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Zhang J, Chen H, Wang M, Liu X, Peng C, Wang L, Yu D, Zhu Q. An optimized water table depth detected for mitigating global warming potential of greenhouse gas emissions in wetland of Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. iScience 2024; 27:108856. [PMID: 38303693 PMCID: PMC10830858 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.108856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Revised: 11/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Climate change and human activities have intensified variations of water table depth (WTD) in wetlands around the world, which may strongly affect greenhouse gas emissions. Here, we analyzed how emissions of CO2, CH4, and N2O from the Zoige wetland on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP) vary with the WTD. Our data indicate that the wetland shows net positive global warming potential (11.72 tCO2-e ha-1 yr-1), and its emissions of greenhouse gases are driven primarily by WTD. Our analysis suggests that an optimal WTD exists, which at our study site was approximately 18 cm, for mitigating increases in global warming potential from the wetland. Our study provides insights into how climate change and human acitivies affect greenhouse gas emissions from alpine wetlands, and they suggest that water table management may be effective at mitigating future increases in emissions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiang Zhang
- College of Geography and Remote Sensing, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China
- Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Huai Chen
- Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Meng Wang
- Key Laboratory of Geographical Processes and Ecological Security in Changbai Mountains, Ministry of Education, School of Geographical Sciences, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130024, China
| | - Xinwei Liu
- Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Changhui Peng
- Institute of Environment Sciences, Department of Biology Sciences, University of Quebec at Montreal, Case Postale 8888, Succursale Centre-Ville, Montreal Quebec H3C 3P8, Canada
- School of Geography Science, Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410081, China
| | - Le Wang
- College of Hydrology and Water Resources, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China
| | - Dongxue Yu
- College of Hydrology and Water Resources, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China
| | - Qiuan Zhu
- College of Geography and Remote Sensing, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China
- National Earth System Science Data Center, National Science & Technology Infrastructure of China, Beijing 100101, China
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Jones EA, Chasmer LE, Devito KJ, Hopkinson CD. Shortening fire return interval predisposes west-central Canadian boreal peatlands to more rapid vegetation growth and transition to forest cover. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2024; 30:e17185. [PMID: 38361266 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.17185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2023] [Revised: 01/20/2024] [Accepted: 01/28/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
Climate change in northern latitudes is increasing the vulnerability of peatlands and the riparian transition zones between peatlands and upland forests (referred to as ecotones) to greater frequency of wildland fires. We examined early post-fire vegetation regeneration following the 2011 Utikuma complex fire (central Alberta, Canada). This study examined 779 peatlands and adjacent ecotones, covering an area of ~182 km2 . Based on the known regional fire history, peatlands that burned in 2011 were stratified into either long return interval (LRI) fire regimes of >80 years (i.e., no recorded prior fire history) or short fire return interval (SRI) of 55 years (i.e., within the boundary of a documented severe fire in 1956). Data from six multitemporal airborne lidar surveys were used to quantify trajectories of vegetation change for 8 years prior to and 8 years following the 2011 fire. To date, no studies have quantified the impacts of post-fire regeneration following short versus long return interval fires across this broad range of peatlands with variable environmental and post-fire successional trajectories. We found that SRI peatlands demonstrated more rapid vascular and shrub growth rates, especially in peatland centers, than LRI peatlands. Bogs and fens burned in 1956, and with little vascular vegetation (classified as "open peatlands") prior to the 2011 fire, experienced the greatest changes. These peatlands tended to transition to vascular/shrub forms following the SRI fire, while open LRI peatlands were not significantly different from pre-fire conditions. The results of this study suggest the emergence of a positive feedback, where areas experiencing SRI fires in southern boreal peatlands are expected to transition to forested vegetation forms. Along fen edges and within bog centers, SRI fires are expected to reduce local peatland groundwater moisture-holding capacity and promote favorable conditions for increased fire frequency and severity in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Ann Jones
- Department of Geography and Environment, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
| | - Laura Elizabeth Chasmer
- Department of Geography and Environment, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
| | - Kevin John Devito
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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Experimental climate change impacts on Baltic coastal wetland plant communities. Sci Rep 2022; 12:20362. [PMID: 36437266 PMCID: PMC9701761 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-24913-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Coastal wetlands provide a range of important ecosystem services, yet they are under threat from a range of stressors including climate change. This is predominantly as a result of alterations to the hydroregime and associated edaphic factors. We used a three-year mesocosm experiment to assess changes in coastal plant community composition for three plant communities in response to altered water level and salinity scenarios. Species richness and abundance were calculated by year and abundance was plotted using rank abundance curves. The permutational multivariate analysis of variance with Bray-Curtis dissimilarity was used to examine differences among treatments in plant community composition. A Non-metric Multi-dimensional Scaling analysis (NMDS) was used to visualize the responses of communities to treatments by year. Results showed that all three plant communities responded differently to altered water levels and salinity. Species richness and abundance increased significantly in an Open Pioneer plant community while Lower and Upper Shore plant communities showed less change. Species abundances changed in all plant communities with shifts in species composition significantly influenced by temporal effects and treatment. The observed responses to experimentally altered conditions highlight the need for conservation of these important ecosystems in the face of predicted climate change, since these habitats are important for wading birds and livestock grazing.
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