that deep peat respiration products had radiocarbon signatures that were more similar to surface dissolved organic C (DOC) than deep solid peat. These results indicate that surface-derived organic matter was the dominant source for gas production at depth in this peatland, likely because of vertical transport of DOC from the surface to depth. Lignin, which was the most abundant compound (55 %–70 % of C), increased with depth across these sites, whereas other C compounds like carbohydrates did not vary with depth. These results suggest that there is no preferential decomposition of carbohydrates but instead preferential retention of lignin. Stable isotope signatures of respiration products indicated that hydrogenotrophic rather than acetoclastic methanogenesis was the dominant production pathway of CH4 throughout the peat profile. These results show that deep C in tropical peatlands does not contribute greatly to surface fluxes of carbon dioxide, with compounds like lignin preferentially retained. This protection of deep C helps explain how peatland C is retained over thousands of years and points to the vulnerability of this C should anaerobic conditions in these wet ecosystems change.

Shrub encroachment and degradation impact water balance by altering water fluxes in alpine meadows

2025-06-12

Lirong Zhao , Kexin Li , Nufang Fang +6 more | CATENA

Effect of Water Table Restoration on Microbial Communities and Enzyme Activities in Drained Peatland

2025-06-12

Yuting Wang , Klaus‐Holger Knorr , Jiangming Sun +6 more | Land Degradation and Development

ABSTRACT Hydrological conditions are critical for restoring drained peatlands, and peat microorganisms are highly sensitive to environmental changes. This study investigated the effects of water table (WT) restoration on peat … ABSTRACT Hydrological conditions are critical for restoring drained peatlands, and peat microorganisms are highly sensitive to environmental changes. This study investigated the effects of water table (WT) restoration on peat microbial communities and enzyme activities in the Baijianghe peatland of the Changbai Mountains. Peat samples from 0 to 50 cm depths were collected from natural, drained, and rewetted areas to analyze physicochemical properties, phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs), and enzyme activities (two oxidases and three hydrolases). Key findings revealed that microbial communities and enzyme activities varied significantly among the three areas and across different peat depths. Rewetting reduced oxidases, whereas it increased hydrolase activities in the oxic zone, while transitional and anoxic zones exhibited intermediate oxidases between drained and natural areas. WT restoration significantly increased microbial biomass and altered community structure, with higher total PLFAs, fungal, actinomycetes, and G − bacterial PLFAs in the oxic zone of the rewetted area. Phenolics and WC were the primary regulators of peat organic carbon (OC) accumulation, controlling C limitations for microbial activities. Notably, rewetting increased peat OC and active OC contents, primarily due to changes in water content (WC) and microbial biomass. These findings provide critical insights into the mechanisms driving peatland restoration and underscore the potential of rewetting to enhance carbon sequestration and restore ecological functions.

Comparing Light and Dark Chamber Measurements of CH4 Fluxes in Drained and Rewetted Raised Bogs of Ireland

2025-06-12

Stephen Barry , Kenneth A. Byrne , Kenneth Crawford +7 more | Research Square (Research Square)

<title>Abstract</title> The important factors regulating methane (CH4) fluxes in rewetted peatlands such as the vegetation types, water table depths (WTDs) and in-situ conditions (pH, redox, soil temperature and moisture) are … <title>Abstract</title> The important factors regulating methane (CH4) fluxes in rewetted peatlands such as the vegetation types, water table depths (WTDs) and in-situ conditions (pH, redox, soil temperature and moisture) are widely reported, but the impact of light and dark conditions on CH4 fluxes from multiple vegetation types are not widely reported. This field study investigated if the CH4 fluxes from multiple vegetation communities (<italic>Sphagnum</italic> communities, <italic>Eriophorum angustifolium</italic>, <italic>Molinia caerulea</italic>, <italic>Typha latifolia</italic>, <italic>Phragmites australis</italic>, <italic>Juncus effusus</italic>, <italic>Calluna vulgaris, Carex rostrata</italic> and open water) responded differently to light and dark conditions. Triplicate simultaneous light and dark measurements of carbon dioxide (CO2) and CH4 fluxes were measured on the same day using the chamber method from the above-mentioned vegetation communities from five peatland sites located in the Irish midlands. The field measurements showed that the CH4 fluxes were higher in light conditions compared to dark conditions for <italic>Carex rostrata</italic> (0.05 ±0.02 in light, 0.02 ±0.01 g CH₄ m⁻² hr⁻¹ in dark) and <italic>Eriophorum angustifolium</italic> (0.02 ±0.01 in light, 0.01 ±0.00 g CH₄ m⁻² hr⁻¹ in dark) compared to other vegetation communities. The mixed-effect model results indicated that differences between light and dark measurements were strongly related to CO2 fluxes. When the vegetation was sequestering CO2, CH4 fluxes increased, alternatively, during the respiration, CH4 fluxes decreased. Future work should examine the impact of vegetation specific phenological mechanisms that influence CH4 fluxes in light and dark conditions using multiple years of field data.

An improved method for measuring peatland soil oxidase enzyme activities

2025-06-12

Douglas Siaw Baah , Megan G Taggart , Joerg Arnscheidt +1 more | Journal of Environmental Management

Phenol oxidase (PPO) and peroxidase (PO) are critical enzymes in peatland carbon cycling, facilitating the decomposition of recalcitrant compounds. Quantifying their activities is, therefore, an important method for assessing the … Phenol oxidase (PPO) and peroxidase (PO) are critical enzymes in peatland carbon cycling, facilitating the decomposition of recalcitrant compounds. Quantifying their activities is, therefore, an important method for assessing the condition of peatlands in a changing climate particularly following restoration from degraded states. To increase certainty in the method, the study in this short communication modified the enzyme assay control setup by incorporating both autoclaved controls and non-autoclaved samples with ABTS as the substrate in drained and restoration-to-bog peatlands. Specifically, the effects of autoclaved and non-autoclaved controls on enzyme assays were evaluated, alongside the influence of peatland treatments on soil properties such as soil moisture content (SMC) and pH. The results indicated significantly higher (p < 0.05) PPO and PO activities in non-autoclaved compared to autoclaved samples, emphasising the necessity of incorporating both soil conditions to account for abiotic oxidation. By subtracting the activity in autoclaved samples from that in non-autoclaved samples, this approach provides a more precise and biologically relevant measure of oxidative potential. Additionally, significant differences (p < 0.05) in SMC were observed among peatland treatments, with lower SMC associated with higher oxidase activity. Using this modified method (ABTS substrate, modified negative control), peroxidase was identified as the enzyme with the highest observed activity, underscoring the need for future research to focus on both PO and PPO to deepen understanding of peatland ecosystem processes.