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Treby S, Grover SP. Carbon emissions from Australian Sphagnum peatlands increase with feral horse (Equus caballus) presence. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2023; 347:119034. [PMID: 37832263 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.119034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2023] [Revised: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 09/17/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023]
Abstract
Peatlands are globally significant carbon sinks, but when disturbed, have the potential to release carbon back to the atmosphere as greenhouse gases. Feral horse populations in the Australian Alps degrade Sphagnum peatlands, which are highly sensitive to disturbance. However, the link between this degradation and peatland carbon cycling is not understood. Here, we compared the autumn daytime carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) fluxes of 12 alpine and subalpine Sphagnum peatlands in Kosciuszko National Park, Australia. The presence of feral horses at these sites was correlated with higher carbon loss: sites with horses were losing carbon to the atmosphere (4.83 and 8.18 g CO2-e m-2 d-1 in areas of Sphagnum moss and bare soil, respectively), whereas sites without horses were removing carbon from the atmosphere (-6.39 g CO2-e m-2 d-1). Sites with feral horses also had higher soil bulk density, temperature, and electrical conductivity (EC), and higher water pH, EC, and turbidity, than sites without horses. Our findings suggest that excluding feral horses from peatland areas could reduce rates of carbon loss to the atmosphere, in addition to improving overall site condition, peat soil condition, and water quality. We discuss potential management applications, further research, and restoration opportunities arising from these results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Treby
- Applied Chemistry and Environmental Science, RMIT University, GPO Box 2476, Melbourne, 3001, Australia.
| | - Samantha P Grover
- Applied Chemistry and Environmental Science, RMIT University, GPO Box 2476, Melbourne, 3001, Australia
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Liu H, Zak D, Zableckis N, Cossmer A, Langhammer N, Meermann B, Lennartz B. Water pollution risks by smoldering fires in degraded peatlands. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 871:161979. [PMID: 36739030 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.161979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2022] [Revised: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Climate change may increase the overall susceptibility of peatlands to fire. Smoldering fires in peatlands can cause substantial emissions of greenhouse gases. It is, however, less clear how smoldering affects the soil pore water quality. In this study, soil samples were collected from agricultural fen and disturbed bog study sites in Germany and Lithuania to quantify the effect of peat burning on pore water composition. The samples were air dried and smoldered under ignition temperature (approximately 200 °C) with different durations (0, 2, 5, and 10 h). Pore water samples were extracted from the soil to determine dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations, dissolved organic matter (DOM) fractions, fluoride, extractable organically bound fluorine (EOF), and sulfate concentrations. The results showed that soil smoldering changes the peat pore water chemistry and that changes differ between fens and bogs. The smoldering duration is likewise influential. For fen grasslands, 2 and 5 h of smoldering of peat caused a >10-fold increase in DOC (up to 1600 mg L-1) and EOF concentrations. The fluoride (up to 60 mg L-1) and sulfate concentrations substantially exceeded WHO drinking water guidelines. In contrast, the temperature treatment decreased the DOC concentrations of samples from raised bogs by 90 %. The fluoride concentrations decreased, but sulfate concentrations increased after smoldering of the bog samples. DOC, fluoride, and sulfate concentrations of bogs varied significantly between the smoldering duration treatments. For all peat samples, the extracted DOM was dominated by humic-like substances before smoldering, but the fraction of low molecular weight substances increased after smoldering combustion. In conclusion, smoldering alters the biogeochemical processes in both peatland types and possibly impair the water quality of adjacent water resources especially in fen peat landscapes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haojie Liu
- Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of Rostock, Justus-von-Liebig-Weg 6, 18059 Rostock, Germany.
| | - Dominik Zak
- Department of Ecoscience, Aarhus University, C.F. Møllers Allé 4-6, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark; Department of Ecohydrology and Biogeochemistry, Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, Müggelseedamm 301, 12587 Berlin, Germany
| | - Nerijus Zableckis
- Lithuanian Fund for Nature, Algirdo Str. 22-3, LT-03218 Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Antje Cossmer
- Division 1.1 - Inorganic Trace Analysis, Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM), Richard-Willstätter-Straße 11, 12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - Nicole Langhammer
- Division 1.1 - Inorganic Trace Analysis, Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM), Richard-Willstätter-Straße 11, 12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - Björn Meermann
- Division 1.1 - Inorganic Trace Analysis, Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM), Richard-Willstätter-Straße 11, 12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - Bernd Lennartz
- Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of Rostock, Justus-von-Liebig-Weg 6, 18059 Rostock, Germany
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Fry EL, Wilkinson A, Johnson D, Pritchard WJ, Ostle NJ, Baggs EM, Bardgett RD. Do soil depth and plant community composition interact to modify the resistance and resilience of grassland ecosystem functioning to drought? Ecol Evol 2021; 11:11960-11973. [PMID: 34522353 PMCID: PMC8427570 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.7963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2021] [Revised: 06/30/2021] [Accepted: 07/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
While the effect of drought on plant communities and their associated ecosystem functions is well studied, little research has considered how responses are modified by soil depth and depth heterogeneity. We conducted a mesocosm study comprising shallow and deep soils, and variable and uniform soil depths, and two levels of plant community composition, and exposed them to a simulated drought to test for interactive effects of these treatments on the resilience of carbon dioxide fluxes, plant functional traits, and soil chemical properties. We tested the hypotheses that: (a) shallow and variable depth soils lead to increased resistance and resilience of ecosystem functions to drought due to more exploitative plant trait strategies; (b) plant communities associated with intensively managed high fertility soils, will have more exploitative root traits than extensively managed, lower fertility plant communities. These traits will be associated with higher resistance and resilience to drought and may interact with soil depth and depth heterogeneity to amplify the effects on ecosystem functions. Our results showed that while there were strong soil depth/heterogeneity effects on plant-driven carbon fluxes, it did not affect resistance or resilience to drought, and there were no treatment effects on plant-available carbon or nitrogen. We did observe a significant increase in exploitative root traits in shallow and variable soils relative to deep and uniform, which may have resulted in a compensation effect which led to the similar drought responses. Plant community compositions representative of intensive management were more drought resilient than more diverse "extensive" communities irrespective of soil depth or soil depth heterogeneity. In intensively managed plant communities, root traits were more representative of exploitative strategies. Taken together, our results suggest that reorganization of root traits in response to soil depth could buffer drought effects on ecosystem functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ellen L. Fry
- Department of Earth and Environmental SciencesThe University of ManchesterManchesterUK
- Department of BiologyEdge Hill UniversityLancashireUK
| | - Anna Wilkinson
- Department of Earth and Environmental SciencesThe University of ManchesterManchesterUK
| | - David Johnson
- Department of Earth and Environmental SciencesThe University of ManchesterManchesterUK
| | | | - Nick J. Ostle
- UK Centre for Ecology & HydrologyLancaster Environment CentreLancasterUK
- Lancaster Environment CentreLancaster UniversityLancasterUK
| | - Elizabeth M. Baggs
- Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary StudiesUniversity of EdinburghMidlothianUK
| | - Richard D. Bardgett
- Department of Earth and Environmental SciencesThe University of ManchesterManchesterUK
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4
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Liu Y, Chen G, Meyer-Jacob C, Huang L, Liu X, Huang G, Klamt AM, Smol JP. Land-use and climate controls on aquatic carbon cycling and phototrophs in karst lakes of southwest China. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 751:141738. [PMID: 32882557 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2020] [Revised: 07/22/2020] [Accepted: 08/15/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Land-use and climate changes have been repeatedly identified as important factors affecting terrestrial carbon budgets, however little is known about how deforestation and catchment development affect aquatic systems in carbonate-rich regions. Multi-proxy analyses of 210Pb-dated sediment cores from two hard-water lakes with different land-use histories were applied for assessing carbon cycling and limnological changes in response to land-use changes over the past century in southwest China. Logging of primary forests in the catchment of Lugu Lake, starting in the 1950s, led to a significant increase of catchment erosion, as well as a consistent decline in inferred lake-water total organic carbon (TOC) levels and sediment carbonate accumulation. This process of recent deforestation may significantly reduce the role of lake systems to act as carbon sinks through hampering of both the soil organic carbon flux and the dissolution of catchment carbonate. The decline in lake-water TOC in Lugu Lake further increased algal production (i.e. tracked through sediment trends in chlorophyll a and its main diagenetic products) and changes in diatom composition. In comparison, there was little variation of sediment carbonate content in Chenghai Lake, which has a long history of catchment deforestation, while both primary production and lake-water TOC increased following cultural eutrophication during the last three decades. Furthermore, regional warming was associated with an increase in small-sized diatoms in both deep lakes, likely due to enhanced thermal stability. This study highlights the significant role of vegetation cover and land use in driving aquatic carbon cycling and phototrophs, revealing that deforestation can strongly reduce both inorganic and organic carbon export to lakes and thus aquatic carbon storage in karst landscapes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanyuan Liu
- Yunnan Key Laboratory of Plateau Geographical Processes and Environmental Changes, School of Tourism and Geography, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Guangjie Chen
- Yunnan Key Laboratory of Plateau Geographical Processes and Environmental Changes, School of Tourism and Geography, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming, Yunnan, China.
| | - Carsten Meyer-Jacob
- Paleoecological Environmental Assessment and Research Laboratory, Department of Biology, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
| | - Linpei Huang
- Yunnan Key Laboratory of Plateau Geographical Processes and Environmental Changes, School of Tourism and Geography, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Xiaolong Liu
- Yunnan Key Laboratory of Plateau Geographical Processes and Environmental Changes, School of Tourism and Geography, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Guangcai Huang
- Yunnan Key Laboratory of Plateau Geographical Processes and Environmental Changes, School of Tourism and Geography, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Anna-Marie Klamt
- Yunnan Key Laboratory of Plateau Geographical Processes and Environmental Changes, School of Tourism and Geography, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - John P Smol
- Paleoecological Environmental Assessment and Research Laboratory, Department of Biology, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
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6
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Zheng M, Song J, Ru J, Zhou Z, Zhong M, Jiang L, Hui D, Wan S. Effects of Grazing, Wind Erosion, and Dust Deposition on Plant Community Composition and Structure in a Temperate Steppe. Ecosystems 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s10021-020-00526-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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7
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De Long JR, Jackson BG, Wilkinson A, Pritchard WJ, Oakley S, Mason KE, Stephan JG, Ostle NJ, Johnson D, Baggs EM, Bardgett RD. Relationships between plant traits, soil properties and carbon fluxes differ between monocultures and mixed communities in temperate grassland. THE JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY 2019; 107:1704-1719. [PMID: 31341333 PMCID: PMC6617750 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2745.13160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2018] [Accepted: 01/14/2019] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
The use of plant traits to predict ecosystem functions has been gaining growing attention. Above-ground plant traits, such as leaf nitrogen (N) content and specific leaf area (SLA), have been shown to strongly relate to ecosystem productivity, respiration and nutrient cycling. Furthermore, increasing plant functional trait diversity has been suggested as a possible mechanism to increase ecosystem carbon (C) storage. However, it is uncertain whether below-ground plant traits can be predicted by above-ground traits, and if both above- and below-ground traits can be used to predict soil properties and ecosystem-level functions.Here, we used two adjacent field experiments in temperate grassland to investigate if above- and below-ground plant traits are related, and whether relationships between plant traits, soil properties and ecosystem C fluxes (i.e. ecosystem respiration and net ecosystem exchange) measured in potted monocultures could be detected in mixed field communities.We found that certain shoot traits (e.g. shoot N and C, and leaf dry matter content) were related to root traits (e.g. root N, root C:N and root dry matter content) in monocultures, but such relationships were either weak or not detected in mixed communities. Some relationships between plant traits (i.e. shoot N, root N and/or shoot C:N) and soil properties (i.e. inorganic N availability and microbial community structure) were similar in monocultures and mixed communities, but they were more strongly linked to shoot traits in monocultures and root traits in mixed communities. Structural equation modelling showed that above- and below-ground traits and soil properties improved predictions of ecosystem C fluxes in monocultures, but not in mixed communities on the basis of community-weighted mean traits. Synthesis. Our results from a single grassland habitat detected relationships in monocultures between above- and below-ground plant traits, and between plant traits, soil properties and ecosystem C fluxes. However, these relationships were generally weaker or different in mixed communities. Our results demonstrate that while plant traits can be used to predict certain soil properties and ecosystem functions in monocultures, they are less effective for predicting how changes in plant species composition influence ecosystem functions in mixed communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan R. De Long
- School of Earth and Environmental SciencesThe University of ManchesterManchesterUK
- Department of Terrestrial EcologyNetherlands Institute of EcologyWageningenThe Netherlands
| | - Benjamin G. Jackson
- The Global Academy of Agriculture and Food Security, The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary StudiesUniversity of EdinburghMidlothianUK
| | - Anna Wilkinson
- School of Earth and Environmental SciencesThe University of ManchesterManchesterUK
| | - William J. Pritchard
- School of Earth and Environmental SciencesThe University of ManchesterManchesterUK
| | - Simon Oakley
- Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Lancaster Environment CentreBailriggUK
| | - Kelly E. Mason
- Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Lancaster Environment CentreBailriggUK
| | - Jörg G. Stephan
- Department of EcologySwedish University of Agricultural SciencesUppsalaSweden
| | | | - David Johnson
- School of Earth and Environmental SciencesThe University of ManchesterManchesterUK
| | - Elizabeth M. Baggs
- The Global Academy of Agriculture and Food Security, The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary StudiesUniversity of EdinburghMidlothianUK
| | - Richard D. Bardgett
- School of Earth and Environmental SciencesThe University of ManchesterManchesterUK
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8
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Luan J, Wu J, Liu S, Roulet N, Wang M. Soil nitrogen determines greenhouse gas emissions from northern peatlands under concurrent warming and vegetation shifting. Commun Biol 2019; 2:132. [PMID: 31016247 PMCID: PMC6472372 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-019-0370-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2018] [Accepted: 03/07/2019] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Boreal peatlands store an enormous pool of soil carbon that is dependent upon - and vulnerable to changes in - climate, as well as plant community composition. However, how nutrient availability affects the effects of climate and vegetation change on ecosystem processes in these nutrient-poor ecosystems remains unclear. Here we show that although warming promoted higher CH4 emissions, the concurrent addition of N counteracted most (79%) of this effect. The regulation effects of the vegetation functional group, associated with the substrate quality, suggest that CH4 emissions from peatlands under future warming will be less than expected with predicted shrub expansion. In contrast, N2O flux will be enhanced under future warming with predicted shrub expansion. Our study suggests that changes in greenhouse gas emissions in response to future warming and shifts in plant community composition depend on N availability, which reveals the complex interactions that occur when N is not a limiting nutrient.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junwei Luan
- International Centre for Bamboo and Rattan, 100102 Beijing, PR China
- Environment and Sustainability, School of Science and the Environment, Grenfell Campus, Memorial University of Newfoundland, Corner Brook, NL A2H 5G4 Canada
| | - Jianghua Wu
- Environment and Sustainability, School of Science and the Environment, Grenfell Campus, Memorial University of Newfoundland, Corner Brook, NL A2H 5G4 Canada
| | - Shirong Liu
- The Research Institute of Forest Ecology, Environment and Protection, Chinese Academy of Forestry, 100091 Beijing, PR China
| | - Nigel Roulet
- Department of Geography and School of the Environment, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 2K6 Canada
| | - Mei Wang
- Environment and Sustainability, School of Science and the Environment, Grenfell Campus, Memorial University of Newfoundland, Corner Brook, NL A2H 5G4 Canada
- School of Geographical Science, South China Normal University, 510631 Guangzhou, PR China
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9
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Sarfraz R, Hussain A, Sabir A, Ben Fekih I, Ditta A, Xing S. Role of biochar and plant growth promoting rhizobacteria to enhance soil carbon sequestration-a review. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2019; 191:251. [PMID: 30919093 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-019-7400-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2018] [Accepted: 03/17/2019] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Global climate is undergoing significant changes due to extensive release of greenhouse gases (GHGs) such as CO2 and methane in the atmosphere. These gases are produced and released as a result of anthropogenic activities and fossil fuel burnings which also result in depletion of soil carbon resources. Biochar has various distinctive properties, which contribute to make it an effective, economical, and eco-friendly approach for soil carbon sequestration. The versatility in physicochemical properties of biochar provides an opportunity to optimize its efficacy to obtain desired benefits. A critical review of the literature indicates that biochar and plant growth-promoting microbes have the potential to improve soil organic carbon (SOC). Recent studies have depicted a significant role of the combined application of plant growth-promoting microbes and biochar on SOC dynamics. In future, these areas need to be explored as these have the potential to improve SOC dynamics and it could be a better strategy to sustain natural resources and ultimately mitigation of the climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rubab Sarfraz
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Soil Environmental Health and Regulation, College of Resources and Environment, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China.
| | - Azhar Hussain
- Department of Soil Science, University College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur, Pakistan
| | - Asma Sabir
- Institute of Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Ibtissem Ben Fekih
- Institute of Environmental Microbiology, College of Resources and Environment, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Allah Ditta
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University, Sheringal, Dir (U), Sheringal, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 18000, Pakistan
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - Shihe Xing
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Soil Environmental Health and Regulation, College of Resources and Environment, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
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10
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Zhang H, Yao Z, Ma L, Zheng X, Wang R, Wang K, Liu C, Zhang W, Zhu B, Tang X, Hu Z, Han S. Annual methane emissions from degraded alpine wetlands in the eastern Tibetan Plateau. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 657:1323-1333. [PMID: 30677899 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.11.443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2018] [Revised: 11/29/2018] [Accepted: 11/29/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Grazing-oriented drainage of alpine/boreal wetlands has been broadly implemented to meet the increasing demand for animal products. However, the annual methane (CH4) emissions from alpine fens degraded due to drainage for grazing have not been well characterized due to a lack of year-round observations. In this study, the year-round CH4 fluxes from a degraded alpine fen that is typical in the Tibetan Plateau (TP) were measured. The temperature sensitivity of the CH4 emissions during the nongrowing season (NGS) was different between the microsites with and without CH4 uptake during the growing season (GS), showing apparent activation energy of 59-61 vs. 22-43 kJ mol-1 (or variation folds induced by the 10-degree change (i.e., Q10): 2.61-2.74 vs. 1.38-1.91). The CH4 emissions amounted to 0.2-63.3 kg C ha-1 yr-1 (with -0.8 to 41.4 kg C ha-1 and 0.9 to 21.9 kg C ha-1 in the GS and NGS, respectively), which were significantly (P < 0.05) related to the distances to the drainage ditch or water tables across the six microsites. As a key factor, the water table determined the role of the CH4 emissions during freezing/thawing. For cool/cold/alpine wetlands with no CH4 uptake in the GS, a mean factor of 1.52 (within a range of 1.00-2.44 at the 95% confidence interval), corresponding to an NGS contribution of 34% (ranging from 0 to 59%), was recommended to upscale the GS emissions to annual totals. Degradation of the native peat marshes in the Zoige region (originally the largest area of alpine wetlands) due to intentional drainage has greatly reduced the quantities of CH4 emissions. Additional studies are still needed to minimize the large uncertainties in CH4 emissions estimates for the changes in alpine wetlands in this region and for the entire TP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han Zhang
- Collaborative Innovation Center on Forecast and Evaluation of Meteorological Disasters, College of Applied Meteorology, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing 210044, China; State Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Boundary Layer Physics and Atmospheric Chemistry, Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Zhisheng Yao
- State Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Boundary Layer Physics and Atmospheric Chemistry, Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Lei Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Boundary Layer Physics and Atmospheric Chemistry, Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100029, China; College of Earth and Planetary Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Xunhua Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Boundary Layer Physics and Atmospheric Chemistry, Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100029, China; College of Earth and Planetary Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
| | - Rui Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Boundary Layer Physics and Atmospheric Chemistry, Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Kai Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Boundary Layer Physics and Atmospheric Chemistry, Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Chunyan Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Boundary Layer Physics and Atmospheric Chemistry, Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Wei Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Boundary Layer Physics and Atmospheric Chemistry, Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Bo Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Mountain Surface Processes and Ecological Regulation, Institute of Mountain Hazards and Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Xiangyu Tang
- Key Laboratory of Mountain Surface Processes and Ecological Regulation, Institute of Mountain Hazards and Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Zhenghua Hu
- Collaborative Innovation Center on Forecast and Evaluation of Meteorological Disasters, College of Applied Meteorology, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing 210044, China
| | - Shenghui Han
- State Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Boundary Layer Physics and Atmospheric Chemistry, Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100029, China
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11
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Grau-Andrés R, Gray A, Davies GM, Scott EM, Waldron S. Burning increases post-fire carbon emissions in a heathland and a raised bog, but experimental manipulation of fire severity has no effect. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2019; 233:321-328. [PMID: 30584963 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2018.12.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2018] [Revised: 11/14/2018] [Accepted: 12/11/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Large amounts of carbon are stored in northern peatlands. There is concern that greater wildfire severity following projected increases in summer drought will lead to higher post-fire carbon losses. We measured soil carbon dynamics in a Calluna heathland and a raised peat bog after experimentally manipulating fire severity. A gradient of fire severity was achieved by simulating drought in 2 × 2 m plots. Ecosystem respiration (ER), net ecosystem exchange (NEE), methane (CH4) flux and concentration of dissolved organic carbon ([DOC], measured at the raised bog only) were measured for up to two years after burning. The response of these carbon fluxes to increased fire severity in drought plots was similar to plots burnt under ambient conditions associated with traditional managed burning. Averaged across all burnt plots, burning altered mean NEE from a net carbon sink at the heathland (-0.33 μmol CO2 m-2 s-1 in unburnt plots) to a carbon source (0.50 μmol m-2 s-1 in burnt plots) and at the raised bog (-0.38 and 0.16 μmol m-2 s-1, respectively). Burning also increased CH4 flux at the raised bog (from 1.16 to 25.3 nmol m-2 s-1 in the summer, when it accounted for 79% of the CO2-equivalent emission). Burning had no significant effect on soil water [DOC].
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Affiliation(s)
- Roger Grau-Andrés
- School of Geographical and Earth Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G128QQ, UK.
| | - Alan Gray
- Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Bush Estate, Penicuik, Midlothian, EH26 0QB, UK
| | - G Matt Davies
- School of Environment and Natural Resources, Kottman Hall, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - E Marian Scott
- School of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G128QW, UK
| | - Susan Waldron
- School of Geographical and Earth Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G128QQ, UK
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12
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Noble A, O’Reilly J, Glaves DJ, Crowle A, Palmer SM, Holden J. Impacts of prescribed burning on Sphagnum mosses in a long-term peatland field experiment. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0206320. [PMID: 30383788 PMCID: PMC6211700 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0206320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2018] [Accepted: 10/10/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding fire impacts on peatland vegetation can inform management to support function and prevent degradation of these important ecosystems. However, time since burn, interval between burns and number of past burns all have the potential to modify impacts. Grazing regime may also affect vegetation directly or via an interaction with burning. We used new, comprehensive survey data from a hillslope-scale field experiment initiated in 1954 to investigate the effects of burning and grazing treatments on Sphagnum. Historical data were consulted to aid interpretation of the results. The unburned reference and the most frequently burned (10-year rotation) treatments had greater Sphagnum abundance and hummock height than intermediate treatments (20-year rotation and no-burn since 1954). Abundance of the most common individual species (S. capillifolium, S. subnitens and S. papillosum) followed similar patterns. Light grazing had no impact on Sphagnum-related variables, nor did it interact with the burning treatments.These results suggest that in some cases fire has a negative impact on Sphagnum, and this can persist for several decades. However, fire return interval and other factors such as atmospheric pollution may alter effects, and in some cases Sphagnum abundance may recover. Fire severity and site specific conditions may also influence effects, so we advise consideration of these factors, and caution when using fire as a management tool on peatlands where Sphagnum is considered desirable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice Noble
- water@leeds, School of Geography, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | | | - David J. Glaves
- Natural England, Foss House, Kings Pool, Peasholme Green, York, United Kingdom
| | - Alistair Crowle
- Natural England, Foss House, Kings Pool, Peasholme Green, York, United Kingdom
| | - Sheila M. Palmer
- water@leeds, School of Geography, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Joseph Holden
- water@leeds, School of Geography, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
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13
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Fry EL, Savage J, Hall AL, Oakley S, Pritchard WJ, Ostle NJ, Pywell RF, Bullock JM, Bardgett RD. Soil multifunctionality and drought resistance are determined by plant structural traits in restoring grassland. Ecology 2018; 99:2260-2271. [PMID: 30129182 PMCID: PMC6849565 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.2437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2018] [Accepted: 06/11/2018] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
It is increasingly recognized that belowground responses to vegetation change are closely linked to plant functional traits. However, our understanding is limited concerning the relative importance of different plant traits for soil functions and of the mechanisms by which traits influence soil properties in the real world. Here we test the hypothesis that taller species, or those with complex rooting structures, are associated with high rates of nutrient and carbon (C) cycling in grassland. We further hypothesized that communities dominated by species with deeper roots may be more resilient to drought. These hypotheses were tested in a 3‐yr grassland restoration experiment on degraded ex‐arable land in southern England. We sowed three trait‐based plant functional groups, assembled using database derived values of plant traits, and their combinations into bare soil. This formed a range of plant trait syndromes onto which we superimposed a simulated drought 2 yr after initial establishment. We found strong evidence that community weighted mean (CWM) of plant height is negatively associated with soil nitrogen cycling and availability and soil multifunctionality. We propose that this was due to an exploitative resource capture strategy that was inappropriate in shallow chalk soils. Further, complexity of root architecture was positively related to soil multifunctionality throughout the season, with fine fibrous roots being associated with greater rates of nutrient cycling. Drought resistance of soil functions including ecosystem respiration, mineralization, and nitrification were positively related to functional divergence of rooting depth, indicating that, in shallow chalk soils, a range of water capture strategies is necessary to maintain functions. Finally, after 3 yr of the experiment, we did not detect any links between the plant traits and microbial communities, supporting the finding that traits based on plant structure and resource foraging capacity are the main variables driving soil function in the early years of grassland conversion. We suggest that screening recently restored grassland communities for potential soil multifunctionality and drought resilience may be possible based on rooting architecture and plant height. These results indicate that informed assembly of plant communities based on plant traits could aid in the restoration of functioning in degraded soil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ellen L Fry
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PT, United Kingdom
| | - Joanna Savage
- NERC Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Wallingford, OX10 8BB, United Kingdom
| | - Amy L Hall
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PT, United Kingdom
| | - Simon Oakley
- NERC Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster, LA1 4AP, United Kingdom
| | - W J Pritchard
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PT, United Kingdom
| | - Nicholas J Ostle
- NERC Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster, LA1 4AP, United Kingdom.,Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster, LA1 4YW, United Kingdom
| | - Richard F Pywell
- NERC Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Wallingford, OX10 8BB, United Kingdom
| | - James M Bullock
- NERC Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Wallingford, OX10 8BB, United Kingdom
| | - Richard D Bardgett
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PT, United Kingdom
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14
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Guo X, Zhou X, Hale L, Yuan M, Feng J, Ning D, Shi Z, Qin Y, Liu F, Wu L, He Z, Van Nostrand JD, Liu X, Luo Y, Tiedje JM, Zhou J. Taxonomic and Functional Responses of Soil Microbial Communities to Annual Removal of Aboveground Plant Biomass. Front Microbiol 2018; 9:954. [PMID: 29904372 PMCID: PMC5990867 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.00954] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2018] [Accepted: 04/24/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Clipping, removal of aboveground plant biomass, is an important issue in grassland ecology. However, few studies have focused on the effect of clipping on belowground microbial communities. Using integrated metagenomic technologies, we examined the taxonomic and functional responses of soil microbial communities to annual clipping (2010-2014) in a grassland ecosystem of the Great Plains of North America. Our results indicated that clipping significantly (P < 0.05) increased root and microbial respiration rates. Annual temporal variation within the microbial communities was much greater than the significant changes introduced by clipping, but cumulative effects of clipping were still observed in the long-term scale. The abundances of some bacterial and fungal lineages including Actinobacteria and Bacteroidetes were significantly (P < 0.05) changed by clipping. Clipping significantly (P < 0.05) increased the abundances of labile carbon (C) degrading genes. More importantly, the abundances of recalcitrant C degrading genes were consistently and significantly (P < 0.05) increased by clipping in the last 2 years, which could accelerate recalcitrant C degradation and weaken long-term soil carbon stability. Furthermore, genes involved in nutrient-cycling processes including nitrogen cycling and phosphorus utilization were also significantly increased by clipping. The shifts of microbial communities were significantly correlated with soil respiration and plant productivity. Intriguingly, clipping effects on microbial function may be highly regulated by precipitation at the interannual scale. Altogether, our results illustrated the potential of soil microbial communities for increased soil organic matter decomposition under clipping land-use practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue Guo
- School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Institute for Environmental Genomics, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, United States
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Biology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, United States
| | - Xishu Zhou
- School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Institute for Environmental Genomics, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, United States
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Biology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, United States
| | - Lauren Hale
- Institute for Environmental Genomics, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, United States
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Biology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, United States
| | - Mengting Yuan
- Institute for Environmental Genomics, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, United States
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Biology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, United States
| | - Jiajie Feng
- Institute for Environmental Genomics, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, United States
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Biology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, United States
| | - Daliang Ning
- Institute for Environmental Genomics, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, United States
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Biology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, United States
| | - Zhou Shi
- Institute for Environmental Genomics, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, United States
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Biology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, United States
| | - Yujia Qin
- Institute for Environmental Genomics, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, United States
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Biology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, United States
| | - Feifei Liu
- Institute for Environmental Genomics, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, United States
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Biology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, United States
| | - Liyou Wu
- Institute for Environmental Genomics, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, United States
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Biology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, United States
| | - Zhili He
- Institute for Environmental Genomics, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, United States
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Biology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, United States
| | - Joy D. Van Nostrand
- Institute for Environmental Genomics, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, United States
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Biology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, United States
| | - Xueduan Liu
- School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Yiqi Luo
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Biology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, United States
| | - James M. Tiedje
- Center for Microbial Ecology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
| | - Jizhong Zhou
- Institute for Environmental Genomics, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, United States
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Biology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, United States
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- School of Civil Engineering and Environmental Sciences, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, United States
- Earth and Environmental Science, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, United States
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15
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Harper AR, Doerr SH, Santin C, Froyd CA, Sinnadurai P. Prescribed fire and its impacts on ecosystem services in the UK. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2018; 624:691-703. [PMID: 29272838 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.12.161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2017] [Revised: 12/13/2017] [Accepted: 12/14/2017] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
The impacts of vegetation fires on ecosystems are complex and varied affecting a range of important ecosystem services. Fire has the potential to affect the physicochemical and ecological status of water systems, alter several aspects of the carbon cycle (e.g. above- and below-ground carbon storage) and trigger changes in vegetation type and structure. Globally, fire is an essential part of land management in fire-prone regions in, e.g. Australia, the USA and some Mediterranean countries to mitigate the likelihood of catastrophic wildfires and sustain healthy ecosystems. In the less-fire prone UK, fire has a long history of usage in management for enhancing the productivity of heather, red grouse and sheep. This distinctly different socioeconomic tradition of burning underlies some of the controversy in recent decades in the UK around the use of fire. Negative public opinion and opposition from popular media have highlighted concerns around the detrimental impacts burning can have on the health and diversity of upland habitats. It is evident there are many gaps in the current knowledge around the environmental impacts of prescribed burning in less fire-prone regions (e.g. UK). Land owners and managers require a greater level of certainty on the advantages and disadvantages of prescribed burning in comparison to other techniques to better inform management practices. This paper addresses this gap by providing a critical review of published work and future research directions related to the impacts of prescribed fire on three key aspects of ecosystem services: (i) water quality, (ii) carbon dynamics and (iii) habitat composition and structure (biodiversity). Its overall aims are to provide guidance based on the current state-of-the-art for researchers, land owners, managers and policy makers on the potential effects of the use of burning and to inform the wider debate about the place of fire in modern conservation and land management in humid temperate ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashleigh R Harper
- Department of Geography, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea SA2 8PP, UK.
| | - Stefan H Doerr
- Department of Geography, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea SA2 8PP, UK
| | - Cristina Santin
- Department of Geography, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea SA2 8PP, UK; Department of Biosciences, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea SA2 8PP, UK
| | - Cynthia A Froyd
- Department of Biosciences, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea SA2 8PP, UK
| | - Paul Sinnadurai
- Brecon Beacons National Park Authority, Cambrian Way, Brecon LD3 7HP, UK
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16
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Stiles WAV, Rowe EC, Dennis P. Nitrogen and phosphorus enrichment effects on CO 2 and methane fluxes from an upland ecosystem. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2018; 618:1199-1209. [PMID: 28954703 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.09.202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2017] [Revised: 09/18/2017] [Accepted: 09/19/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Reactive nitrogen (N) deposition can affect many ecosystem processes, particularly in oligotrophic habitats, and is expected to affect soil C storage potential through increases in microbial decomposition rate as a consequence of greater N availability. Increased N availability may also result in changes in the principal limitations on ecosystem productivity. Phosphorus (P) limitation may constrain productivity in instances of high N deposition, yet ecosystem responses to P availability are poorly understood. This study investigated CO2 and CH4 flux responses to N and P enrichment using both short- (1year) and long-term (16year) nutrient addition experiments. We hypothesised that the addition of either N or P will increase CO2 and CH4 fluxes, since both plant production and microbial activity are likely to increase with alleviation from nutrient limitation. This study demonstrated the modification of C fluxes from N and P enrichment, with differing results subject to the duration of nutrient addition. On average, relative to control, the addition of N alone inhibited CO2 flux in the short-term (-9%) but considerably increased CO2 emissions in the long-term (+35%), reduced CH4 uptake in the short term (-90%) and reduced CH4 emission in the long term (-94%). Phosphorus addition increased CO2 and CH4 emission in the short term (+20% and +184% respectively), with diminishing effect into the long term, suggesting microbial communities at these sites are P limited. Whilst a full C exchange budget was not examined in the experiment, the potential for soil C storage loss with long-term nutrient enrichment is demonstrated and indicates that P addition, where P is a limiting factor, may have an adverse influence on upland soil C content.
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Affiliation(s)
- William A V Stiles
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences, Penglais Campus, Aberystwyth University, Wales SY23 3DD, United Kingdom; Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Bangor, Environment Centre Wales, Bangor LL57 2UW, United Kingdom.
| | - Edwin C Rowe
- Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Bangor, Environment Centre Wales, Bangor LL57 2UW, United Kingdom
| | - Peter Dennis
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences, Penglais Campus, Aberystwyth University, Wales SY23 3DD, United Kingdom
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17
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Davies GM, Kettridge N, Stoof CR, Gray A, Ascoli D, Fernandes PM, Marrs R, Allen KA, Doerr SH, Clay GD, McMorrow J, Vandvik V. The role of fire in UK peatland and moorland management: the need for informed, unbiased debate. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2017; 371:rstb.2015.0342. [PMID: 27216512 PMCID: PMC4874417 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2015.0342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/29/2016] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Fire has been used for centuries to generate and manage some of the UK's cultural landscapes. Despite its complex role in the ecology of UK peatlands and moorlands, there has been a trend of simplifying the narrative around burning to present it as an only ecologically damaging practice. That fire modifies peatland characteristics at a range of scales is clearly understood. Whether these changes are perceived as positive or negative depends upon how trade-offs are made between ecosystem services and the spatial and temporal scales of concern. Here we explore the complex interactions and trade-offs in peatland fire management, evaluating the benefits and costs of managed fire as they are currently understood. We highlight the need for (i) distinguishing between the impacts of fires occurring with differing severity and frequency, and (ii) improved characterization of ecosystem health that incorporates the response and recovery of peatlands to fire. We also explore how recent research has been contextualized within both scientific publications and the wider media and how this can influence non-specialist perceptions. We emphasize the need for an informed, unbiased debate on fire as an ecological management tool that is separated from other aspects of moorland management and from political and economic opinions. This article is part of the themed issue ‘The interaction of fire and mankind’.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Matt Davies
- School of Environment and Natural Resources, The Ohio State University, Kottman Hall, 2021 Coffey Road, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Nicholas Kettridge
- School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B31 2DX, UK
| | - Cathelijne R Stoof
- Soil Geography and Landscape Group, Wageningen University, PO Box 47, Wageningen 6700 AA, The Netherlands
| | - Alan Gray
- NERC Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Bush Estate, Penicuik, Edinburgh EH26 0QB, UK
| | - Davide Ascoli
- Department of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences, University of Torino, Largo Paolo Braccini 2, Grugliasco (TO) 10095, Italy
| | - Paulo M Fernandes
- Centro de Investigação e de Tecnologias Agro-Ambientais e Biológicas, Universidade de Tras-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Vila Real, Portugal
| | - Rob Marrs
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3GP, UK
| | - Katherine A Allen
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3GP, UK
| | - Stefan H Doerr
- Department of Geography, Swansea University, Swansea, UK
| | - Gareth D Clay
- School of Environment, Education and Development, The University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
| | - Julia McMorrow
- School of Environment, Education and Development, The University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
| | - Vigdis Vandvik
- Department of Biology, University of Bergen, Postboks 7803, Bergen 5020, Norway
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18
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Robertson GS, Aebischer NJ, Baines D. Using harvesting data to examine temporal and regional variation in red grouse abundance in the British uplands. WILDLIFE BIOLOGY 2017. [DOI: 10.2981/wlb.00276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Gail S. Robertson
- G. S. Robertson and D. Baines, Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust, Uplands Research, Barnard Castle, Co Durham, UK. Present address for GSR: Epidemiology Research Group, Room 138, Ashworth Laboratories, King's Buildings, Univ. of Edinburgh, EH9 3JT
| | - Nicholas J. Aebischer
- N. J. Aebischer, Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust, Burgate Manor, Fordingbridge, Hampshire, UK
| | - David Baines
- G. S. Robertson and D. Baines, Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust, Uplands Research, Barnard Castle, Co Durham, UK. Present address for GSR: Epidemiology Research Group, Room 138, Ashworth Laboratories, King's Buildings, Univ. of Edinburgh, EH9 3JT
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19
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Evans CD, Malcolm IA, Shilland EM, Rose NL, Turner SD, Crilly A, Norris D, Granath G, Monteith DT. Sustained Biogeochemical Impacts of Wildfire in a Mountain Lake Catchment. Ecosystems 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/s10021-016-0064-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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20
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Chimner RA, Cooper DJ, Wurster FC, Rochefort L. An overview of peatland restoration in North America: where are we after 25 years? Restor Ecol 2016. [DOI: 10.1111/rec.12434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Rodney A. Chimner
- School of Forest Resources and Environmental Science; Michigan Technological University; Houghton MI 49931 U.S.A
| | - David J. Cooper
- Department of Forest and Rangeland Stewardship and Graduate Degree Program in Ecology; Colorado State University; Fort Collins CO 80523 U.S.A
| | - Frederic C. Wurster
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge; Suffolk VA 23434 U.S.A
| | - Line Rochefort
- Department of Plant Sciences, Peatland Ecology Research Group and Centre for Northern Studies; Université Laval; 2425 de l'Agriculture Québec QC G1V 0A6 Canada
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21
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22
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Ward SE, Orwin KH, Ostle NJ, Briones JI, Thomson BC, Griffiths RI, Oakley S, Quirk H, Bardget RD. Vegetation exerts a greater control on litter decomposition than climate warming in peatlands. Ecology 2015; 96:113-23. [PMID: 26236896 DOI: 10.1890/14-0292.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Historically, slow decomposition rates have resulted in the accumulation of large amounts of carbon in northern peatlands. Both climate warming and vegetation change can alter rates of decomposition, and hence affect rates of atmospheric CO2 exchange, with consequences for climate change feedbacks. Although warming and vegetation change are happening concurrently, little is known about their relative and interactive effects on decomposition processes. To test the effects of warming and vegetation change on decomposition rates, we placed litter of three dominant species (Calluna vulgaris, Eriophorum vaginatum, Hypnum jutlandicum) into a peatland field experiment that combined warming.with plant functional group removals, and measured mass loss over two years. To identify potential mechanisms behind effects, we also measured nutrient cycling and soil biota. We found that plant functional group removals exerted a stronger control over short-term litter decomposition than did approximately 1 degrees C warming, and that the plant removal effect depended on litter species identity. Specifically, rates of litter decomposition were faster when shrubs were removed from the plant community, and these effects were strongest for graminoid and bryophyte litter. Plant functional group removals also had strong effects on soil biota and nutrient cycling associated with decomposition, whereby shrub removal had cascading effects on soil fungal community composition, increased enchytraeid abundance, and increased rates of N mineralization. Our findings demonstrate that, in addition to litter quality, changes in vegetation composition play a significant role in regulating short-term litter decomposition and belowground communities in peatland, and that these impacts can be greater than moderate warming effects. Our findings, albeit from a relatively short-term study, highlight the need to consider both vegetation change and its impacts below ground alongside climatic effects when predicting future decomposition rates and carbon storage in peatlands.
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23
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Smith SW, Johnson D, Quin SLO, Munro K, Pakeman RJ, van der Wal R, Woodin SJ. Combination of herbivore removal and nitrogen deposition increases upland carbon storage. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2015; 21:3036-3048. [PMID: 25930662 PMCID: PMC4973882 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.12902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2014] [Accepted: 01/12/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Ecosystem carbon (C) accrual and storage can be enhanced by removing large herbivores as well as by the fertilizing effect of atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition. These drivers are unlikely to operate independently, yet their combined effect on aboveground and belowground C storage remains largely unexplored. We sampled inside and outside 19 upland grazing exclosures, established for up to 80 years, across an N deposition gradient (5-24 kg N ha(-1) yr(-1) ) and found that herbivore removal increased aboveground plant C stocks, particularly in moss, shrubs and litter. Soil C storage increased with atmospheric N deposition, and this was moderated by the presence or absence of herbivores. In exclosures receiving above 11 kg N ha(-1) year(-1) , herbivore removal resulted in increased soil C stocks. This effect was typically greater for exclosures dominated by dwarf shrubs (Calluna vulgaris) than by grasses (Molinia caerulea). The same pattern was observed for ecosystem C storage. We used our data to predict C storage for a scenario of removing all large herbivores from UK heathlands. Predictions were made considering herbivore removal only (ignoring N deposition) and the combined effects of herbivore removal and current N deposition rates. Predictions including N deposition resulted in a smaller increase in UK heathland C storage than predictions using herbivore removal only. This finding was driven by the fact that the majority of UK heathlands receive low N deposition rates at which herbivore removal has little effect on C storage. Our findings demonstrate the crucial link between herbivory by large mammals and atmospheric N deposition, and this interaction needs to be considered in models of biogeochemical cycling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stuart W. Smith
- Institute of Biological and Environmental ScienceUniversity of AberdeenSt Machar DriveAberdeenAB24 3UUUK
- The James Hutton InstituteCraigiebucklerAberdeenAB15 8QHUK
- ACESUniversity of AberdeenSt Machar DriveAberdeenAB24 3UUUK
| | - David Johnson
- Institute of Biological and Environmental ScienceUniversity of AberdeenSt Machar DriveAberdeenAB24 3UUUK
| | - Samuel L. O. Quin
- Institute of Biological and Environmental ScienceUniversity of AberdeenSt Machar DriveAberdeenAB24 3UUUK
| | - Kyle Munro
- Institute of Biological and Environmental ScienceUniversity of AberdeenSt Machar DriveAberdeenAB24 3UUUK
| | | | - René van der Wal
- Institute of Biological and Environmental ScienceUniversity of AberdeenSt Machar DriveAberdeenAB24 3UUUK
- ACESUniversity of AberdeenSt Machar DriveAberdeenAB24 3UUUK
| | - Sarah J. Woodin
- Institute of Biological and Environmental ScienceUniversity of AberdeenSt Machar DriveAberdeenAB24 3UUUK
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24
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Early land use and centennial scale changes in lake-water organic carbon prior to contemporary monitoring. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2015; 112:6579-84. [PMID: 25964363 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1501505112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Organic carbon concentrations have increased in surface waters across parts of Europe and North America during the past decades, but the main drivers causing this phenomenon are still debated. A lack of observations beyond the last few decades inhibits a better mechanistic understanding of this process and thus a reliable prediction of future changes. Here we present past lake-water organic carbon trends inferred from sediment records across central Sweden that allow us to assess the observed increase on a centennial to millennial time scale. Our data show the recent increase in lake-water carbon but also that this increase was preceded by a landscape-wide, long-term decrease beginning already A.D. 1450-1600. Geochemical and biological proxies reveal that these dynamics coincided with an intensification of human catchment disturbance that decreased over the past century. Catchment disturbance was driven by the expansion and later cessation of widespread summer forest grazing and farming across central Scandinavia. Our findings demonstrate that early land use strongly affected past organic carbon dynamics and suggest that the influence of historical landscape utilization on contemporary changes in lake-water carbon levels has thus far been underestimated. We propose that past changes in land use are also a strong contributing factor in ongoing organic carbon trends in other regions that underwent similar comprehensive changes due to early cultivation and grazing over centuries to millennia.
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Whitaker J, Ostle N, Nottingham AT, Ccahuana A, Salinas N, Bardgett RD, Meir P, McNamara NP, Austin A. Microbial community composition explains soil respiration responses to changing carbon inputs along an Andes-to-Amazon elevation gradient. THE JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY 2014; 102:1058-1071. [PMID: 25520527 PMCID: PMC4263258 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2745.12247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2013] [Accepted: 03/11/2014] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
1. The Andes are predicted to warm by 3-5 °C this century with the potential to alter the processes regulating carbon (C) cycling in these tropical forest soils. This rapid warming is expected to stimulate soil microbial respiration and change plant species distributions, thereby affecting the quantity and quality of C inputs to the soil and influencing the quantity of soil-derived CO2 released to the atmosphere. 2. We studied tropical lowland, premontane and montane forest soils taken from along a 3200-m elevation gradient located in south-east Andean Peru. We determined how soil microbial communities and abiotic soil properties differed with elevation. We then examined how these differences in microbial composition and soil abiotic properties affected soil C-cycling processes, by amending soils with C substrates varying in complexity and measuring soil heterotrophic respiration (RH). 3. Our results show that there were consistent patterns of change in soil biotic and abiotic properties with elevation. Microbial biomass and the abundance of fungi relative to bacteria increased significantly with elevation, and these differences in microbial community composition were strongly correlated with greater soil C content and C:N (nitrogen) ratios. We also found that RH increased with added C substrate quality and quantity and was positively related to microbial biomass and fungal abundance. 4. Statistical modelling revealed that RH responses to changing C inputs were best predicted by soil pH and microbial community composition, with the abundance of fungi relative to bacteria, and abundance of gram-positive relative to gram-negative bacteria explaining much of the model variance. 5. Synthesis. Our results show that the relative abundance of microbial functional groups is an important determinant of RH responses to changing C inputs along an extensive tropical elevation gradient in Andean Peru. Although we do not make an experimental test of the effects of climate change on soil, these results challenge the assumption that different soil microbial communities will be 'functionally equivalent' as climate change progresses, and they emphasize the need for better ecological metrics of soil microbial communities to help predict C cycle responses to climate change in tropical biomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeanette Whitaker
- Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Lancaster Environment CentreLibrary Avenue, Lancaster, LA1 4AP, UK
| | - Nicholas Ostle
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster UniversityLancaster, LA1 4YQ, UK
| | - Andrew T Nottingham
- School of Geosciences, University of EdinburghThe King's Buildings, West Mains Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3JW, UK
| | - Adan Ccahuana
- Facultad de Ciencias Biologicas, Universidad Nacional de San Antonio Abad delCusco, Avenida de la Cultura 733, Cusco, Peru
| | - Norma Salinas
- Seccion Química, Pontificia Universidad Católica del PeruAv. Universitaria 1801, San Miguel, Lima 32, Peru
| | - Richard D Bardgett
- Faculty of Life Sciences, The University of ManchesterMichael Smith Building, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PT, UK
| | - Patrick Meir
- School of Geosciences, University of EdinburghThe King's Buildings, West Mains Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3JW, UK
- Research School of Biology, The Australian National UniversityCanberra, ACT 0200, Australia
| | - Niall P McNamara
- Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Lancaster Environment CentreLibrary Avenue, Lancaster, LA1 4AP, UK
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Cooper MDA, Evans CD, Zielinski P, Levy PE, Gray A, Peacock M, Norris D, Fenner N, Freeman C. Infilled Ditches are Hotspots of Landscape Methane Flux Following Peatland Re-wetting. Ecosystems 2014. [DOI: 10.1007/s10021-014-9791-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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Ritson JP, Graham NJD, Templeton MR, Clark JM, Gough R, Freeman C. The impact of climate change on the treatability of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in upland water supplies: a UK perspective. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2014; 473-474:714-30. [PMID: 24412917 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2013.12.095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2013] [Revised: 12/19/2013] [Accepted: 12/19/2013] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Climate change in the UK is expected to cause increases in temperatures, altered precipitation patterns and more frequent and extreme weather events. In this review we discuss climate effects on dissolved organic matter (DOM), how altered DOM and water physico-chemical properties will affect treatment processes and assess the utility of techniques used to remove DOM and monitor water quality. A critical analysis of the literature has been undertaken with a focus on catchment drivers of DOM character, removal of DOM via coagulation and the formation of disinfectant by-products (DBPs). We suggest that: (1) upland catchments recovering from acidification will continue to produce more DOM with a greater hydrophobic fraction as solubility controls decrease; (2) greater seasonality in DOM export is likely in future due to altered precipitation patterns; (3) changes in species diversity and water properties could encourage algal blooms; and (4) that land management and vegetative changes may have significant effects on DOM export and treatability but require further research. Increases in DBPs may occur where catchments have high influence from peatlands or where algal blooms become an issue. To increase resilience to variable DOM quantity and character we suggest that one or more of the following steps are undertaken at the treatment works: a) 'enhanced coagulation' optimised for DOM removal; b) switching from aluminium to ferric coagulants and/or incorporating coagulant aids; c) use of magnetic ion-exchange (MIEX) pre-coagulation; and d) activated carbon filtration post-coagulation. Fluorescence and UV absorbance techniques are highlighted as potential methods for low-cost, rapid on-line process optimisation to improve DOM removal and minimise DBPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- J P Ritson
- Grantham Institute for Climate Change, Imperial College London, South Kensington, London SW7 2AZ, UK; Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Imperial College London, South Kensington, London, SW7 2AZ, UK.
| | - N J D Graham
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Imperial College London, South Kensington, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - M R Templeton
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Imperial College London, South Kensington, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - J M Clark
- Walker Institute for Climate Systems Research and Soil Research Centre, Geography and Environmental Science, School of Human and Environmental Sciences, University of Reading, Whiteknights, Reading, RG6 6DW, UK
| | - R Gough
- Wolfson Carbon Capture Laboratory, School of Biological Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2UW, UK
| | - C Freeman
- Wolfson Carbon Capture Laboratory, School of Biological Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2UW, UK
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Parry LE, Holden J, Chapman PJ. Restoration of blanket peatlands. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2014; 133:193-205. [PMID: 24384281 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2013.11.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2013] [Revised: 11/17/2013] [Accepted: 11/22/2013] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
There is concern that ecosystem services provided by blanket peatlands have come under threat due to increasing degradation. Blanket peatlands are subject to a wide range of drivers of degradation and are topographically variable. As a result, many degradation forms can develop, including those resulting from eroding artificial drainage, incising gullies and areas of bare peat. Many degraded blanket peatlands have undergone restoration measures since the turn of the century. However, there has been little formal communication of the techniques used and their success. Using practitioner knowledge and a review of the available literature, this paper discusses the methodologies used for restoring sloping blanket peatlands. It then considers current understanding of the impact of restoration on blanket peatland ecosystem services. There is a paucity of research investigating impacts of several common restoration techniques and much more is needed if informed management decisions are to be made and funding is to be appropriately spent. Where data are available we find that restoration is largely beneficial to many ecosystem services, with improvements being observed in water quality and ecology. However, the same restoration technique does not always result in the same outcomes in all locations. The difference in response is predominantly due to the spatial and temporal heterogeneity inherent in all blanket peatlands. Peatland practitioners must take this variability into account when designing restoration strategies and monitoring impact.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren E Parry
- Water@leeds, School of Geography, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK.
| | - Joseph Holden
- Water@leeds, School of Geography, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK
| | - Pippa J Chapman
- Water@leeds, School of Geography, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK
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29
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Smith SW, Vandenberghe C, Hastings A, Johnson D, Pakeman RJ, van der Wal R, Woodin SJ. Optimizing Carbon Storage Within a Spatially Heterogeneous Upland Grassland Through Sheep Grazing Management. Ecosystems 2013. [DOI: 10.1007/s10021-013-9731-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Effects of species evenness and dominant species identity on multiple ecosystem functions in model grassland communities. Oecologia 2013; 174:979-92. [PMID: 24213721 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-013-2814-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2013] [Accepted: 10/21/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Ecosystems provide multiple services upon which humans depend. Understanding the drivers of the ecosystem functions that support these services is therefore important. Much research has investigated how species richness influences functioning, but we lack knowledge of how other community attributes affect ecosystem functioning. Species evenness, species spatial arrangement, and the identity of dominant species are three attributes that could affect ecosystem functioning, by altering the relative abundance of functional traits and the probability of synergistic species interactions such as facilitation and complementary resource use. We tested the effect of these three community attributes and their interactions on ecosystem functions over a growing season, using model grassland communities consisting of three plant species from three functional groups: a grass (Anthoxanthum odoratum), a forb (Plantago lanceolata), and a N-fixing forb (Lotus corniculatus). We measured multiple ecosystem functions that support ecosystem services, including ecosystem gas exchange, water retention, C and N loss in leachates, and plant biomass production. Species evenness and dominant species identity strongly influenced the ecosystem functions measured, but spatial arrangement had few effects. By the end of the growing season, evenness consistently enhanced ecosystem functioning and this effect occurred regardless of dominant species identity. The identity of the dominant species under which the highest level of functioning was attained varied across the growing season. Spatial arrangement had the weakest effect on functioning, but interacted with dominant species identity to affect some functions. Our results highlight the importance of understanding the role of multiple community attributes in driving ecosystem functioning.
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31
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Ward SE, Ostle NJ, Oakley S, Quirk H, Henrys PA, Bardgett RD. Warming effects on greenhouse gas fluxes in peatlands are modulated by vegetation composition. Ecol Lett 2013; 16:1285-93. [PMID: 23953244 DOI: 10.1111/ele.12167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2013] [Revised: 05/26/2013] [Accepted: 07/17/2013] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Understanding the effects of warming on greenhouse gas feedbacks to climate change represents a major global challenge. Most research has focused on direct effects of warming, without considering how concurrent changes in plant communities may alter such effects. Here, we combined vegetation manipulations with warming to investigate their interactive effects on greenhouse gas emissions from peatland. We found that although warming consistently increased respiration, the effect on net ecosystem CO2 exchange depended on vegetation composition. The greatest increase in CO2 sink strength after warming was when shrubs were present, and the greatest decrease when graminoids were present. CH4 was more strongly controlled by vegetation composition than by warming, with largest emissions from graminoid communities. Our results show that plant community composition is a significant modulator of greenhouse gas emissions and their response to warming, and suggest that vegetation change could alter peatland carbon sink strength under future climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan E Ward
- Soil and Ecosystem Ecology Laboratory, Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Bailrigg, Lancaster, LA1 4YQ, UK; Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Lancaster Environment Centre, Library Avenue, Bailrigg, Lancaster, LA1 4AP, UK
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32
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Worrall F, Clay GD, May R. Controls upon biomass losses and char production from prescribed burning on UK moorland. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2013; 120:27-36. [PMID: 23500106 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2013.01.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2012] [Revised: 01/16/2013] [Accepted: 01/27/2013] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Prescribed burning is a common management technique used across many areas of the UK uplands. However, there are few data sets that assess the loss of biomass during burning and even fewer data on the effect of burning on above-ground carbon stocks and production of char. During fire the production of char occurs which represents a transfer of carbon from the short term bio-atmospheric cycle to the longer term geological cycle. However, biomass is consumed leading to the reduction in litter formation which is the principal mechanism for peat formation. This study aims to solve the problem of whether loss of biomass during a fire is ever outweighed by the production of refractory forms of carbon during the fire. This study combines both a laboratory study of char production with an assessment of biomass loss from a series of field burns from moorland in the Peak District, UK. The laboratory results show that there are significant effects due to ambient temperature but the most important control on dry mass loss is the maximum burn temperature. Burn temperature was also found to be linearly related to the production of char in the burn products. Optimisation of dry mass loss, char production and carbon content shows that the production of char from certain fires could store more carbon in the ecosystem than if there had been no fire. Field results show that approximately 75% of the biomass and carbon were lost through combustion, a figure comparable to other studies of prescribed fire in other settings. Char-C production was approximately 2.6% of the carbon consumed during the fire. This study has shown that there are conditions (fast burns at high temperatures) under which prescribed fire may increase C sequestration through char production and that these conditions are within existing management options available to practitioners.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fred Worrall
- Department of Earth Sciences, Science Laboratories, South Road, Durham DH1 3LE, UK
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33
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Ramchunder SJ, Brown LE, Holden J. Rotational vegetation burning effects on peatland stream ecosystems. J Appl Ecol 2013. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.12082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Lee E. Brown
- School of Geography/water@leeds; University of Leeds; Leeds; LS2 9JT; UK
| | - Joseph Holden
- School of Geography/water@leeds; University of Leeds; Leeds; LS2 9JT; UK
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34
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Gray A, Levy PE, Cooper MDA, Jones T, Gaiawyn J, Leeson SR, Ward SE, Dinsmore KJ, Drewer J, Sheppard LJ, Ostle NJ, Evans CD, Burden A, Zieliński P. Methane indicator values for peatlands: a comparison of species and functional groups. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2013; 19:1141-1150. [PMID: 23504891 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.12120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2012] [Revised: 11/29/2012] [Accepted: 12/03/2012] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Previous studies have shown a correspondence between the abundance of particular plant species and methane flux. Here, we apply multivariate analyses, and weighted averaging, to assess the suitability of vegetation composition as a predictor of methane flux. We developed a functional classification of the vegetation, in terms of a number of plant traits expected to influence methane production and transport, and compared this with a purely taxonomic classification at species level and higher. We applied weighted averaging and indirect and direct ordination approaches to six sites in the United Kingdom, and found good relationships between methane flux and vegetation composition (classified both taxonomically and functionally). Plant species and functional groups also showed meaningful responses to management and experimental treatments. In addition to the United Kingdom, we applied the functional group classification across different geographical regions (Canada and the Netherlands) to assess the generality of the method. Again, the relationship appeared good at the site level, suggesting some general applicability of the functional classification. The method seems to have the potential for incorporation into large-scale (national) greenhouse gas accounting programmes (in relation to peatland condition/management) using vegetation mapping schemes. The results presented here strongly suggest that robust predictive models can be derived using plant species data (for use in national-scale studies). For trans-national-scale studies, where the taxonomic assemblage of vegetation differs widely between study sites, a functional classification of plant species data provides an appropriate basis for predictive models of methane flux.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan Gray
- Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Bush Estate, Penicuik, Midlothian, EH26 0QB, UK.
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35
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Jassey VEJ, Chiapusio G, Binet P, Buttler A, Laggoun-Défarge F, Delarue F, Bernard N, Mitchell EAD, Toussaint ML, Francez AJ, Gilbert D. Above- and belowground linkages in Sphagnum peatland: climate warming affects plant-microbial interactions. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2013; 19:811-23. [PMID: 23504838 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.12075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 108] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2012] [Revised: 09/19/2012] [Accepted: 10/16/2012] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Peatlands contain approximately one third of all soil organic carbon (SOC). Warming can alter above- and belowground linkages that regulate soil organic carbon dynamics and C-balance in peatlands. Here we examine the multiyear impact of in situ experimental warming on the microbial food web, vegetation, and their feedbacks with soil chemistry. We provide evidence of both positive and negative impacts of warming on specific microbial functional groups, leading to destabilization of the microbial food web. We observed a strong reduction (70%) in the biomass of top-predators (testate amoebae) in warmed plots. Such a loss caused a shortening of microbial food chains, which in turn stimulated microbial activity, leading to slight increases in levels of nutrients and labile C in water. We further show that warming altered the regulatory role of Sphagnum-polyphenols on microbial community structure with a potential inhibition of top predators. In addition, warming caused a decrease in Sphagnum cover and an increase in vascular plant cover. Using structural equation modelling, we show that changes in the microbial food web affected the relationships between plants, soil water chemistry, and microbial communities. These results suggest that warming will destabilize C and nutrient recycling of peatlands via changes in above- and belowground linkages, and therefore, the microbial food web associated with mosses will feedback positively to global warming by destabilizing the carbon cycle. This study confirms that microbial food webs thus constitute a key element in the functioning of peatland ecosystems. Their study can help understand how mosses, as ecosystem engineers, tightly regulate biogeochemical cycling and climate feedback in peatlands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincent E J Jassey
- Laboratoire Chrono-Environnement, UMR CNRS/UFC 6249, Université de Franche-Comté, F-25211, Montbéliard cedex, France.
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36
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Worrall F, Clay GD. The impact of sheep grazing on the carbon balance of a peatland. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2012; 438:426-434. [PMID: 23026149 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2012.08.084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2012] [Revised: 08/30/2012] [Accepted: 08/30/2012] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Estimates of the greenhouse gas (GHG) fluxes resulting from sheep grazing upon upland peat soils have never been fully quantified. Previous studies have been limited to individual flux pathways or to comparing the presence to the absence of sheep grazing. Therefore, this study combines a model of the physical impact of grazing with models of: biomass production; energy usage in sheep; and peat accumulation. These combined modelling approaches enabled this study to consider the indirect and direct impacts of sheep upon the carbon and greenhouse gas balance of a peatland at different grazing intensities as well as the changes between grazing intensities. The study considered four vegetation scenarios (Calluna sp., Molinia sp.; reseeded grasses, and Agrostis-Festuca grassland) and a mixed vegetation scenario based upon the vegetation typical of upland peat ecosystems in northern England. Each scenario was considered for altitudes between 350 and 900 m above sea level and for grazing intensities between 0.1 and 2 ewes/ha. The study can show that the total GHG flux at the vegetative carrying capacity tended to decline with increasing altitude for all vegetation scenarios considered except for Molinia sp. The average total GHG flux for all scenarios was 1505 kg CO(2)eq/ha/yr/(ewe/ha), and on average 89% of the fluxes were directly from the sheep and not from the soil, and are therefore not unique to a peat soil environment. The study suggests that emission factors for upland sheep have been greatly underestimated. By comparing the total flux due to grazers to the flux to or from the soil that allows the study to define a GHG carry capacity, i.e. the grazing intensity at which the flux due to grazing is equal to the sink represented by the peat soils, this GHG carrying capacity varies between 0.2 and 1.7 ewes/ha with this capacity declining with increasing altitude for all model scenarios.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fred Worrall
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Durham, Science Laboratories, South Road, Durham, UK.
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38
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Ward SE, Ostle NJ, Oakley S, Quirk H, Stott A, Henrys PA, Scott WA, Bardgett RD. Fire Accelerates Assimilation and Transfer of Photosynthetic Carbon from Plants to Soil Microbes in a Northern Peatland. Ecosystems 2012. [DOI: 10.1007/s10021-012-9581-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
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Holden J, Chapman PJ, Palmer SM, Kay P, Grayson R. The impacts of prescribed moorland burning on water colour and dissolved organic carbon: a critical synthesis. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2012; 101:92-103. [PMID: 22406849 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2012.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2011] [Revised: 12/23/2011] [Accepted: 02/04/2012] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Discolouration of natural surface waters due to the humic component of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) is a costly problem for water supply companies. This paper reviews what is known about the impacts of prescribed moorland vegetation burning on water colour. Relevant research has taken place at three scales: laboratory experiments on peat cores, plot scale sampling of soil waters and catchment scale sampling of stream waters. While laboratory studies suggest burning increases colour production, the evidence from catchment and plot studies is contradictory. Plot studies suggest colour production may decrease or remain unchanged following burning although there is evidence for some transient changes. Catchment studies suggest prescribed moorland burning causes stream water colour to increase, although in most cases the evidence is not clear cut since most studies could not clearly disentangle the effects of burning from those of vegetation cover. The differences in findings between plot and catchment studies may be explained by: i) the short-term nature of some studies which do not measure long-term response and recovery times to burning; ii) the lack of colour measurements from shallow soil depths which contribute more to streamflow than soil water from deeper in the peat; and iii) the possibility of hydrological interactions occurring between different experimental plots at some sites. Additionally, the increase in recent patch burning in some catchments that has been statistically attributed by some authors to increases in stream water colour cannot be reconciled with theoretical calculations. When dilution with waters derived from other parts of the catchment are taken into account, large values of colour have to be theoretically derived from those recently burnt areas that occupy a small proportion of the catchment area in order to balance the change in stream water colour observed in recent years. Therefore, much further process-based work is required to properly investigate whether prescribed vegetation burning is a direct driver of enhanced colour and DOC in upland streams, rivers and lakes.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Holden
- School of Geography, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK.
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40
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41
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Tanentzap AJ, Coomes DA. Carbon storage in terrestrial ecosystems: do browsing and grazing herbivores matter? Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2011; 87:72-94. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-185x.2011.00185.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 128] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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42
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Clay GD, Worrall F. Charcoal production in a UK moorland wildfire--how important is it? JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2011; 92:676-682. [PMID: 21074313 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2010.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2010] [Revised: 08/26/2010] [Accepted: 10/03/2010] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Wildfires are a common feature of peatland environments, but the carbon balance of these wildfires is often not considered and the production of refractory black carbon in these wildfires could be an important addition to carbon accumulation and mitigate losses of biomass during the fire. This study investigates the biomass and carbon losses during a moorland wildfire. Changes in above-ground carbon stocks were calculated using a combination of field data, laboratory measurements and literature values. The results show that approximately 14% of the carbon in the original above-ground biomass remained on the site after the burn. Black carbon production was approximately 6 gC m(-2) which constituted 4.3% of the biomass lost. The survival of biomass and black carbon may help to mitigate the loss of carbon during the fire.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gareth D Clay
- Department of Earth Sciences, Durham University, Science Laboratories, South Road, Durham DH1 3LE, UK.
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43
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Teh YA, Silver WL, Sonnentag O, Detto M, Kelly M, Baldocchi DD. Large Greenhouse Gas Emissions from a Temperate Peatland Pasture. Ecosystems 2011. [DOI: 10.1007/s10021-011-9411-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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44
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Sjögersten S, van der Wal R, Loonen MJJE, Woodin SJ. Recovery of ecosystem carbon fluxes and storage from herbivory. BIOGEOCHEMISTRY 2011; 106:357-370. [PMID: 26069352 PMCID: PMC4459552 DOI: 10.1007/s10533-010-9516-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2009] [Accepted: 08/09/2010] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
The carbon (C) sink strength of arctic tundra is under pressure from increasing populations of arctic breeding geese. In this study we examined how CO2 and CH4 fluxes, plant biomass and soil C responded to the removal of vertebrate herbivores in a high arctic wet moss meadow that has been intensively used by barnacle geese (Branta leucopsis) for ca. 20 years. We used 4 and 9 years old grazing exclosures to investigate the potential for recovery of ecosystem function during the growing season (July 2007). The results show greater above- and below-ground vascular plant biomass within the grazing exclosures with graminoid biomass being most responsive to the removal of herbivory whilst moss biomass remained unchanged. The changes in biomass switched the system from net emission to net uptake of CO2 (0.47 and -0.77 μmol m-2 s-1 in grazed and exclosure plots, respectively) during the growing season and doubled the C storage in live biomass. In contrast, the treatment had no impact on the CH4 fluxes, the total litter C pool or the soil C concentration. The rapid recovery of the above ground biomass and CO2 fluxes demonstrates the plasticity of this high arctic ecosystem in terms of response to changing herbivore pressure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofie Sjögersten
- School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD UK
| | - René van der Wal
- Aberdeen Centre for Environmental Sustainability (ACES), School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Auris, 23 St. Machar Drive, Aberdeen, AB24 3UU UK
| | | | - Sarah J. Woodin
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Cruickshank Building, St. Machar Drive, Aberdeen, AB24 3UU UK
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Clay GD, Worrall F, Rose R. Carbon budgets of an upland blanket bog managed by prescribed fire. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2010. [DOI: 10.1029/2010jg001331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
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Clutterbuck B, Yallop AR. Land management as a factor controlling dissolved organic carbon release from upland peat soils 2: changes in DOC productivity over four decades. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2010; 408:6179-6191. [PMID: 20869100 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2010.08.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2010] [Revised: 08/25/2010] [Accepted: 08/26/2010] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Increasing DOC concentrations in surface waters have been observed across parts of Europe and North America over the past few decades. Most proposed explanations for these widespread trends invoke climate change or reductions in sulphate deposition. However, these factors do not seem apposite to explain either the fine-scale (within kilometres) or regional-scale spatial variation in DOC concentrations observed across the UK. We have reconstructed DOC concentrations and land use for one North Pennine and five South Pennine catchments (UK), located in three discrete areas, over the last four decades. Rainfall, temperature and sulphate deposition data, where available, were also collated and the potential influence of these factors on surface water DOC concentrations was assessed. Four of the six catchments examined showed highly significant (p<0.001) increases (53-92%) in humic coloured DOC (hDOC) concentrations in drainage waters over the period 1990-2005. Changes in temperature and sulphate deposition may explain 20-30% of this trend in these four catchments. However, the rapid expansion of new moorland burn on blanket peat can explain a far greater degree (>80%) of the change in hDOC. Far smaller increases in hDOC (10-18%) were identified for the two remaining catchments. These two sites experienced similar changes in sulphur deposition and temperature to those that had seen largest increases in DOC, but contained little or no moorland burn management on blanket peat. This study shows that regional-scale factors undoubtedly underlie some of the recent observed increases in drainage humic coloured DOC. However, changes in land management, in this case the extensive use of fire management on blanket peat, are a far more important driver of increased hDOC release from upland catchments in some parts of the UK. It suggests that the recent rapid increase in the use of burning on blanket peat moorland has implications for ecosystem services and carbon budgets.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Clutterbuck
- School of Applied Science, Cranfield University, Cranfield, Bedfordshire, MK43 0AL, UK.
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Robroek BJM, Smart RP, Holden J. Sensitivity of blanket peat vegetation and hydrochemistry to local disturbances. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2010; 408:5028-5034. [PMID: 20692016 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2010.07.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2010] [Revised: 07/05/2010] [Accepted: 07/09/2010] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
At the ecosystem scale, peatlands can be extremely resilient to perturbations. Yet, they are very sensitive to local disturbances, especially mechanical perturbations (e.g. trampling). The effects of these disturbances on vegetation, and potential effects on hydrochemical conditions along the peat surface, however, are largely unknown. We used three research tracks (paths researchers use to access their study sites) differing in time of abandonment to investigate the impact of local disturbance (trampling) on the vegetation and its short-term (< or = 2 year) recovery in a flagship research blanket peatland. Additionally, we examined the effects of local disturbance on fluvial runoff events and the concentrations of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and particulate organic carbon (POC) in runoff water. Local disturbance heavily impacted peat vegetation, resulting in large areas of scarred and churned peat. Recovery of vascular plants along abandoned tracks was slow, but a functional Sphagnum layer re-established after just one year. The absence of vegetation elicited an increase in the number of runoff events along the tracks, by which POC runoff from the tracks increased. POC concentrations were highest in the surface water from the recently abandoned track, while they were low in the runoff water from the track abandoned longest and the undisturbed control track. We attribute this to the relatively fast recovery of the Sphagnum vegetation. DOC concentrations did not differ significantly either spatially or temporally in surface runoff or soil solution waters. While at an ecosystem scale local disturbances may be negligible in terms of carbon loss, our data points to the need for further research on the potential long-term effects of local disturbance on the vegetation, and significant effects on local scale carbon fluxes. Moreover, the effects of disturbances could be long-lasting and their role on ecosystem processes should not be underestimated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bjorn J M Robroek
- School of Geography, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, United Kingdom.
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48
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Litter evenness influences short-term peatland decomposition processes. Oecologia 2010; 164:511-20. [DOI: 10.1007/s00442-010-1636-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2009] [Accepted: 04/08/2010] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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Albertson K, Aylen J, Cavan G, McMorrow J. Forecasting the outbreak of moorland wildfires in the English Peak District. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2009; 90:2642-2651. [PMID: 19321251 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2009.02.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2006] [Revised: 01/17/2009] [Accepted: 02/08/2009] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Warmer, drier summers brought by climate change increase the potential risk of wildfires on the moorland of the Peak District of northern England. Fires are costly to fight, damage the ecosystem, harm water catchments, cause erosion scars and disrupt transport. Fires release carbon dioxide to the atmosphere. Accurate forecasts of the timing of fires help deployment of fire fighting resources. A probit model is used to assess the chance of fires at different times of the year, days of the week and under various weather conditions. Current and past rainfall damp fire risk. The likelihood of fire increases with maximum temperature. Dry spells or recent fire activity also signal extra fire hazard. Certain days are fire prone due to visitors and some months of the year are more risky reflecting the changing flammability of moorland vegetation. The model back-predicts earlier fires during a hot dry summer. The impact of climate change on fire incidence is not straightforward. Risks may be reduced if wetter winters and earlier onset of spring add to plant moisture content. Yet a warm spring increases biomass and potential fuel load in summer. Climate change may cause the timing of moorland wildfires to shift from a damper and more verdant spring to drought-stressed summer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Albertson
- Department of Economics, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, England, United Kingdom.
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50
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Yallop AR, Clutterbuck B. Land management as a factor controlling dissolved organic carbon release from upland peat soils 1: spatial variation in DOC productivity. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2009; 407:3803-3813. [PMID: 19345986 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2009.03.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2008] [Revised: 03/07/2009] [Accepted: 03/10/2009] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
The importance of soil storage in global carbon cycling is well recognised and factors leading to increased losses from this pool may act as a positive feedback mechanism in global warming. Upland peat soils are usually assumed to serve as carbon sinks, there is however increasing evidence of carbon loss from upland peat soils, and DOC concentrations in UK rivers have increased markedly over the past three decades. A number of drivers for increasing DOC release from peat soils have been proposed although many of these would not explain fine-scale variations in DOC release observed in many catchments. We examined the effect of land use and management on DOC production in upland peat catchments at two spatial scales within the UK. DOC concentration was measured in streams draining 50 small-scale catchments (b3 km2) in three discrete regions of the south Pennines and one area in the North Yorkshire Moors. Annual mean DOC concentration was also derived from water colour data recorded at water treatment works for seven larger scale catchments (1.5-20 km2) in the south Pennines. Soil type and land use/management in all catchments were characterised from NSRI digital soil data and ortho-corrected colour aerial imagery. Of the factors assessed, representing all combinations of soil type and land use together with catchment slope and area, the proportion of exposed peat surface resulting from new heather burning was consistently identified as the most significant predictor of variation in DOC concentration. This relationship held across all blanket peat catchments and scales. We propose that management activities are driving changes in edaphic conditions in upland peat to those more favourable for aerobic microbial activity and thus enhance peat decomposition leading to increased losses of carbon from these environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- A R Yallop
- School of Applied Science, Cranfield University, Cranfield, Bedfordshire, MK43 0AL, UK.
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