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McFarlin JM, Axford Y, Kusch S, Masterson AL, Lasher GE, Osburn MR. Aquatic plant wax hydrogen and carbon isotopes in Greenland lakes record shifts in methane cycling during past Holocene warming. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadh9704. [PMID: 37774023 PMCID: PMC10541501 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adh9704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 10/01/2023]
Abstract
Predicting changes to methane cycling in Arctic lakes is of global concern in a warming world but records constraining lake methane dynamics with past warming are rare. Here, we demonstrate that the hydrogen isotopic composition (δ2H) of mid-chain waxes derived from aquatic moss clearly decouples from precipitation during past Holocene warmth and instead records incorporation of methane in plant biomass. Trends in δ2Hmoss and δ13Cmoss values point to widespread Middle Holocene (11,700 to 4200 years ago) shifts in lake methane cycling across Greenland during millennia of elevated summer temperatures, heightened productivity, and lowered hypolimnetic oxygen. These data reveal ongoing warming may lead to increases in methane-derived C in many Arctic lakes, including lakes where methane is not a major component of the C cycle today. This work highlights a previously unrecognized mechanism influencing δ2H values of mid-chain wax and draws attention to the unquantified role of common aquatic mosses as a potentially important sink of lake methane across the Arctic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jamie M. McFarlin
- Department of Geology and Geophysics, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Yarrow Axford
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Stephanie Kusch
- Institut des Sciences de la Mer, Université du Québec à Rimouski, Rimouski, Canada
| | - Andrew L. Masterson
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - G. Everett Lasher
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Magdalena R. Osburn
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
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2
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Somers DJ, Strock KE, Saros JE. Environmental Controls on Microbial Diversity in Arctic Lakes of West Greenland. MICROBIAL ECOLOGY 2020; 80:60-72. [PMID: 31848649 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-019-01474-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2018] [Accepted: 12/05/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
We assessed the microbial community structure of six arctic lakes in West Greenland and investigated relationships to lake physical and chemical characteristics. Lakes from the ice sheet region exhibited the highest species richness, while inland and plateau lakes had lower observed taxonomical diversity. Lake habitat differentiation during summer stratification appeared to alter within lake microbial community composition in only a subset of lakes, while lake variability across regions was a consistent driver of microbial community composition in these arctic lakes. Principal coordinate analysis revealed differentiation of communities along two axes: each reflecting differences in morphometric (lake surface area), geographic (latitude and distance from the ice sheet), physical lake variables (water clarity), and lakewater chemistry (dissolved organic carbon [DOC], dissolved oxygen [DO], total nitrogen [TN], and conductivity). Understanding these relationships between environmental variables and microbial communities is especially important as heterotrophic microorganisms are key to organic matter decomposition, nutrient cycling, and carbon flow through nutrient poor aquatic environments in the Arctic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dana J Somers
- Biology Department, Dickinson College, Carlisle, PA, USA.
| | - Kristin E Strock
- Environmental Science Department, Dickinson College, Carlisle, PA, USA.
| | - Jasmine E Saros
- Climate Change Institute, School of Biology and Ecology, University of Maine, Orono, ME, USA
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Burpee BT, Saros JE. Cross-ecosystem nutrient subsidies in Arctic and alpine lakes: implications of global change for remote lakes. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE. PROCESSES & IMPACTS 2020; 22:1166-1189. [PMID: 32159183 DOI: 10.1039/c9em00528e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Environmental change is continuing to affect the flow of nutrients, material and organisms across ecosystem boundaries. These cross-system flows are termed ecosystem subsidies. Here, we synthesize current knowledge of cross-ecosystem nutrient subsidies between remote lakes and their surrounding terrain, cryosphere, and atmosphere. Remote Arctic and alpine lakes are ideal systems to study the effects of cross ecosystem subsidies because (a) they are positioned in locations experiencing rapid environmental changes, (b) they are ecologically sensitive to even small subsidy changes, (c) they have easily defined ecosystem boundaries, and (d) a variety of standard methods exist that allow for quantification of lake subsidies and their impacts on ecological communities and ecosystem functions. We highlight similarities and differences between Arctic and alpine systems and identify current knowledge gaps to be addressed with future work. It is important to understand the dynamics of nutrient and material flows between lakes and their environments in order to improve our ability to predict ecosystem responses to continued environmental change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin T Burpee
- Climate Change Institute and School of Biology and Ecology, University of Maine, Orono, ME, USA.
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Li M, Peng C, Zhu Q, Zhou X, Yang G, Song X, Zhang K. The significant contribution of lake depth in regulating global lake diffusive methane emissions. WATER RESEARCH 2020; 172:115465. [PMID: 31972411 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2020.115465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2019] [Revised: 12/23/2019] [Accepted: 01/01/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Global lakes have been identified as an important component of natural methane (CH4) sources. Given that lake CH4 emissions involve multiple, complex processes influenced by various environmental factors, estimates of global lake CH4 emissions are largely uncertain. In this study, we compiled global CH4 emission data on 744 lakes from published studies, and found a significantly negative correlation (R2 = 0.50, p < 0.01) between diffusive CH4 flux and lake maximum depth. Further analysis indicated that no significant differences in global sediment CH4 production were found for the different maximum depths investigated. Owing to the longer oxidation pathway, presence of oxycline layer, and the lower nutrient environment, deeper lakes yield less diffusive CH4 efflux compared to shallower lakes. Additionally, we also found that lake area was negatively correlated (R2 = 0.13, p < 0.01) to diffusive CH4 flux. Therefore, based on empirical correlations between lake morphometry (maximum depth and area) and diffusive CH4 emission, as well as the combination of two lake databases, we estimated that the annual diffusive CH4 emission from global lakes is approximately 11.2 (6.2-19.5) Tg CH4/yr, and greater than 84% is emitted from lakes with a mean depth of less than 5 m. Furthermore, two regions, 40-70° N (30.4%) and 20° S∼10° N (37.4%), were found to be the dominant contributors of global lake diffusive CH4 emissions, resulting from the considerable total lake area and the extensive shallow lakes in these regions. This study highlights the significance of the 'depth-effect' which controls the spatial distribution of lake diffusive CH4 flux and allows for the quantification of global lake diffusive CH4 emissions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingxu Li
- Center for Ecological Forecasting and Global Change, College of Forestry, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China; Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China; Department of Biology Sciences, Institute of Environment Sciences, University of Quebec at Montreal, C.P. 8888, Succ. Center-Ville, Montreal, H3C 3P8, Canada
| | - Changhui Peng
- Department of Biology Sciences, Institute of Environment Sciences, University of Quebec at Montreal, C.P. 8888, Succ. Center-Ville, Montreal, H3C 3P8, Canada; Center for Ecological Forecasting and Global Change, College of Forestry, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China.
| | - Qiuan Zhu
- Center for Ecological Forecasting and Global Change, College of Forestry, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China
| | - Xiaolu Zhou
- Center for Ecological Forecasting and Global Change, College of Forestry, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China
| | - Gang Yang
- School of Life Science and Engineering, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang, 621010, China
| | - Xinzhang Song
- The Nurturing Station for the State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, Zhejiang A&F University, Lin'an, 311300, China
| | - Kerou Zhang
- Institute of Wetland Research, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, 100091, China
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Lindborg T, Rydberg J, Andersson E, Löfgren A, Lindborg E, Saetre P, Sohlenius G, Berglund S, Kautsky U, Laudon H. A carbon mass-balance budget for a periglacial catchment in West Greenland - Linking the terrestrial and aquatic systems. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 711:134561. [PMID: 31818588 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.134561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2019] [Revised: 09/12/2019] [Accepted: 09/18/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Climate change is predicted to have far reaching consequences for the mobility of carbon in arctic landscapes. On a regional scale, carbon cycling is highly dependent on interactions between terrestrial and aquatic parts of a catchment. Despite this, studies that integrate the terrestrial and aquatic systems and study entire catchments using site-specific data are rare. In this work, we use data partly published by Lindborg et al. (2016a) to calculate a whole-catchment carbon mass-balance budget for a periglacial catchment in West Greenland. Our budget shows that terrestrial net primary production is the main input of carbon (99% of input), and that most carbon leaves the system through soil respiration (90% of total export/storage). The largest carbon pools are active layer soils (53% of total carbon stock or 13 kg C m-2), permafrost soils (30% of total carbon stock or 7.6 kg C m-2) and lake sediments (13% of total carbon stock or 10 kg C m-2). Hydrological transport of carbon from the terrestrial to aquatic system is lower than in wetter climates, but the annual input of 4100 kg C yr-1 (or 3.5 g C m-2 yr-1) that enters the lake via runoff is still three times larger than the eolian input of terrestrial carbon. Due to the dry conditions, the hydrological export of carbon from the catchment is limited (5% of aquatic export/storage or 0.1% of total export/storage). Instead, CO2 evasion from the lake surface and sediment burial accounts for 57% and 38% of aquatic export/storage, respectively (or 0.8% and 0.5% of total export/storage), and Two-Boat Lake acts as a net source of carbon to the atmosphere. The limited export of carbon to downstream water bodies make our study system different from wetter arctic environments, where hydrological transport is an important export pathway for carbon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tobias Lindborg
- Swedish Nuclear Fuel and Waste Management Co. (SKB), Box 3091, SE-169 03 Solna, Sweden; Department of Forest Ecology and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SE-901 83 Umeå, Sweden
| | - Johan Rydberg
- Department of Ecology and Environmental Science, Umeå University, SE-901 87 Umeå, Sweden.
| | - Eva Andersson
- Swedish Nuclear Fuel and Waste Management Co. (SKB), Box 3091, SE-169 03 Solna, Sweden
| | - Anders Löfgren
- EcoAnalytica, Slalomvägen 28, SE-129 49 Hägersten, Sweden
| | - Emma Lindborg
- Swedish Nuclear Fuel and Waste Management Co. (SKB), Box 3091, SE-169 03 Solna, Sweden
| | - Peter Saetre
- Swedish Nuclear Fuel and Waste Management Co. (SKB), Box 3091, SE-169 03 Solna, Sweden
| | - Gustav Sohlenius
- Geological Survey of Sweden (SGU), Box 670, SE-751 28 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Sten Berglund
- Hydroresearch AB, St. Marknadsvägen 15, SE-183 34 Täby, Sweden
| | - Ulrik Kautsky
- Swedish Nuclear Fuel and Waste Management Co. (SKB), Box 3091, SE-169 03 Solna, Sweden
| | - Hjalmar Laudon
- Department of Forest Ecology and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SE-901 83 Umeå, Sweden
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Crevecoeur S, Vincent WF, Comte J, Matveev A, Lovejoy C. Diversity and potential activity of methanotrophs in high methane-emitting permafrost thaw ponds. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0188223. [PMID: 29182670 PMCID: PMC5705078 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0188223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2017] [Accepted: 11/02/2017] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Lakes and ponds derived from thawing permafrost are strong emitters of carbon dioxide and methane to the atmosphere, but little is known about the methane oxidation processes in these waters. Here we investigated the distribution and potential activity of aerobic methanotrophic bacteria in thaw ponds in two types of eroding permafrost landscapes in subarctic Québec: peatlands and mineral soils. We hypothesized that methanotrophic community composition and potential activity differ regionally as a function of the landscape type and permafrost degradation stage, and locally as a function of depth-dependent oxygen conditions. Our analysis of pmoA transcripts by Illumina amplicon sequencing and quantitative PCR showed that the communities were composed of diverse and potentially active lineages. Type I methanotrophs, particularly Methylobacter, dominated all communities, however there was a clear taxonomic separation between the two landscape types, consistent with environmental control of community structure. In contrast, methanotrophic potential activity, measured by pmoA transcript concentrations, did not vary with landscape type, but correlated with conductivity, phosphorus and total suspended solids. Methanotrophic potential activity was also detected in low-oxygen bottom waters, where it was inversely correlated with methane concentrations, suggesting methane depletion by methanotrophs. Methanotrophs were present and potentially active throughout the water column regardless of oxygen concentration, and may therefore be resilient to future mixing and oxygenation regimes in the warming subarctic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Crevecoeur
- Département de Biologie, Centre d’études nordiques (CEN) and Takuvik Joint International Laboratory, Université Laval, Québec, Québec, Canada
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes, Université Laval, Québec, Québec, Canada
- * E-mail:
| | - Warwick F. Vincent
- Département de Biologie, Centre d’études nordiques (CEN) and Takuvik Joint International Laboratory, Université Laval, Québec, Québec, Canada
| | - Jérôme Comte
- Département de Biologie, Centre d’études nordiques (CEN) and Takuvik Joint International Laboratory, Université Laval, Québec, Québec, Canada
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes, Université Laval, Québec, Québec, Canada
| | - Alex Matveev
- Département de Biologie, Centre d’études nordiques (CEN) and Takuvik Joint International Laboratory, Université Laval, Québec, Québec, Canada
| | - Connie Lovejoy
- Département de Biologie, Centre d’études nordiques (CEN) and Takuvik Joint International Laboratory, Université Laval, Québec, Québec, Canada
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes, Université Laval, Québec, Québec, Canada
- Québec-Océan, Université Laval, Québec, Québec, Canada
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