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Jongejans LL, Liebner S, Knoblauch C, Mangelsdorf K, Ulrich M, Grosse G, Tanski G, Fedorov AN, Konstantinov PY, Windirsch T, Wiedmann J, Strauss J. Greenhouse gas production and lipid biomarker distribution in Yedoma and Alas thermokarst lake sediments in Eastern Siberia. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2021; 27:2822-2839. [PMID: 33774862 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.15566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2020] [Accepted: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Permafrost thaw leads to thermokarst lake formation and talik growth tens of meters deep, enabling microbial decomposition of formerly frozen organic matter (OM). We analyzed two 17-m-long thermokarst lake sediment cores taken in Central Yakutia, Russia. One core was from an Alas lake in a Holocene thermokarst basin that underwent multiple lake generations, and the second core from a young Yedoma upland lake (formed ~70 years ago) whose sediments have thawed for the first time since deposition. This comparison provides a glance into OM fate in thawing Yedoma deposits. We analyzed total organic carbon (TOC) and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) content, n-alkane concentrations, and bacterial and archaeal membrane markers. Furthermore, we conducted 1-year-long incubations (4°C, dark) and measured anaerobic carbon dioxide (CO2 ) and methane (CH4 ) production. The sediments from both cores contained little TOC (0.7 ± 0.4 wt%), but DOC values were relatively high, with the highest values in the frozen Yedoma lake sediments (1620 mg L-1 ). Cumulative greenhouse gas (GHG) production after 1 year was highest in the Yedoma lake sediments (226 ± 212 µg CO2 -C g-1 dw, 28 ± 36 µg CH4 -C g-1 dw) and 3 and 1.5 times lower in the Alas lake sediments, respectively (75 ± 76 µg CO2 -C g-1 dw, 19 ± 29 µg CH4 -C g-1 dw). The highest CO2 production in the frozen Yedoma lake sediments likely results from decomposition of readily bioavailable OM, while highest CH4 production in the non-frozen top sediments of this core suggests that methanogenic communities established upon thaw. The lower GHG production in the non-frozen Alas lake sediments resulted from advanced OM decomposition during Holocene talik development. Furthermore, we found that drivers of CO2 and CH4 production differ following thaw. Our results suggest that GHG production from TOC-poor mineral deposits, which are widespread throughout the Arctic, can be substantial. Therefore, our novel data are relevant for vast ice-rich permafrost deposits vulnerable to thermokarst formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Loeka L Jongejans
- Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Center for Polar and Marine Research, Permafrost Research Section, Potsdam, Germany
- Institute of Geosciences, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Susanne Liebner
- Section Geomicrobiology, GFZ German Research Center for Geosciences, Potsdam, Germany
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Christian Knoblauch
- Institute of Soil Science, Universität Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
- Center for Earth System Research and Sustainability, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Kai Mangelsdorf
- Section Organic Geochemistry, GFZ German Research Center for Geosciences, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Mathias Ulrich
- Institute for Geography, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Guido Grosse
- Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Center for Polar and Marine Research, Permafrost Research Section, Potsdam, Germany
- Institute of Geosciences, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany
| | - George Tanski
- Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Center for Polar and Marine Research, Permafrost Research Section, Potsdam, Germany
- Department of Earth Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Alexander N Fedorov
- Melnikov Permafrost Institute, Laboratory of General Geocryology, Siberian Branch Russian Academy of Sciences, Yakutsk, Russia
- BEST International Centre, North-Eastern Federal University, Yakutsk, Russia
| | - Pavel Ya Konstantinov
- Melnikov Permafrost Institute, Laboratory of General Geocryology, Siberian Branch Russian Academy of Sciences, Yakutsk, Russia
| | - Torben Windirsch
- Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Center for Polar and Marine Research, Permafrost Research Section, Potsdam, Germany
- Institute of Geosciences, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Julia Wiedmann
- Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Center for Polar and Marine Research, Permafrost Research Section, Potsdam, Germany
- Baugrund-Ingenieurbüro GmbH Maul und Partner, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Jens Strauss
- Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Center for Polar and Marine Research, Permafrost Research Section, Potsdam, Germany
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Voigt C, Marushchak ME, Mastepanov M, Lamprecht RE, Christensen TR, Dorodnikov M, Jackowicz-Korczyński M, Lindgren A, Lohila A, Nykänen H, Oinonen M, Oksanen T, Palonen V, Treat CC, Martikainen PJ, Biasi C. Ecosystem carbon response of an Arctic peatland to simulated permafrost thaw. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2019; 25:1746-1764. [PMID: 30681758 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.14574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2018] [Accepted: 01/11/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Permafrost peatlands are biogeochemical hot spots in the Arctic as they store vast amounts of carbon. Permafrost thaw could release part of these long-term immobile carbon stocks as the greenhouse gases (GHGs) carbon dioxide (CO2 ) and methane (CH4 ) to the atmosphere, but how much, at which time-span and as which gaseous carbon species is still highly uncertain. Here we assess the effect of permafrost thaw on GHG dynamics under different moisture and vegetation scenarios in a permafrost peatland. A novel experimental approach using intact plant-soil systems (mesocosms) allowed us to simulate permafrost thaw under near-natural conditions. We monitored GHG flux dynamics via high-resolution flow-through gas measurements, combined with detailed monitoring of soil GHG concentration dynamics, yielding insights into GHG production and consumption potential of individual soil layers. Thawing the upper 10-15 cm of permafrost under dry conditions increased CO2 emissions to the atmosphere (without vegetation: 0.74 ± 0.49 vs. 0.84 ± 0.60 g CO2 -C m-2 day-1 ; with vegetation: 1.20 ± 0.50 vs. 1.32 ± 0.60 g CO2 -C m-2 day-1 , mean ± SD, pre- and post-thaw, respectively). Radiocarbon dating (14 C) of respired CO2 , supported by an independent curve-fitting approach, showed a clear contribution (9%-27%) of old carbon to this enhanced post-thaw CO2 flux. Elevated concentrations of CO2 , CH4 , and dissolved organic carbon at depth indicated not just pulse emissions during the thawing process, but sustained decomposition and GHG production from thawed permafrost. Oxidation of CH4 in the peat column, however, prevented CH4 release to the atmosphere. Importantly, we show here that, under dry conditions, peatlands strengthen the permafrost-carbon feedback by adding to the atmospheric CO2 burden post-thaw. However, as long as the water table remains low, our results reveal a strong CH4 sink capacity in these types of Arctic ecosystems pre- and post-thaw, with the potential to compensate part of the permafrost CO2 losses over longer timescales.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina Voigt
- Department of Geography, University of Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Maija E Marushchak
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Mikhail Mastepanov
- Department of Bioscience, Arctic Research Centre, Aarhus University, Roskilde, Denmark
- Department of Physical Geography and Ecosystem Science, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Richard E Lamprecht
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Torben R Christensen
- Department of Bioscience, Arctic Research Centre, Aarhus University, Roskilde, Denmark
- Department of Physical Geography and Ecosystem Science, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Maxim Dorodnikov
- Department of Soil Science of Temperate Ecosystems, Georg-August-University, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Marcin Jackowicz-Korczyński
- Department of Bioscience, Arctic Research Centre, Aarhus University, Roskilde, Denmark
- Department of Physical Geography and Ecosystem Science, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Amelie Lindgren
- Department of Physical Geography and Ecosystem Science, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Department of Physical Geography, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Hannu Nykänen
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Markku Oinonen
- Finnish Museum of Natural History, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Timo Oksanen
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Vesa Palonen
- Department of Physics, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Claire C Treat
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Pertti J Martikainen
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Christina Biasi
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
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Dynamics of microbial communities and CO 2 and CH 4 fluxes in the tundra ecosystems of the changing Arctic. J Microbiol 2019; 57:325-336. [PMID: 30656588 DOI: 10.1007/s12275-019-8661-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2018] [Revised: 12/20/2018] [Accepted: 12/24/2018] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Arctic tundra ecosystems are rapidly changing due to the amplified effects of global warming within the northern high latitudes. Warming has the potential to increase the thawing of the permafrost and to change the landscape and its geochemical characteristics, as well as terrestrial biota. It is important to investigate microbial processes and community structures, since soil microorganisms play a significant role in decomposing soil organic carbon in the Arctic tundra. In addition, the feedback from tundra ecosystems to climate change, including the emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, is substantially dependent on the compositional and functional changes in the soil microbiome. This article reviews the current state of knowledge of the soil microbiome and the two most abundant greenhouse gas (CO2 and CH4) emissions, and summarizes permafrost thaw-induced changes in the Arctic tundra. Furthermore, we discuss future directions in microbial ecological research coupled with its link to CO2 and CH4 emissions.
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Voigt C, Lamprecht RE, Marushchak ME, Lind SE, Novakovskiy A, Aurela M, Martikainen PJ, Biasi C. Warming of subarctic tundra increases emissions of all three important greenhouse gases - carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2017; 23:3121-3138. [PMID: 27862698 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.13563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2016] [Accepted: 11/04/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Rapidly rising temperatures in the Arctic might cause a greater release of greenhouse gases (GHGs) to the atmosphere. To study the effect of warming on GHG dynamics, we deployed open-top chambers in a subarctic tundra site in Northeast European Russia. We determined carbon dioxide (CO2 ), methane (CH4 ), and nitrous oxide (N2 O) fluxes as well as the concentration of those gases, inorganic nitrogen (N) and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) along the soil profile. Studied tundra surfaces ranged from mineral to organic soils and from vegetated to unvegetated areas. As a result of air warming, the seasonal GHG budget of the vegetated tundra surfaces shifted from a GHG sink of -300 to -198 g CO2 -eq m-2 to a source of 105 to 144 g CO2 -eq m-2 . At bare peat surfaces, we observed increased release of all three GHGs. While the positive warming response was dominated by CO2 , we provide here the first in situ evidence of increasing N2 O emissions from tundra soils with warming. Warming promoted N2 O release not only from bare peat, previously identified as a strong N2 O source, but also from the abundant, vegetated peat surfaces that do not emit N2 O under present climate. At these surfaces, elevated temperatures had an adverse effect on plant growth, resulting in lower plant N uptake and, consequently, better N availability for soil microbes. Although the warming was limited to the soil surface and did not alter thaw depth, it increased concentrations of DOC, CO2, and CH4 in the soil down to the permafrost table. This can be attributed to downward DOC leaching, fueling microbial activity at depth. Taken together, our results emphasize the tight linkages between plant and soil processes, and different soil layers, which need to be taken into account when predicting the climate change feedback of the Arctic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina Voigt
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, 70211, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Richard E Lamprecht
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, 70211, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Maija E Marushchak
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, 70211, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Saara E Lind
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, 70211, Kuopio, Finland
| | | | - Mika Aurela
- Finnish Meteorological Institute, P.O. Box 503, 00101, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Pertti J Martikainen
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, 70211, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Christina Biasi
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, 70211, Kuopio, Finland
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Elster J, Margesin R, Wagner D, Häggblom M. Editorial: Polar and Alpine Microbiology—Earth's cryobiosphere. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2016; 93:fiw221. [DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiw221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/18/2016] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
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